Historic Charleston

Charleston has a rich and storied history through Colonial, Revolutionary, Antebellum and Civil War America. Today many of Charleston’s buildings reflect the nation’s great social and architectural history of period buildings which are concentrated in what is referred to as the Historic District.
 
The Historic District is comprised mainly of residential dwellings in addition to commercial, ecclesiastical and government buildings. The wide variety of architectural styles, close proximity, and unique use of scale and proportion create a discernible appearance associated to what many consider old Charleston. Georgian, Regency, Federal, Adamesque, Classical Revival, Greek Revival, Italianate, Gothic Revival and Queen Anne are a number of of the many architectural styles prominent within the Historic District.
 
A majority of buildings located within this district utilize an array of various brick, stucco and clapboard construction. Most 18th and 19th century residences embody the iconic Charleston style “single house” – an elongated one room wide abode with tiered piazzas designed to catch a cool summer sea breeze.
 
Many outbuildings such as stables, carriage houses and kitchen buildings pepper the district which, over the years, has been extensively altered to accommodate modern use of the space.