Glimpses of Charleston

A local's eye view

Street/Park Scenes

The Four Corners of Law at the intersection of Broad and Meeting Streets is one of the iconic spots in Charleston. Here you can see the buildings representing Federal (the US Post Office and Courthouse) and God's (St. Michael's Church) law.
Charleston is a living city, and not a museum. The historic and the modern must, and do, coexist. Here the steeple of St. Philip's Church shares the space with some more modern technology.
This fence and gate on Vanderhorst Street help frame a house located on Thomas Street -- that was built and sold in 1833 to Robert Barnwell Rhett, who was best known as the "Father of  Secession."
Night time at the City Market. During the day, the buildings are full of action -- vendors, visitors and shoppers. The entire complex of buildings is on the National Register of Historic Places.  At the head is the beautiful Market Hall,  followed by a series of "sheds" -- one of which is shown here.
The section of Church Street is called the "Bend" for obvious reasons. This bricked stretch of the street is one of the most beautiful to stroll in town.
A beautiful stretch of pre-Revolutionary houses on Tradd Street. While  the gambrel roof form on the brick tenement on the left was once common in Charleston in the mid 18th century, only a few examples of it still survive.
A classic Charleston scene. St. Philip's is certainly one of the iconic churches in the Holy City. While this church building was erected in 1836 (it being the third one for the congregation), the steeple was added between 1848 and 1850.
These columns are all that remain of the Charleston Museum, when it located in Cannon Park. The museum was founded in 1773 and is regarded as America's first museum.
Ashley Hall, an all girls school which counts Barbara Bush among its alum, has a beautiful campus in downtown Charleston.
South Adgers Wharf is just one of the eight cobblestone streets actively in use in Charleston. Beautiful, yet super bumpy.
This wonderful wall of colonial era brick is on Elliott Street, just around the corner from Rainbow Row.
The John Rutledge House on Broad Street, now the John Rutledge House Inn, has one of the more eye-catching fronts and sidewalks in Charleston. Built in 1763, a lot of history has taken place within its walls -- including George Washington having breakfast there with Rutledge in 1791.
This beautiful spot is just south of Rainbow Row on East Bay Street -- or, as Judy Garland, might have sung... Somewhere over the Rainbow :)
The moon over the Christmas tree at Colonial Lake.
The Vendue, a boutique hotel on Vendue Range, is well dressed for the holidays.
The John Rutledge House on Broad Street dresses up for the holidays.
This scene is on Elliot Street, just down from Poinsett's Tavern -- whose owner introduced the Poinsettia to the United States. Some beautiful Colonial brick and holiday beauty.
This view into the Cistern Yard at the College of Charleston would not be possible if Randolph Hall had not been built 190 years ago... in 1828. It's one of the oldest college buildings still in use in the United States.
The famous Sword Gate on Legare Street always looks good, especially when framed by flags.
This house, c. 1783, on Meeting Street is full of Charleston beauty. On its top is a rooftop lantern or cupola, which is an unusual feature for a private house, as they are more common in public or institutional buildings.
The house on the corner of King Street and South Battery was built in the 1820's and originally had a double-tiered piazza -- which was removed in the early 1900's and replaced by the current doorway and iron balcony.
This carriage is pulling some visitors past the Villa Margherita on South Battery. This house has a storied past, both as a residence and a hotel (four US presidents, among others, have stayed there).
A cool little gate and its greenery cap on Tradd Street between the quoin covered corners of two houses. How Charleston.
A beautiful fall scene on Tradd Street to help celebrate the holiday. Happy Thanksgiving!
These houses on Church Street date back to the late 1700's (the one flying the flags was built in 1796). This part of Church Street is paved with bricks. It's one of the few places you will find that in Charleston.
This row of buildings on Broad Street, one of the most important colonial era streets in America, were built between 1780 and 1806. 
Honoring all those who have served the United States of America in the armed forces... the beautiful flag display on Lockwood Boulevard.
One of the smallest parks in Charleston, Allan Park is on land that was donated to the city by Mrs. Amey Allan -- the widow of James Allan who developed most of the eastern half of Hampton Park Terrace.
These wonderful houses on South Battery are directly across from the beautiful White Point Garden. Each of their porches has a fantastic view of the park.
Happy Halloween! This holiday is seriously celebrated in Charleston. Flattered, many of the more ghoulish residents hang out in the open and bask in the attention. You can find these excited fellows on the balcony at the beautifully modified Pre-Revolutionary house at the northeast corner of the intersection of Tradd and Meeting Streets.
Does it get any more Charleston-y than this?
King Street is a great street to stroll on just about any time. But, once a month the entire street, from Queen to Calhoun, is shut to vehicular traffic and you can stroll right up the middle (and eat and shop and shop and eat). It happens every second Sunday of the month and is, coincidentally, called "Second Sunday."
This beautiful illuminated scene can be found on Broad Street, between King and Meeting Streets.
This beautiful fountain can be found on the Meeting Street side of Marion Square, which from 1843 until 1922 was called Citadel Green -- as the space was used to muster troops and the Citadel once occupied the space to the north of the park.
Prior to becoming the heart of the College of Charleston, the land that the Cistern Yard is on was the home for Revolutionary War barracks -- which were used as some of the earliest classrooms. 
The College of Charleston sure is pretty (as this scene attests). In 2017, Travel & Leisure magazine named it the most beautiful college campus in America! Do you agree with that designation?
Charleston cares about its trees, so much so some of them get to grow into the road -- like this one on Legare Street. Old is honored in Charleston!
Scattered around Charleston are some beautiful water features. The wonderful pocket park on Chapel Street is the home to this great fountain.
These columns and gates on Tradd Street open up on to what looks like a country lane, but is just a driveway in the South of Broad neighborhood. Charleston is full of all sorts of surprises.
This beautiful spot is part of The Bend on Church Street. So Charleston.