Glimpses of Charleston

A local's eye view

Houses/Buildings/Gates

This impressive house on Bull Street, built circa 1854, was home to Francis Warrington Dawson -- who as a newspaper owner and editor helped form what is now the Post and Courier (the Pulitzer award winning Charleston daily). As an editor, one of the issues he championed was banning the practice of dueling. Ironically, as a result of an altercation over improper advances towards a governess in his household by a Bull Street neighbor, Dawson was shot and killed. Interestingly, despite some very odd behavior, his attacker and neighbor was acquitted. While celebrated by some, others must have thought that verdict to be bull.
This beautiful house on Church Street boasts a wonderful cast iron balcony. While Charleston is better known for its wrought ironwork (where the iron is heated and then hand-shaped using a hammer -- think Philip Simmons), there are some wonderful example of cast iron (where molten iron is poured into a mold) around town. 
Once described as the "handsomest and most complete private residence in the South," the Calhoun Mansion (no, it is not named after John C. Calhoun) is the largest single family house in Charleston.
These houses, basking in the late afternoon sun, look across Rutledge Avenue to Colonial Lake. The area that the lake now encompasses was first set aside for public use in 1768, but was not developed until the mid/late 1800's.
This gate/garden combinations on Gibbes Street is one of my favorite in Charleston.
What a classic Charleston scene on Chalmers Street. The layers of texture is incredible. This is a great example of how stucco is used over brick to create an illusion of solidity. 
A beautiful antebellum (built in 1835) house on South Battery lighting up as the sun starts to go down in Charleston. 
This unusual room on Broad Street has quite a view. While built in the early 19th century, most of the details to this building and its neighbors were added after the earthquake of 1886.
This beautiful house on Meeting Street is the John Poyas House. It was built between 1796 and 1800, but the lot was purchased by Poyas' father-in-law in 1730. A beautiful example of a Charleston garden and some "Haint Blue" piazza ceilings.
Spring must be around the corner as Charleston is blooming! This gorgeous pre-revolutionary house on Tradd Street was built for Judge Robert Pringle in 1774. The bay window was not part of the original structure, but is a pretty cool addition. The Judge didn't get a lot of time to enjoy the house, as he died in 1776. His son inherited it and it remained in the Pringle family for another hundred years.
This row of houses on Bull Street were nicknamed "Bee's Block" during the Civil War, after their owner William C. Bee, who owned a blockade-running firm. Interesting work, if you can get it.
This beautiful house on Legare Street in Charleston was built in 1857 and later became the home of Burnet Rhett Maybank -- who in succession was the mayor of Charleston, the governor of South Carolina and then a United States senator. Not a bad career path.
This beautiful gate along the High Battery, at 17 East Battery, is well dressed for Valentine's Day. A loving one to all of you from Glimpses of Charleston.
The now beautiful Georgian Houses that make up Rainbow Row didn't always look so good. In the 1920's, Susan Pringle Frost,  the founder of the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings (now the Preservation Society of Charleston) bought six of the buildings which were then in near slum-like conditions.  With that, she began one of the first preservation efforts in the United States, even though she did not do the restoration of those properties herself (that was begun by Dorothy Haskell Porcher Legge in 1931).
This pink house is not THE Pink House, although they are both located on the cobblestoned Chalmers Street. THE Pink House is best known for being the oldest residence in Charleston, dating back to about 1690. This pink house is a relative youngster built in about 1800.
The Wentworth Mansion is an incredible almost 24,000 square foot building. It was originally created as a single family  house and was lived in for 34 years. It later became the home of an insurance company. It's currently one of the great small hotels in the United States.
This elegant Adamesque style building began its life as one of the original branches of The First Bank of the United States. Since 1818 it has served as Charleston City Hall. The interior, particularly Council Chambers, is spectacular and worth a visit.
The Circular Congregational Church traces the age of its congregation back to about 1681, but this building has only been there since its construction began in 1890. The building that gave the church its name (and was destroyed by fire in 1861 and then the Civil War) was designed by the famed architect Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument. 
The Old Exchange Building, anchoring the end of Broad Street, has a very storied past. After its construction was completed in 1771, all sorts of interesting things have happened there.
This beautiful Charleston gate was designed by the master artisan, Philip Simmons. The iron was actually wrought by the students of the School of the Building Arts (which has now evolved into the amazing American College of the Building Arts) at the Smithsonian American Folklife Festival on the Mall in Washington, DC.
The early morning sun lights up some of the attached antebellum homes that make up Charleston's famous Rainbow Row.
Just another Charleston house on just another beautiful Charleston day. You can find this house on Meeting Street.
Merry Christmas from Glimpses of Charleston!
A beautiful set of gates on Rainbow Row in Charleston, decked out for the holidays.
The beautiful doors of St. Michael's Church, decorated for Christmas.
Charleston houses are decorated beautifully during the holidays.
Charleston dresses up nicely during the holidays.
The details of Charleston all come together to create one of the most beautiful cities in the world. This wonderful window, shutters and iron fence can be found on Anson Street.
The Colonel John Ashe House is one of the most beautiful on South Battery. Here the sun helps it turn into a wondrous lighthouse.
This house on East Battery is one of the most photographed in Charleston. The popular explanation for why one side is rounded and the other is squared is that the husband and wife who built it could not agree on a design. So one designed one half, the other designed the other half. Thus, it is called the "Compromise House." The true story, however,  seems to be that during a renovation about 40 years after it was built, the owner decided to simply mix two styles of architecture. An interesting footnote to the history of the house is that during World War II, John F. Kennedy had an office in this house while serving as a naval officer -- before heading to the Pacific as the commander of PT109.
The color of the ceiling of these Charleston porches is called "Haint Blue." It is believed that it will keep the "haints" (spirits of the dead) from hanging out in that house.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Revival_architecture
This Charleston steeple looks a bit like it should be heading to the International Space Station, but on earth it is actually St. Patrick Catholic Church on St. Philip Street.
The American flag fits right in on this  beautiful antebellum house on Broad Street. 
Rainbow Row is an iconic stretch of colorful connected buildings on East Bay Street in Charleston. This is not Rainbow Row. Charleston is full of amazingly beautiful, colorful buildings. You can find these on Broad Street.
The gorgeous heart of the College of Charleston campus takes on a special glow at night.
The sidewalk, ironwork and entryway of the John Rutledge House on Broad Street are iconic Charleston symbols.
These doors on Bull Street, while not quite twins, are pretty great looking siblings.  The architectural detail in Charleston is fantastic.
This wonderful Charleston house on Queen Street, with its beautiful door, shutters and window boxes, was recently featured on the poster for the Piccolo Spoleto Festival.
Some beautiful antebellum Charleston masonry on King Street, accessorized by some wonderful window boxes and planters.