Wandering Through Charleston

When I think of beautiful architecture I think Charleston, South Carolina. The Holy City packs decades of architectural history into a walkable area, with great food, shopping, and coffee spots along the way. In this guide, I wanted to show off all of Charleston’s beauty but also give you something that’s easy to reference, with place names and addresses, just in case you want to find these places yourself.

Hope you enjoy this guide just as much as I enjoyed putting it together! If you do happen to visit Charleston and find this guide useful - please reach out and let me know. I’d love to hear which spots are your favorites.

John Rutledge House Inn

This pretty facade is home to the John Rutledge House Inn - a historic, pet-friendly boutique hotel. It’s conveniently located right next to the shops and restaurants of King St. and a block away from Tradd St., which boasts some of the most iconic homes in Charleston. The staff was very friendly and we found our experience to be seamless from check-in to check-out.

Rainbow Row

There’s a reason this is the most famous row of homes in Charleston. There are so many beautiful angles and details to capture! Did you know - that the pastel colors are preserved by city ordinance and the homeowners aren’t allowed to change them? Here’s a brief story of how Rainbow Row came to be:

The homes here date back to 1740 and were owned by merchants who ran their businesses out of the ground floor and lived right above. Decades passed by and the area became a bit run down, then in 1931 Dorothy Porcher Legge decided to paint her house a pretty pastel shade of pink in the hope it would brighten up the area. Other homes did the same, each picking a pastel shade, and thus Rainbow Row was born. It’s amazing what a bit of paint can do, don’t you think?

The Battery

The Battery in Charleston is known for its stately antebellum homes. It was named for the civil-war defense artillery that was once located here, but now it’s a prime destination for tourists and locals alike. It’s located adjacent to White Point Gardens, a lovely spot to stroll and find some shade on a hot summer day.

126 Tradd St.

This pink door is a favorite of artists and photographers - and definitely a must-visit for that perfect souvenir photograph from your visit to Charleston. For your dose of history: this iconic home was built around 1732 by Alexander Smith.

17 Tradd St.

With a paint color undoubtedly inspired by the shades found along Rainbow Row, this beautiful home boasts window-boxes and a lovely second floor balcony. Fun fact: it was last sold in 2019 for the price of $2.7 million.

Broad Street

This palm-lined street offers great views of St. Michael’s Church and plenty of pastel-colored facades to admire.

Philadelphia Alley

Don’t miss this cute little alley located off of Queen Street. I love how the greenery contrasts with the bold coral facade of this home on the right.

Queen Street

Charleston’s Queen Street is named in honor of Queen Caroline of Ansbach, consort of King George II. Although she had no political power, she had significant influence over her spouse. This quaint street is home to many restaurants and pubs, housed in weathered brick facades, and you may even spot a classic car along your journey.

Beautiful Doors Everywhere

This isn’t a specific building or POI, but just a note about the endless supply of amazing doors you can find in Charleston. If you love beautiful doors, the city is the place for you!

The Pink House, 17 Chalmers St.

It appears that Charleston loves the color pink! As a fan of the color myself, I was excited to stumble upon the Pink House. Southern Living recently featured this home when it was for sale in 2017.

25 Queen St.

Bold red shutters and a door on a concrete facade - a beautiful contrast between raw and refined.

French Hugenot Church

Located at 136 Church Street, the French Hugenot church was constructed in 1860 when French protestants were sent to the new colony to establish themselves and their religion. Built in a style known as Gothic Revival, the pink paint color contrasts with its menacing dark spires.

And there you have it - my picks for beautiful facades and architectural gems in Charleston. If you plug these locations in to your GPS, this should make a nice walking tour to see some of Charleston’s historic areas. Enjoy - and please do give me a shout if you enjoyed this guide and seeing Charleston through my lens.