Historical Homes, Random sites in Charleston SC

We are off the ferry, with the history of Charleston ringing in our ears. We boarded our coach for an hour tour of the historical district. Charleston has set up a strict set of preservation laws and the outside of buildings have to maintain historical accuracy. The other interesting thing to note is the number and variety of denominations in churches. 

There is a  French Protestant (Huguenot) church. The French Protestant Church of Charleston was founded in approximately 1681 by Huguenot refugees from the Protestant persecutions in France. About 450 Huguenots had settled in South Carolina's Low Country by 1700. The first Huguenot Church was built on its present site in 1687, but in 1796 was destroyed in an attempt to stop the spread of fire, which had burned a large surrounding area. The replacement for the original building was completed in 1800 and dismantled in 1844 to make way for the present Gothic Revival edifice  designed by Edward Brickell White and dedicated in 1845 The church was damaged by shellfire during the long bombardment of downtown Charleston in the War Between the States and was nearly demolished in the severe earthquake of 1886. The present building dates to 1845.This is the only remaining independent Huguenot Church in America. Our church is governed by the Board of Directors and the Board of Elders. Calvinist doctrine, as handed down by the early founders, is very much in evidence today.

There is mention of a earthquake in 1886 that devastated the city, then there was a fire in 1861, and Hugo came through in 1989 Category 4 making landfall at Charleston harbor. The city rebuilds but keeps true to its historical roots. You call see history all around you. 

Through out the city there are Single-houses - They take advantage of cool breezes blowing in over the harbor. The houses are designed only one room ride so all the rooms can take advantage of the breeze. Wide porticoes and piazzas are built on the side of the house facing the prevailing winds. They have doors to the porches to afford the families privacy. I loved these houses. 

In 1886, Charleston was hit by a severe earthquake which was estimated to have had a magnitude of 7.3 on today’s Richter scale. This is the most significant earthquake ever to have occurred in the southeastern U.S. The quake left many of the city’s buildings in ruins, and caused significant damage to the majority of structures. Since the city did not have enough money to rebuild everything, buildings were stabilized by running iron bars from one end of the structure to the other, with iron bolts fixing them in place to the facade of the structure. These are visible throughout the district.

 St. Mary's Church (89 Hassell St) was built in 1839 and is a wonderful example of Classical Revival Style, featuring galleries on three sides of the sanctuary, oil paintings dating back to the 1800's, and tombstones with French writing in its churchyard

Charles Rutledge house, Many of the old homes have decorative
wrought iron work this work was done by Christopher Werner

The trees here have a plant called Resurrection fern - an air plants that
attaches itself to other plants and gets it nutrients from the air and water that collects
on the other surface of bark. It lives on cypresses and live Oaks. In times
of drought it dries out and as soon as there is water it uncurls and reopens.
the tiny plant has even taken on a space shuttle mission to watch it resurrect itself
in space.

this is a bed and breakfast on the Battery

I love the street signs they show the neighbor hoods 

The Dr. Vincent LeSeigneur House Circa 1812