Slide Title
Preview
Date
Spring 3-1978
Description
The intersection of Broad and Meeting, seen here in this aerial photograph, is known as the Four Corners of Law, because of St. Michael’s Church (Divine), City Hall (local), the Charleston County Courthouse (County), and the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse (Federal).
St. Michael’s Church (1752-61) is the oldest religious structure in the city. It was designed by an architect by the name of Gibson (Simons & Lapham) and continues to be an active Episcopal church.
The Charleston City Hall, just to the north of St. Michaels Church, is attributed to Gabriel Manigault, who designed the building in the federalist style denounced by architect Robert Mills as “showy.” (Poston 167). Completed in 1804, the building was renovated several times during the nineteenth century, including renovations by architect Charles Reichardt.
Across from the face of St. Michael’s is the U.S. Post Office and Courthouse, designed by John Henry Devereux, was completed in 1896 and features the style of the Renaissance Revival with a prominent cornice, balustrades, and quoins. The building is made of granite from Winnsboro, South Carolina.
North of the U.S. Courthouse is the Charleston County Courthouse, originally constructed in 1753. It was heavily reconstructed in 1792 after fire damage.
Creator 1 Role
Photographer
Creator 2 Dates
1840-1920
Creator 2 Role
Architect
Creator 3 Dates
1758-1809
Creator 3 Role
Architect
Subject Headings
Aerial photography -- South Carolina -- Charleston; Charleston, S.C. -- Aerial photographs; Aerial photography in city planning -- South Carolina -- Charleston;Architecture -- 19th century; Architecture -- 20th century;
Country Name
United States of America
Region Name
South Carolina
City Name
Charleston
Recommended Citation
Smolski, Chet; Dereveux, John Henry; and Manigault, Gabriel, "Charleston: Four Corners of Law" (1978). Smolski Images. 830.
https://digitalcommons.ric.edu/smolski_images/830
Keywords
government buildings, federal buildings, religious buildings, architecture, aerial, land use
Notes
http://www.gsa.gov/portal/ext/html/site/hb/category/25431/actionParameter/exploreByBuilding/buildingId/568
(accessed 6 Dec 2011)
Poston, Jonathan H. The Buildings of Charleston: A Guide to the City’s Architecture (Columbia: South Carolina University Press, 1997)pp. 166-168
Simons, Albert and Lapham, Samuel. The Early Architecture of Charleston. (Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1970)