Hey Guys!
This morning we woke up to a rainy day but we didn’t let that stop us from sticking to our itinerary!
We started our morning with breakfast at a nearby restaurant called, the Flying Biscuit Cafe in Mt Pleasant, SC.
After getting seated, we took a few minutes to look over the menu.
We both decided on the flying biscuit breakfast that came with eggs, bacon or sausage, grits or potatoes and a biscuit.
The food and the service were great!
Read reviews here
After breakfast, we headed to our next stop of the day which took us through downtown Charleston.
Our first stop of the day would be the Nathaniel Russell House.
Tip: The house is open for tours on Mon from 1-4 and Tues-Sun from 10-4 and tickets are $16 for adults and $7 for children….6 and under are free. Click here to download an app that will give you an audio tour of the house and other historic places in Charleston.
The Nathaniel Russell House was built in 1808 and is a National Historic Landmark.
Entering the house
Nathaniel Russell was a merchant and slave trader who lived in this house with his wife and two daughters.
One of the most unique features of this house is the free floating staircase.
The house has been restored to as much as possible to its 1808 appearance through the application of forensic analysis and cutting-edge conservation technology.
Today, this house is one of the most important Neoclassical houses in the United States – the magnificent mansion cost Nathaniel over $60,000 to complete.
The dining room
This room is the first of three oval rooms in the house.
The dining room hosted elaborate dinners served by enslaved butlers.
The next room was the back parlor…this room was designed for private family use.
The grandest rooms in the house are located on the second floor beginning with the oval withdrawing room.
The room had lots of decorative elements such as the faux painted walls and orange cornices.
The next room, the bed chamber, served as the bedroom of Mrs Russell.
The bedroom was so beautiful!
The next room was the decorative arts gallery where it housed a rotating gallery.
Walking through the house
We spotted this chair which was a reproduction of a “toilet”.
Shots of the beautiful staircase
More shots of the house
The next room we entered was the kitchen house where enslaved cooks would prepare meals.
This part of the house had not been restored.
Nearby was the laundry room
There were display cases in this room that showcased some of the items that were discovered in this room.
And the quarters of the enslaved people
Next, we headed outside to check out the gardens.
This garden is now a 20th century garden however, when the Russells lived here it would have been laid out a bit differently.
The front portion of this large double lot was laid out in formal gardens while the back of the lot was used as a work yard, kitchen garden and stable yard.
The house was amazing and we really enjoyed our visit!
Read reviews here
After touring the house, we walked around the nearby area checking out some of the buildings and old cemeteries.
We spotted the First Scots Presbyterian Church that was founded in 1731.
The church is the fifth oldest church in Charleston and was constructed in 1814. The massive brick Presbyterian Church has walls that are three feet thick and covered with stucco.
The church is one of more than 1400 historically significant buildings within the Charleston Old and Historic District.
Next to the church is the graveyard that contains more than 50 stones that date earlier than 1800.
Walking through the many old cemeteries in Charleston, is a very popular thing to do as there are many historic people buried here.
And, not to mention, the headstones are so ornate and beautiful!
This graveyard wasn’t very big so we were able to walk through pretty quickly.
We spotted this headstone that was headless.
Across from the church and graveyard was a gorgeous old home that was adorned with a Santa’s hat!
As we continued our walk through Charleston, we made our way to another nearby church called St. Michaels. 
We passed a few historic homes along the way.
Arriving to the church
St Michaels church is the oldest church building in Charleston.
The cornerstone for the existing building was laid in 1752 and the building opened in 1761. It has remained largely unchanged for its 260-plus years.
Next to the church is the graveyard where two signers of the US Constitution and other notable people are buried.
Thankfully, the gates were open when we arrived, so we headed inside the cemetery to check it out.
Tip: The church and cemetery are open to the public: 9 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday; 8:30 a.m.-noon on Saturday; and Sunday for services only at 8 a.m., 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Shots of the cemetery
The gravesite of John Rutledge who died in 1800.
The gravesite of Charles C Pinckney who died in 1825.
After checking out the cemetery, we headed inside the church.
The church was beautiful on the inside…it wasn’t as elaborate as some of the other churches we have visited.
The original pew boxes still remain in the church including number 43 known as “The Governor’s Pew” where George Washington and Robert E Lee sat during services about 70 years apart!
A scar remains at the foot of the pulpit from a shell that landed near the chancel during the Civil War. However, I didn’t know this until I started researching this church for my blog post! 🙁
The large, ornate pulpit is the centerpiece of the sanctuary.
Items have been added to the sanctuary over the years, including the Victorian altar presented in 1892 and the chancel decoration by Tiffany in 1905.
Two stained-glass windows depicting Easter morning and the Annunciation were presented to the church in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The stained-glass door in the south side of the church dates from 1915.
The original organ was made by John Snetzler in London and was installed in 1768.
Read reviews here
After leaving the church, we continued our walk.
We passed the historic courthouse and post office that opened in 1896.
The first suit to challenge public school segregation in the US was heard here before three judges in 1951.
Other historic buildings we passed
We passed the historic James Simmons House that was built in 1760.
The house served as “Executive Headquarters” and home to Confederate General Pierre G.T. Beauregard who led the capture of Fort Sumter in 1861.
Most every house along this route is a historic home.
I loved how the owner of this house had these plants growing outside their house!
More historic homes along the way.
This was the Thomas Heyward house ..
Built in 1772, this house was the town home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., one of four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Tip: You can tour this house. Purchase your tickets here
We passed the Williams Mansion.
It was called the “handsomest and most complete private residence in the South” when it was built in 1878.
The Williams Mansion, built by George Walton Williams, was widely acclaimed as one of the great post-Civil War homes on the Eastern Seaboard.
Featured on A&E’s “American Castles,” the remarkable 24,000 square feet structure includes 35 rooms with 14-foot ceilings, ornate plaster and wood moulding, elaborate chandeliers and has 23 period fireplaces, a stairwell that reaches to a 75-foot domed ceiling, and a Music Room with a 45-foot glass skylight.
It has been named one of the top attractions in Charleston by Travel and Leisure magazine.
Read reviews here
Tip: This house was used to film the interior scenes of Allie’s summer house in the movie, The Notebook
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived to the next house we would be touring called, the Aiken-Rhett House.
Tip: We purchased the combo ticket to tour both the Nathaniel Russell house & the Aiken-Rhett house that saved us $6 pp. If you downloaded the Historic Charleston app, you can use it as your tour guide for this house as well.
Built in 1820, this house is unlike anything else you will see in Charleston as it’s not been restored. It has been “preserved as found”.
You will visit around 20 different rooms on this tour.
The tour starts in the storeroom and gift shop which were once part of an extensive network of cellars underneath the house.
You will then head to the Servant’s hall.
This area was a conduit between the kitchen and the formal dining room.
Next, we headed outside to what was known as the workyard.
This area was the main work area for the enslaved people.
The quarters for the enslaved people were also located in this area of the property.
Their quarters were located above the kitchen so you can imagine how hot it would get in the summer months.
The laundry room was also located in the workyard.
An archaeological exploration of this room uncovered artifacts from centuries of occupation.
The artifacts included things like buttons, coins, bottles, broken pieces of porcelain and more.
The next area was the stable and carriage house.
Shots of the outside of the house.
We then headed back inside the house where we were greeted by the grand marble staircase!
There were marble statues that dated back to the 1800’s!
The first room that you will enter after reaching the top of the stairs, is the double parlor.
This room was used to entertain guests.
The furnishings in this house are original unlike most other houses that only use pieces that date back to the time period of the house.
I loved all of the beautiful light fixtures in the house!
The next room was the double parlor 2 which was closed off to the first double parlor room by sliding doors.
All of the walls in the house had peeling plaster and wallpaper!
There were pictures of how the house used to look.
Next we headed outside to the piazza.
Outdoor living spaces were important architecture features of homes in Charleston since there was no air conditioning at the time, they would open the doors to allow the air to circulate throughout the house.
A picture of some of the drapery hardware that was in the house.
It was so cool being able to see the house preserved instead of restored!
It was also cool to see the actual belongings of the Aiken family still in the house.
The next room was the dining room.
Lavish, multiple course meals were served in the dining room.
This room was used to entertain the many guests that the Aikens hosted over the years.
The next room was the library.
I loved this light fixture….so cool!
At the bottom of the beautiful staircase, was another very cool light fixture.
The next rooms were the bedchambers.
Look at this mirror!
The was the bathtub and sink
This area of the house really showed just how the house was kept as found!
This room is the drawing room
The widowed Harriet Aiken later converted this room into a bedroom and it was used as such until her death in 1892.
It displayed many items that were left here in the house.
The last room that you will see is the art gallery.
This room was added by the Aikens in 1857.
It was added to accommodate their many art pieces they had purchased during their many trips to Europe.
A shot of the outside of the house.
Tip: This house was used for wedding scenes in the movie The Notebook and Wes Craven’s movie, The Swamp Thing.
Read reviews here
After leaving this house, we headed to our next stop of the day, the popular “rainbow row”.
We passed lots of beautiful old churches and buildings along the way.
Charleston’s nickname is ‘The Holy City’ because it’s home to more than 400 churches — many of which were established before the 1800s.
The second picture is the St Matthews Lutheran Church that was built in 1868.
After getting parked, we discovered that we had parked near one of the old cobblestone roads.
Tip: For parking in Charleston, click here
These stones were actually used by ships from the 17th & 18th centuries in order to weigh them down to make them less susceptible to rough waters.
However, once arriving to Charleston, they would throw the stones overboard to make room for the goods they purchased.
The rocks would wash ashore and were eventually used to make roads throughout Charleston.
Today, there are only 5 of these roads left.
After a few minutes of walking, we arrived to the famous rainbow row.
These homes were originally built in the late 1700s as a series of 13 townhouses. Over time, the homes were used for various purposes, including commercial and residential spaces.
However, by the early 1900s, many of the homes had fallen into disrepair and were in danger of being demolished.
The homes were later purchased by a local preservationist who restored the homes and painted them back to their original pastel colors….this is when the street became known as rainbow row.
In 1931, Rainbow Row was officially designated a historic landmark by the National Park Service.
It really is a beautiful and not to be missed area when visiting Charleston!
We then walked to the waterfront to take pictures of another popular tourist attraction, the Pineapple Fountain.
The walk to the fountain was so beautiful! We loved all of the old oak trees that formed these canopies over the sidewalks!
Tip: Click here to see 8 spectacular spots to see these amazing oak trees
The pineapple fountain has been the focal point of the Waterfront Park since 1990.
The park’s eight acres face the harbor and the amazing Ravenel Bridge.
Near the fountain, is a large splash fountain that is popular during the summer months.
It’s definitely a challenge to get a picture in front of the fountain without having a lot of other people in the picture!
After getting our pictures, we continued our walk through town.
A few minutes later, we spotted a place that I had put down on my itinerary called, Carmellas’s Cafe & Dessert Bar.
So, we decided to head inside for some coffee.
However, after spotting their amazing looking desserts, we just had to purchase one!
They all looked so good but we finally decided on the chocolate peanut butter cake.
We saved the cake for later but the coffee we ordered was delicious!
Read reviews here
After our purchase, we headed back to our car.
We passed a cool looking restaurant called the Griffon.
The inside of the restaurant was covered with thousands of one dollar bills!
After arriving back to our car, we headed to our next stop.
On our drive, we passed the historic city market. 
We visited the market on a different day so, I’ll write about it in a later post.
A few minutes later, we arrived to our next stop, the American Theater.
The theater opened in 1942 and was named in honor of military men and women who served in WW2. The Theater operated successfully until 1977 when it closed following economic decline in the city.
The only reason I wanted a picture of the theater is that it was featured in the movie, The Notebook as the setting for Noah and Allie’s first date.
Tip: There are several scenes from the movie filmed in/around Charleston…click here for locations.
After our pictures, we continued our drive.
We ended up making a wrong turn and discovered a gem of a church called, St John’s Reformed Episcopal Church. 
The church was originally known as the Anson Street Chapel in 1850 by a group of free and slave black Presbyterians. It was the site of an 1857 revival in Charleston.
The house next door was used as a manse. The church was heavily damaged by shelling during the siege of Charleston, and the church was rebuilt and restored in the 1880s.
Next door, a board-and-batten school building was completed by 1887.
We then headed to another nearby church called, The Unitarian Church.
We passed the historic Bethel Methodist Church along the way. It was built in 1852.
The Unitarian Church was built in 1774 but wasn’t used as a church until 1787 due to the Revolutionary War.
It was first used as barracks by the Americans, then by the English, and then again by the Americans after the British were driven out.
The church is the second oldest in the city. Its churchyard is supposedly haunted and legend has it that Edgar Allan Poe’s beloved Annabel Lee is buried in a secret grave here.
It has survived two wars, six major hurricanes, two devastating fires, and an earthquake.
Next to the church is the cemetery.
The doors were locked so we couldn’t go inside so we took pictures through the gate.
As you can see, it’s very overgrown but, from what I’ve read, that’s how they want it to look.
The ghost of the first female serial killer, Lavinia Fisher, is sometimes seen at the cemetery. 😉
Ok, ok you all know that I don’t believe in all that stuff but hey, if you do, go on a ghost tour! 😉
In 1922,, the Yorkville Enquirer published the headline, “Skeleton on Display.” The article goes on to explain how Lavinia Fisher’s skeleton was exhibited at the Charleston museum “some time ago” and was “removed because it was out of order, the museum has decided again to install them, and it is now being put in order.” How strange!!
After leaving here, we headed to Sullivan’s Island to find something to eat.
We had wanted to eat at Poe’s Tavern but when we arrived, it was so crowded, we decided to head to another nearby restaurant called, Sullivan’s Seafood & Bar.
After getting seated, we looked over the menu.
We both decided on the fish and chips.
The food and service were really good but we felt it was overpriced for what you got!
Read review here
After dinner, we walked around the area and checked out some of the Christmas lights.
We then headed back to our hotel where we had our delicious cake that we had purchased from Carmella’s!
Later, we called it a night.
Thanks for reading!
Read Days 1 & 2 here & Click here to see links to all of my blog posts