Charleston

We drove from Georgetown to Charleston and met up with cousin, Susie and her husband, Terry.
They drove in from North Augusta, Georgia.  We spent the day wandering through the historic district and waterfront.  Many buildings in the historic district date back to the colonial period despite fires and earthquakes which destroyed much of Charleston in the past.

Charleston Market Hall

Our tour started at the City Market which has been in existence for over 300 years. Market Hall serves as the front entrance to the market which is a series of stalls accessed through arcades and runs for several blocks.   Market Hall is an imposing Greek-revival style building which pre-dates the War of Succession (or as referred to by Northerners the American Civil War).  Today, Market Hall houses Charleston's Confederate Museum.  The renown Gulah sweetgrass baskets are sold in the market.


Terry attended college in Charleston and was a great source of information about the city.  He took us to a wonderful place for lunch which had good eats and cheap.  We went to the Dixie Supply Bakery and Cafe for lunch.  This establishment was featured in an episode of the TV show, Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Dwayne and Carla shared scrumptious shrimp and grits along with a tasty tomato pie. Brian also had shrimp and grits. Janet had tomato pie.  Susie and Terry split a wrap. We had to take a long walk to work off the lunch.

Dixie Supply Bakery and Cafe

One of the interesting features of some of the antebellum homes built in Charleston by merchants and plantation owners who used them as town houses is the apparent "front door" is really a door to the front porch which faces a courtyard or piazza. The lots are very narrow but very deep.  Servants quarters, stables and carriage houses line the courtyard in depth.  Many of the current houses have turned the courtyards into elaborate gardens. Some of the streets are still stone or cobblestone.

NOT an Entrance Door to the House

Front Porch and House Entrance Door

There are numerous old churches in Charleston of various denominations.  The city had a large Jewish population and French Huguenots were among the earliest settlers.  The Huguenot Church built in 1844 by French Protestants is one of the finest examples of a building in the Gothic Revival Style.

Huguenot Church

We also visited St. Philip's Church cemetery which serves as the final resting place for prominent South Carolinians.  The St. Philip's Episcopal congregation is the oldest in South Carolina dating back to 1681. Construction on the current church began in 1835 and was completed in 1850. Unfortunatly, we were not able to access the church itself.