Stunning Charleston, South Carolina Photography

Listed as a National Historic Landmark, St. Philip’s Episcopal Church was the first Anglican church established south of Virginia and is home to the oldest congregation in South Carolina. Because a light that was placed in the steeple guided ships to the Port of Charleston, St. Philip’s became known as The Lighthouse Church.

Charleston’s Rainbow Houses

This group of brightly painted restored houses, known as Rainbow Row, features Caribbean influenced colors.

Sweetgrass Baskets

The art of Sweetgrass basketry is passed down through generations of Gullah families in and around Charleston, South Carolina. The baskets pictured above are from Bev’s Sweet Grass Baskets & Things, Charleston.

Horse-Drawn Carriage Tours

A popular way to tour the Charleston historic district is by horse-drawn carriage.

View of a Private Garden in Historic Charleston

Even in the winter, a walk around Charleston offers charming garden views.

Charleston’s Historic Architecture

Whether having a casual or a serious interest in historic architecture, visitors to Charleston are sure to be fascinated with the array of architectural styles and wonderful restorations observed at almost every step. Pictured above, the Calhoun Mansion, an Italianate manor house constructed in 1876, is the largest house in Charleston and one of the nation’s finest post-Civil War houses. The Calhoun Mansion, which offers tours, is located at 16 Meeting Street.

Aerial View of the Battery

The Battery, located at the southern end of the Charleston peninsula where the Ashley River and the Cooper River meet, is a popular tourist destination in Charleston. Visitors can enjoy and explore the Battery area, which includes some of Charleston’s grandest historic homes, several statues and informational plaques, displays of Civil War artillery, White Point Gardens shaded by majestic live oak trees, views of Charleston Harbor, and much more.

Charleston’s Waterfront Park Pier

Located near the corner of Concord Street and Vendue Range, the Vendue Wharf pier, located in Waterfront Park, stretches over marsh grasses and the Cooper River. A wonderful place to relax, the pier offers great views across the river of the USS Yorktown at Patriot’s Point, along with large shaded swings, tables, and benches.

The Pineapple Fountain in Waterfront Park

Located in Waterfront Park, a short walk from the Waterfront Park Pier, Charleston’s Pineapple Fountain symbolizes the welcoming hospitality for which Charleston is renowned. This fanciful fountain provides a great backdrop for photographs during your visit to Charleston.

Boone Hall Avenue of Oaks

Located across the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in Mt. Pleasant, about ten miles from downtown Charleston, antebellum Boone Hall Plantation, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is among the oldest working, living plantations in the United States. The plantation’s Avenue of Oaks, first planted in 1743, provides a picturesque three-quarter mile drive lined by majestic live oak trees, forming a tunnel of seemingly sculptural branches adorned with cascading Spanish moss.

The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge – Cooper River Bridge

Dedicated and opened on July 16, 2005, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge (also called the Cooper River Bridge), connects downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant via Highway 17. In grand Charleston style, a black-tie celebration was held on the bridge between the diamond towers. Fireworks displays and other pre-dedication events took place during the week leading up to the ceremony.

The span of the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is the longest cable stay span in North America. The diamond towers were named the John P. Grace Tower and the Silas N. Pearman Tower in remembrance of former bridges that were replaced by the new bridge.

The South Carolina Aquarium

The South Carolina Aquarium, which opened in May of 2000, is located at 100 Aquarium Wharf, right on the historic Charleston Harbor at the end of Calhoun Street.