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Rainbow Row

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Hi everyone, I know it has been a few weeks since I had a Fridays In The Carolinas Post up, so I hope you enjoy this one. If your ever in Charleston, SC don’t forget to take a ride down Rainbow Row. Much like the rest of Charleston, this is a beautiful collection of historic homes. The only thing unique here is that they are painted different colors.

Rainbow_Row_Panorama

Rainbow Row is an iconic scene. There are multiple ways to view this attraction, from just walking down the street, to taking one of the numerous horse drawn buggy tours of Charleston. It is one of those scenes that you will see depicted in South Carolina artwork over and over.

You can view from the battery or from the ocean, even walking down the sidewalk. It just takes me back to the 1800’s and what it must have been like to live here, view the war from the widow’s peaks or sit on the balconies watching soldiers or ships. The different colors of all the houses give the strip it’s name and the care the owners give them is amazing.

Here is a little back ground of Rainbow Row ~

Rainbow Row is the name for a series of colorful historic houses in Charleston, South Carolina. The houses are located north of Tradd St. and south of Elliot St. on East Bay Street. It is referred to as Rainbow Row for the pastel colors used to paint all of the houses. It is a common tourist attraction and is one of the most photographed parts of Charleston.

After the Civil War, this area of Charleston devolved into near slum conditions. In the early 1900s, Dorothy Porcher Legge purchased a section of these houses numbering 99 through 101 East Bay and began to renovate them. She chose to paint these houses pink based on a colonial Caribbean color scheme. Other owners and future owners followed suit, creating the “rainbow” of pastel colors present today. The coloring of the houses helped keep the houses cool inside as well as give the area its name.

Common myths concerning Charleston include variants on the reasons for the paint colors. According to some tales, the houses were painted in the various colors such that the intoxicated sailors coming in from port could remember which houses they were to bunk in.

If you ever visit make sure to take a walk or drive by Rainbow Row, it is worth the trip to see these wonderful homes!

 

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Pamela R

Saturday 13th of July 2013

I've really got to plane a trip to the Carolina's! Every time I read your blog I see another GREAT place to go!! I love how colorful this spot is.

Ronnkelly3

Sunday 14th of July 2013

Thank you Pamela, There are so many wonderful places to visit here. I hope one day you can visit, you would have so much fun.

Beeb

Friday 12th of July 2013

This is so neat! Thanks for sharing the photo and history.

Ronnkelly3

Sunday 14th of July 2013

Your welcome. Thank you for stopping by.

Alaina Bullock

Friday 12th of July 2013

I have always wanted to visit Charleston! I love those houses...so bright and cheerful!

Rita Wray

Friday 12th of July 2013

Thank you for sharing. I love the houses.

Rosey

Friday 12th of July 2013

What do you do with a drunken' sailor... lol Old lyrics my grandfather used to sing. Now I know, you paint his house a color he'll recognize. :)

The houses look great, I like the whole look of that area. I bet it is nice to see in person.

Ronnkelly3

Sunday 14th of July 2013

LOL, I love the Lyrics. It is really nice to see in person.

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