Historic District - South of Broad of Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina

South of Broad is a quiet residential area of elegantly graceful homes and gardens where carriages meander the cobblestone streets and visitors enjoy hearing about the history of the region. From these same brilliant homes, Charlestonians watched the firing on Fort Sumter that began the Civil War, and today hosts grand soirees for the world renowned Spoleto Arts Festival. The architecture throughout this neighborhood is exemplary of what sets Charleston apart from all other cities in the country; the regal homes with their pristine gardens and striking streets are timeless.

Visitors to Charleston are surprised to learn that the world famous Rainbow Row did not come into existence until the Depressionera. Many of the buildings were there long before and date back to early 1700s. These structures were built as shops to cater to the wharf-front traffic, with the merchants’ homes above the stores. Just after the turn of the century Dorothy Porcher Legge purchased

the row, and decided to paint them with a Caribbean color scheme, popular in the Colonial period. The idea caught on, and since then all the homes of the row have been a colorful landmark. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).