Charleston At Night

In my visits to Chareleston, SC, I discovered several similarities to my hometown of New Orleans. One big difference I found was that I felt much safer in Charleston, both during the day, and at night. Sure, there's crime in Charleston, but overall, I found the city to be a much safer (and cleaner) environment.

Like most cities, Charleston takes on a completely different look at night. Most of the important buildings are lit up at night, and of course, I wanted to capture that nighttime look with my camera.  It was just me and my daughter Courtney that night. Theresa was exhausted from a day of walking, shopping, and sightseeing, so she decided to rest up at the hotel. Walking around with an expensive camera, and only an 18 year old girl to watch my back is something I would never do in the New Orleans French Quarter at night. In downtown Charelston, however, we felt safe enough to continue exploring well after dark.

I made several photos that night, some I have posted previously. This is the Dock Street Theatre, which is actually on Church Street.

Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, SC  -  2013

(Click on photo to enlarge.)

The original building, opened in 1736, was the first building in America intended exclusively for theatrical performances. That building was destroyed in a fire in 1740. In 1809, Planter's Hotel (where "Planter's Punch" originated) was built on the sight, and in 1835 the wrought iron balcony was added. After the Civil War, the hotel fell on hard times, and the building deteriorated to the point where it was scheduled for demolition. In 1935, the building was offered for sale to the city of Charleston, and became a WPA project. The present theatre was built within the shell of the Planter's Hotel, and today it is on the National Register of Historic Places.