Here are some random pictures we took in the historic center of Charleston.
Just one of the thousands of very cool mansions in town, beautifully restored.
A beautiful church spire... it was painted black during the civil war so that it wouldn't be a "target".
The gate in front of the "big" house where we are staying... the gate is very similar to those made by Phillip Simmons that we saw on tour yesterday. I can't remember the "name" on the "big house" in front of our carriage house... but it was built in the 1800's by the wife of the head of the railroad here in Charleston (appropriate or what?) when her husband died and she wanted a "little house"... HA! The house could never be called little.
But "our house" in the back IS little. We were told it was the maids quarters and/or the kitchen PLUS a shed. Depending on the actual date, it could have been been a slaves quarters? Anyway, its very cute inside and out and we have loved the peacefulness of not being in a motel, and not living with an owner in a B&B or Inn.
On our last day in town, we took the free shuttle all over, saw the Slavery Museum (where they had auctioned off slaves).. very interesting (and sad).
I made Rob visit the graveyard in the First (Scots) Presbyterian Church (est 1731 but rebuilt in 1814); which our Gullah guide had said was the first in SC, and one of the first in America. If the McClains made it as far south as South Carolina, (and there is evidence that they did), they probably visited this church in the mid 1700's. Certainly, many Scotch- Irish did land in Charleston when they immigrated. We found lots of last names that I've seen in my genealogy research, but there is probably no relationship. Still, Rob's Kentucky ancestor, Isaac, had to come from somewhere, right?
Tomorrow we visit some marinas (business again), and then a plantation where we are staying the next two days.
Not sure this post is very interesting to anyone but me; I guess I'll edit it when we get home!
