The BATTERY Area & Sights of CHARLESTON, South Carolina

In this short guide of historic Charleston , South Carolina ...I decided to start this one from the Battery area, instead of St. Philip's church like I always do as it is one of the most if not THE most popular tourist spot in Charleston . That is the reason wealthy homeowners built their homes here to catch the breezes from the water in this hot  ,( it was 75 degrees in late October ) , and humid area of the Deep South.

Let's look around,

Here is the view from the long walkway made of large slate blocks and concrete, looking towards the mansions that were built here. This walkway goes all around the battery area, towards White Point park, and then to the building where the Coast Guard is located. That is my youngest daughter, Sarah, to the far left of the picture. This is typically always full of tourists and joggers. Those large slate slabs ' move' when you walk on them !

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Another view of the slate slabs and walkway

Here was one of the many carriage that do tours around the historic areas of Charleston. I will tell you that if you do this in the Summer, bring some water as it is very hot , and I recall being on one of these a few times when my son was very young..and he fell asleep on me. A 100 degree day, a child asleep on your lap for an hour, on a crowded carriage ride. I was drenched when I got up to leave that ride...still remember it , and he wakes up and goes, " Let's go again ! "

No way.

Here is a shot of a true Charleston wrought iron bench in White Points Garden. I would have loved to have gotten some shots of the large gazebo that they do weddings in here, but they have dismantled it for renovations. Will get you a shot when it gets back. This park is seen right off the walkway of the Battery, and it has numerous cannons and statues about the War of 1812.
Plus lots of pigeons that my son used to call ducks ...are roaming around waiting for someone to throw them some bread.

Here was an original authentic horse-tie stand that was outside of a house.

Close up of the horse.

Marble entry steps leading to front door. This is a common sight , especially among the mansions on the Battery. I guess people with money all liked marble steps then !

Here was beautiful rose garden off the side of one of the homes. They all have large side piazza or porches to catch the sea breezes.

Many of the homes also have ivy-covered steps leading to the front doors.

  

Ivy seems to be growing on everything here, this was a view of a large cement antique urn in a garden.

Here was a beautiful circular garden at a Bed and Breakfast , in the back, that had the most beautiful antique cement statue I have seen here.

Close-up.

 

She was about my size, and if you saw her you would want her too in your garden.

More beautiful than my photos can show. 

I felt she represented the essence of a woman in her garden.

Typical view of some mansions ivy-covered steps with their dogs lounging around on the porches .
Lucky, lucky dogs.

  A shot of the Calhoun mansions, a wedding gift a very wealthy man named George Williams built for his daughter while she was on a year long honeymoon with her husband in Europe. Hard to believe anyone had that much money to be able to spoil yourself rotten for a year.
Daddy's girl I guess.

When you come to Charleston , you will see street after street of some of these large mansions amidst some that are not quite so large.This one is called the Chisholm mansion off of Tradd St. , a block off of the Battery area. It is called the Charleston Greek revival style, primarily because of the massive columns. This is one of my very favorite homes to walk past, every trip here.
 

Front wrought iron gates of Chisholm mansion. My daughter was with me , she says, " Hey the gates open..go in and take a picture. "
Did not, very tempted and definitely considered it for too long.
Darned open gate-tempter.

Last view in this guide, this was the front of the Dock Street Theatre , the oldest theater in the United States. It is on Church St., a block down from St. Philip's church. It is located at 135 Church St. and was built in the early 1700's. They have been renovating this going on two years now. I have many guides about the historic neighborhoods of Charleston in my September archives, check them out if you have time.
I hope your day is a really, really good one, Blessings,
Gina
" It is good to praise the LORD and make music to your name, O Most High , to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night. " psalm 92:1-2

Statues and Fountains in Historic Charleston, South Carolina

In this guide I'll show you some really great old statues and fountains I photographed one very hot day in Charleston, South Carolina. I mention that it is hot here in the Summer, because if you come from anywhere else in the country or the world to visit between the months of May thru September, you will need to wear shorts, tennis shoes , stick your hair up or wear a sun hat or cap...because the extreme humidity of the Deep South can overwhelm someone not used to it. Here I am to the far left, about to start at St. Philip's church again. I did almost write this about the gravestones and headstones of the graveyards here...but when I went into St. Philip's adjoining cemetery here, right inside these large gates...I got so sad reading the markers explaining that a wife died in childbirth...leaving 7 children and a husband...or one of a 12 year old boy who drowned while swimming...a young girl of 3...and more. They often write the reason someone died on the markers, so it can be very sad. Especially if you have lost someone you really loved. So...I left there in search of statues and bubbling fountains to cheer myself up.

Ok...I forgot that I took this picture of a beautiful carved memorial in St. Philip's opposite graveyard ( there is one on both sides of the church and on the opposite side of the street)...intricate carved detail in the marble and I absolutely did NOT read how this person died or who it is for.

I found this large bronze statue of nudes, in a large round pool of water,  in a downtown neighborhood while I was meandering through...I cannot recall what street it was on because I believe I was lost...but always fun to get lost in a neighborhood of gorgeous gardens. I always find my way back , sooner or later.

 

I love this little guy, I see him on all my trips, lots of pools or enclosures of water, usually round , but sometimes rectangular like this one. Almost always encircled by clipped holly bushes.

 

 

Here was a large bronze tiered fountain , inside a round pool of water, simply made of concrete. This was a very elaborate fountain, hard to take a photo of as I had to try to get it through heavy wrought iron fencing.

  

Here is a large antique birdbath that they have put a potted fern on top of an have impatiens planted all around. This statue stood about 4 feet tall, I have seen many copied of this, but this was an old original.

 

 This was in a large garden at the  Nathaniel Russell house, this is one of a pair of old antique statues at the front of the garden.

A dolphin birdbath/fountain with a wonderful circular patterned brickwork surround.

 

Here was a statue at the very back of a bed and breakfast on the Battery...tucked away in a alcove.

 

This birdbath with a statue was also in the same bed and Breakfast on the Battery, this one was near a seating area to sit and enjoy breakfast or a meal outside.

Very common to see the statue and fountains though the wrought iron fencing.

 

 Beautiful large fountain inside small pool of water, right off the Battery.

         I recall taking this photo , as the first time I went by this large garden off of Broad street, the fountain was not on...and then when I passed by later it was. I walked into a large open garden...believing it was a bed and breakfast...but when I started taking pictures of the yard and fountain...a man walked out on the steps...looked at me and smiled...and I smiled back because he was a priest , with his spiffy black suit on and his white collar, below that smile.  Later I discovered I was on the front lawn of an adjoining churches offices.  

                 Here you see the fountain enclosed in a angular larger pool of water, all surrounded by brick walkways...sort of a larger knot garden.

Here is one of those larger pools of water with a beautiful fountain spraying in equal directions.  You also can see that the homeowners are ' sharing ' their garden with passerbys. They have the fountain framed perfectly from the sidewalk for us.

Again, a very large basin or pool of water with a middle fountain in a very large garden downtown.

Such a pretty fountain inside a octagonal pool of water, was bronze with cherubs.

This was a very large three tired fountain with the fish base in the typical round pool.

This was a gorgeous tiered fountain, hidden inside a narrow Charleston garden. Lots of these are painted black, instead of let the typical concrete that we see.

Original old four seasons staue, about 2 1/2 feet tall..I believe this is Summer. I took all of these at the Nathaniel Russell house off Meeting St. Open to the Public.

Here was Winter.

 I think this was Spring, may be summer I get them confused. I did not take a picture of Fall as the poor little guy had no head..appropriate I suppose.

Large bronze statue, the most glorious in Charleston at the S. Battery garden . I have a larger picture of this garden in another guide , check it out.

Here is a view of the Calhoun mansion, in the back. I am doing another guide of just this garden area. this fountain was the largest I saw at a home...approx. 15 feet tall.

Here is a view of another tiered fountain . I will be writing more of these glimpses of Charleston, SC to give you some garden inspirations.

later,

Gina

" He who believes in ME, as the scripture has said, out if his heart will flow rivers of living water. " John 7:38ho