South of Broad, Charleston, South Carolina, USA

A self-portrait on the entrance stairs to the Calhoun Mansion. This private residence built in 1876 is the largest single family home in Charleston with more than 24,000 square feet of living space. It is open to the public daily for tours.

I was able to get past the tough looking "Security Cat" and into the gardens.........

Side garden and koi ponds.

Backyard fountain.

 

Chandeliers inside and reflection outside from across the street.



Elsewhere, these three photographers, rumored to be members of a photo club from the North somewhere (you know how pushy those Northerners are), were so obsessed to photograph another mansion that they climbed the wall to get "the shot."  What passion - what commitment - what nuts! ( Their faces have been obscured to protect their identity).

 

If the doorway looks sloped to you, that's because it is. This doorway, and many others in Charleston, opens onto the first floor piazza and the open air piazzas are sloped to allow rain water to run off. That requires the bottom of the door be cut on a matching slope in order to swing properly.

Who knows what stories lie hidden beneath layers of history?