The roof lines of the Circular Church have a lot of interesting detail, and on this sunny day made an interesting picture.
Circular Congregational Church, Charleston
The current building isn’t circular, but a cloverleaf design erected starting in 1890. It includes some bricks from the previous building that burned in 1861.
Circular Congregational Church, Charleston
There is a glimpse of the Gibbes Museum of Art roof at the far left of the above photo. Here is a look at some of the details.
Historic Charleston is dotted with homes that have two levels of open air porches, also called piazzas. While most of them run along the side of the house this one is unusual as it faces the front and the public sidewalk passes underneath the second floor porch.
Branford-Horry House, First (Scots) Presbyterian Church In Background
The railings, ceilings and columns have amazing details.
Branford-Horry House Portico
A hammock currently swings in the breeze.
Branford-Horry House Portico
A plaque shares a few of the details on the private home, built around 1751. Wikipedia states that the three stories comprise 6,216 square feet,
Branford-Horry House
Taken from inside the front garden of the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church, across Tradd Street from the home:
Hibernian Hall is a meeting hall and social venue built in 1840. An example of Greek Revival architecture , it is Charleston’s only work by Thomas Ustick Walter. The wrought iron gates were made by Christopher Werner, a German-American master ironworker in Charleston.*
I’m a fan of the symmetry and the wrought iron work.
Hibernian Hall, Charleston SC
With a break in the pedestrian traffic I was able to line up the harp in the iron work with the painted one on the building.
Hibernian Hall, Charleston SC
The hall is nationally significant for its use during the 1860 Charleston Convention, in which the Democratic Party, divided by opinions on slavery, failed to select a presidential nominee, ensuring victory for the anti-slavery Republican Party in the 1860 presidential election. The building was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1973 and continues to be used as a function and meeting space today. (*Wikipedia)
In March the Historic Foundation held The Charleston Festival 2024 which included Designer Vignettes at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum.
On the second floor works from several artists were on display including canvases, floral arrangements and other interior design setups.
Tulips on Bedroom Mantel
The work “Spilled Lavender,” which is a 4 foot by 4 foot (1.25 meter) square, hung above a mantle gives a sense of the height of the space in this once opulent home.
When the Foundation assumed ownership in 1995, we adopted a preserved-as-found preservation approach, meaning the structure and contents are left in an “as-found” state, including furniture, architecture and finishes that have not been altered since the mid 19th century.
Hence the unpainted walls:
Aiken-Rhett House West Bedroom
On the other side of the bedroom a splash of tulips highlighted a display.
Tulips on Bureau with Dancer
Aiken-Rhett House Museum, Historic Charleston Foundation
Charleston, SC
In March the Historic Foundation held The Charleston Festival 2024 which included Designer Vignettes at the Aiken-Rhett House Museum.
Jill Hooper was the featured artist with her exhibition Windows into Another World, “a glimpse into a Utopian setting of humans and animals/nature —birds, fawns, giraffes, butterflies, coyotes…and beyond.”
I was fascinated by her main work and the high ceilinged setting of the preserved Aiken-Rhett House made it more fanciful.
Jill Hooper Vignettes at The Charleston Festival
Our planning to get there shortly after they opened paid off with some opportunities to photograph without other visitors.
Jill Hooper Vignettes at The Charleston Festival
On the other end of the double parlor were other Jill Hooper works, notably her self portrait.
Jill Hooper, Self Portrait with Hat
And some smaller sketches.
Jill Hooper, Self Portrait with Hat
From the outside, on the porch, looking in.
Jill Hooper, Self Portrait with Hat
Aiken-Rhett House Museum, Historic Charleston Foundation
Charleston, SC
Following up on my last post about seeing the French Huguenot Church from the parking garage…
The spire of St. Philips Church dominates the view in this direction. You can just make out a sliver of the French Huguenot Church’s decorative top in the lower right corner.
St. Philips Church, Charleston, Taken from parking garage
From the other direction, at street level.
St. Philips Church, Charleston, top of the wrought iron gate
The gate from the inside of the fence, looking towards the Dock Street Theater and French Huguenot Church.
Detail of the Gate
St. Philips Church, Charleston, SC
February 27, 2024
I have parked in the upper floors of the Cumberland Street garage many times, but never had noticed how the Gothic details of the French Huguenot Church were visible.
French Huguenot Church, Charleston
I was more familiar with this view, at street level.
French Huguenot Church, Charleston
It was a dull day so the pink doesn’t seem as striking as when the sun is fully out, but it is still pink. See my post from just over a year ago, French Huguenot Church, Pink for a comparison.
French Huguenot Church, Charleston
French Huguenot Church, Charleston, SC
February 27, 2024
For such an amazing architectural beauty, this staircase is in a very small space, making it is difficult to photograph it all. Standing underneath and looking up provides an interesting view.
Up Through the Staircase
This view shows a small door to the outdoors, which seems out of place. The light shining out of the underside of the staircase allows a view of the construction.
Cantilevered Staircase, First Floor, Trap Door to Root Cellar in Floor
And it sticks out on the other side of the staircase, just like the window in my post about the second floor view.
Looking Across a Tread of the Staircase
This is that little door from the outside. One of the museum volunteers told me this was used to access the root cellar, again a bit of practical over maintaining full symmetry.
I’m 5′ 8″ (1.7 M) and when I stood on the step of this door my hair would have grazed the header if I could have stepped in.
Door Under Staircase From Outside
Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023
This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.
Built in 1808, the design of a Charleston merchant’s home was all about symmetry. And impressing your neighbors, like this three-story, cantilevered, flying staircase was intended to do.
Window Behind the Cantilevered Staircase, Second Floor
Sometimes, reality didn’t match the rules, and this window is not evenly placed behind the staircase. But it does illustrate that the staircase doesn’t touch the wall for support.
Window Behind the Cantilevered Staircase
This window seen from the outside, taken from what is now the narrow driveway to the back of the property. My back was at the wall of the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church next door and the trees reflected in the glass are in the graveyard.
Window From Outside
Nathaniel Russell House Museum, Charleston, SC
January 27, 2023
This home has been restored to its 1808 appearance and is part of the Historic Charleston Foundation collection.
