Highlights of Charleston South Carolina Walking Tour

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The Charles Drayton home was built between 1885 and 1886 by W.B.W Howe JR as a townhome for Charles Henry Drayton. The home possesses both Medieval European and Chinese architecture. What was once a white brick and Black grout façade, is now an iconic pink stucco exterior. This house is a landmark. It was built alongside the beautiful well-known Battery Park in Charleston, SC.

2. Edmonds-Alston House

The Edmonston-Alston house was built in 1825, then remodeled by its second owner in 1837. Initially, the home was one of the grandest in Charleston, and the renovation several years later added to that reputation with the external Greek Revival detailing. The home has been preserved to demonstrate its 19th century way of life. Today, guided tours are available for visitors to view the architecture style, interior decor, and original artifacts belonging to the original inhabitants of the home.

3. Calhoun Mansion

Built in 1876, this famous property is considered one of “America’s Castles”. The 35+ room mansion is known as the largest private residence in all of Charleston. The mansion has been restored to its original condition by a Charleston resident who spent 25 years and $5,000,000 restoring it. The Calhoun mansion is now open to the public for tours and viewing.

4. Miles Brewton House

The Miles Brewton House is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian townhouses in the country. Constructed in 1769, it is named after its builder, Milton Brewton (1731-1775), who was one of South Carolina's most prominent figures during the Colonial period. A successful merchant, Brewton amassed a large fortune that placed him among the elite in the colony. He also served in the colonial legislature. In terms of architecture, the house is described as a "Charleston double house" (meaning, a central stair hallway with two rooms on each side) and features a two-story portico with Doric on Ionic columns and a decorative pediment with an oval window. The house stands on a stone basement and one reaches the main entrance using one of the flanking staircases. Inside, the house features elaborate wood and plasterwork as well as marble fireplace mantels. It remains a private residence by family descendants and is not open to the public.

5. Nathaniel Russell House Museum

The Nathaniel Russell House is considered to be one of the country's finest Neoclassical homes. Built in 1808 by wealthy shipping merchant Nathaniel Russell (1738-1820), it is a National Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is owned and operated by the Historic Charleston Foundation, which acquired it in 1955. The house, which also serves as the Foundation’s headquarters, allows visitors learn about what daily life was like for wealthy families and their slaves in the early 19th century. The interiors are restored to their original 1808 appearance and formal gardens surround the house. The most striking feature of the house is the three-story, cantilevered, spiral staircase.

6. Branford-Horry House

Branford-Horry House, in Charleston, South Carolina, is widely held to be one of the grandest historic homes in one of the nation's oldest cities. Built for a wealth Charleston planter and later sold to the namesake of one of the state's largest counties, it has withstood nearly 250 years and a high speed car crash.

7. Heyward-Washington House

This Georgian-style home, built in 1772, was the town home of Thomas Heyward, Revolutionary war leader and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The home was rented for President George Washington’s weeklong visit to Charleston in 1791. Today, visitors are able to tour the home and view the historic Charleston-made furniture original to the property, an 18th-century well, a 1740s kitchen building, and a carriage house. Original features viewable in the home include the Holmes Bookcase, considered the finest example of furniture made in the U.S.

8. Rainbow Row Houses

The most nostalgic view in Charleston, South Carolina comes from the historic Rainbow Row. The thirteen 6th century brightly hued homes are located between 79 and 101 East Bay Street. Rainbow Road is recognized as one of the most well-photographed areas in Charleston. The name Rainbow Row was coined after the pastel colors they were painted as they were restored in the 1930s and 1940s. Valued at millions of dollars each, and prized by the city's historical counsel, these homes are treasures to Charleston locals and draw admirers worldwide.

9. Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

The Old Exchange Building and Provost located at East Bay and Broad Streets was built originally as the Royal Exchange in 1771. The building completed in 1771, the Exchange and Custom House was the social, cultural center, and economic center of the colony. It is said to be the last public building commissioned by the British in the colonies. The building was made a National Historical Landmark in 1973.

10. Farmers' and Exchange Bank

The Farmers' and Exchange Bank is considered one of the country's finest examples of Moorish Revival architecture and the only building the Charleston designed in this style. The bank's directors chose this style to distinguish it from other bank buildings in the city that were traditional and conservative in appearance. Given its striking appearance, the bank, which was erected in 1854, was both designated a National Historic Landmark and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973.

11. Clark Mills Studio

This historic building once housed the studio of artist Clark Mills (1810-1883), who is known for creating equestrian sculptures of President Andrew Jackson, including the one located in Lafayette Square in Washington D.C. He is also known for casting the bronze "Statue of Freedom" statue designed by artist Thomas Crawford that stands atop the U.S. Capitol dome. Mills became so successful primarily because he pioneered techniques in casting bronze. He rented space in the building from 1837 to 1848 before relocating to Washington D.C. The building was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1960 and is also a National Historic Landmark.

12. South Carolina Historical Society

Established in 1855, the South Carolina Historical Society museum and archives houses the largest collection of private historical documents in the state. Additionally, the collection and administration is housed in the historic Robert Mills Fireproof Building. Built in 1872, the building itself is historically significant. At the time of its completion, the Fireproof Building was the only one of it's kind in the entire country.

13. Old Slave Mart Museum

The Old Slave Mart Museum is housed in what was once the Old Slave Mart. Between the years of 1856 and 1863, slaves were held and sold in this building. It is the last standing slave market in South Carolina. The building is now home to the Old Slave Mart Museum, which preserves the building, tells the story of the individuals who suffered within its walls, and displays relevant artifacts and exhibits on South Carolina’s history of slavery.

14. Pink House Gallery

The Pink House Gallery is one of the oldest buildings remaining in South Carolina, being built in 1690's. The gallery itself closed in 2013, thus it is currently closed to the public. However, the exterior is still accessible via the street, and the courtyard may be accessible at certain times for a fee by the new owner. The Pink House Gallery is a unique piece of historical architecture. With a sultry and diverse past, the building stands as one of the few remaining structures of its kind. With a unique history ranging from brothel housing to art gallery, the Pink House Gallery is a significant Charleston artifact.

15. Dock Street Theatre

The Dock Street Theatre is located in the French Quarter of Charleston. The theatre opened on February 12, 1736 and was the first building in America to be erected for the sole purpose of being a theatre. The original Dock Street Theatre was destroyed by the Great Fire of 1740, and was then rebuilt in 1809 as the Planters Hotel, then rebuilt again in 2010 as the Dock Street Theater. Currently, the Dock Street Theatre is home to cultural and theatrical performances.

16. Huguenot Church

Erected in 1845, Huguenot Church is historically significant as the first building in Charleston designed in the Gothic Revival style. The word "huguenot" refers to French Protestants, who first arrived in the area in 1680. Designed by architect Edward Brickell White, the church features Gothic windows, a battlemented parapet, and buttresses topped by ornate pinnacles. The church's walls are made of brick and covered with stucco, and the roof is supported by a vaulted ceiling. The church is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark.

17. Pirate House

The Pirate House is a private residence within the French Quarter of downtown Charleston. Built in the 1700’s, this house is the source of a legendary history. Thought to be a building that once housed Pirate traders, the only existing documentation is large anchor that hangs outside, and now closed off passageways in the home’s basement. The home is celebrated as a tangible piece of Charleston's eclectic history. The home exterior, courtyard, and neighboring cemetery can be viewed from the street.

18. St. Philip's Episcopal Church

This chuch stands right in the middle of historic Charleston, SC. It is steeped in rich colonial history as well as beautiful architectural history. It is home to the oldest church congregation in the South. It is also Narional Historic Landmark as of 1973.

19. Powder Magazine

The Powder Magazine is a military based museum housed in the oldest public building in South Carolina. Originally designed to hold the gunpowder which fueled the cannons protecting 1700’s era Charleston, this important piece of South Carolina history has been preserved to nearly its original condition. Since the early 1900’s it has served as a museum, showcasing important military and wartime artifacts and exhibits from throughout South Carolina. Today the building is just as significant as the content it contains. A revolutionary development for its era, the building was purposefully designed to explode up through the roof, instead of out through the walls.

20. Circular Congregational Church

Founded in 1681, Circular Congregational Church is home to one of the oldest congregations in the the South. The building itself was erected in 1892 using bricks of the previous church that had been destroyed by fire in 1861. Despite its name, the church resembles a clover leaf attached to a rectangular structure (the earlier church was circular in shape). It is also an excellent example of Richardsonian Romanesque architecture, featuring a large central tower on the roof, arched windows, a rose window, an octagonal tower housing a winding staircase, and decorative brickwork. Behind the church is what is believed to be the oldest cemetery in the city. Also on the church grounds is the historic Lance Hall, which was designated a National Historic Landmark for its outstanding Greek Revival architecture and association with its architect, Robert Mills, who designed the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The congregation is progressive and inclusive.

21. Gibbes Museum of Art

Founded in 1905, the Gibbes Museum of Art is a fine art museum featuring works from Charleston, the South, and around the country. The collection contains more than 10,000 works of art that span four centuries of American history. These include paintings, sculptures, works on paper, decorative art objects, multi-media installations, and a well-known collection of 600 miniature portraits. The museum is named after benefactor James Gibbes, whose will included funds to help built an art an exhibition hall. The Gibbes is a contributing property of the Charleston Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Historic Landmark District.

22. Unitarian Church

The Unitarian Church is the oldest Unitarian church in the South, and the second oldest church in Charleston. Designed after famous British churches, this may be the first instance of Gothic architecture in the United States. Having survived the Great Charleston Earthquake of 1886 and Hurricane Hugo in 1989, the church remains an important artifact in the city. The adjoined cemetery is thought to be the source of inspiration for Edgar Allen Poe’s poem Annabel Lee, based on a ghost who allegedly haunts the grounds to this day.

23. The Charleston City Market

The City Market in Charleston, SC is still a vibrant hub of commerce today as it was in the past. Located between Meeting Street and Broad Street the current City Market stands in almost the exact same location as the original public market that was established in 1692. By 1739 the first official brick building of the market would be erected.

24. St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church

St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church is home to the oldest Catholic parish in the southeastern United States. Founded in 1789, it was the mother parish to other Catholic congregations in Georgia and the Carolinas. The building itself is also significant. It was erected in 1839 in the Greek Revival style and features a portico with four large Doric columns supporting an entablature, a parapet wall with a large cross in the center, and arched and circular windows with keystones above the main entrance. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

25. Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue

Founded in 1740, the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim synagogue is significant for its excellently preserved Greek Revival architecture and the fact that is where Reform Judaism first appeared in America. The building itself dates back to 1840 and is the second oldest synagogue building in use in the U.S. The sanctuary and on-site museum are open to the public for scheduled tours, which can be arranged through the synagogue office. The tour provides insight into the history of Charleston's Jewish population and the KKBE congregation. The museum houses artifacts specific to the synagogue, the Jewish population, and historical Jews of Charleston.

26. Kress Lunch Counter Sit-In 1960

On April 1, 1960, a group of twenty-four Burke High School students staged a sit-in at the S.H. Kress & Co. lunch counter. This was the first large-scale direct-action campaign against racial segregation in Charleston, and it became the catalyst that spurred the local African American community into organizing additional protests. The Kress Co. operated in the building until 1980 and it presently houses a Williams-Sonoma store and private offices. The Charleston Preservation Society unveiled a marker commemorating this historical event on April 4, 2013.

27. Sottile Theatre

Originally called the Gloria, when the theater opened in 1927 with more than 2,000 seats, it was the largest of its kind in the United States. Movie theaters in the 1920s and 1930s were referred to as "picture palaces" because of the incredible size and seating capacity of the spaces. The Gloria served as both a movie house and a theater space, hosting vaudeville acts that traveled the country. Many theaters like the Gloria were built with marble hallways, eccentric chandeliers, and offered many on-site conveniences. The theater is famous for hosting January 29, 1940, Charleston premiere of "Gone With The Wind," with Charlestonian cast member Alicia Rhett attending the screening. The Gloria theater operated continuously from 1927 until 1975 when it closed.

This Tour is a Walking Tour.

Highlights of Charleston South Carolina Walking Tour

Created by Marcia Edwards on March 10th 2018, 9:26:49 pm.

This tour has been viewed 3646 times.

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This walking tour includes over two dozen historic homes, churches, markers, monuments, and other landmarks. The tour also incorporates a few museums along the way that incorporate topics from slavery to the work of local artists. The South Carolina Historical Society is located at the halfway point of the tour and the tour concludes at the site of a civil right sit-in.

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Entries on This Tour

Highlights of Charleston South Carolina Walking Tour

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