Rainbow Row Charleston
Rainbow Row is one of the most iconic streets in Charleston, and it’s a great example of South Carolinian Georgian row house architecture. Though many of these homes are historic, their bright-colored hues are slightly new to Charleston’s architectural landscape.
Find out how these homes got their pastel colors, how to get to this historic site, and what to see once you’re there.
Rainbow Row’s History
This street’s history is as colorful as its facades. The homes here were built in the 1700s and 1800s (though many of the newer homes were simply reconstructed after the 1886 earthquake). Famous politicians and merchants once lived in these homes. At each stop on the below self-guided tour, you’ll find interesting history, stories, and architectural features that Charleston is known for.
What’s shocking to most visitors (but not you!) is that the homes on this street weren’t always the glorious technicolor splendor of colors that they are today. In fact, it wasn’t until 1931 that the buildings were painted in pastel hues.
We can thank resident Dorothy Haskell Porcher Legge for this colorful contribution to these Georgian homes. After purchasing no. 99 through no. 101, she began painting them in bright pink colors, reminiscent of Caribbean colonial homes.
One Charleston homeowner can’t own a beautiful pink house while all the others remain drab shades of gray and beige. Other homeowners began painting their homes in Caribbean color schemes to follow suit.
Who Lives on Rainbow Row?
The homes of Rainbow Row are inhabited by local residents! These are private homes so you’re not allowed to tour the insides — only admire their rainbow colors from the outside.
Yet, many of these homes were once inhabited by some of Charleston’s most famous citizens, including Charles Cotesworth Pinckney, Susan Pringle Frost, and Dorothy Porcher Legge.
Charles Cotesworth Pinckney is one of the most common names you’ll hear in Charleston, as he was one of the city’s founding fathers. He once lived at 95 East Bay Street.
Susan Pringle Frost was one of Charleston’s most famous women, as she founded the Charleston Preservation Society. She once owned six homes on East Bay Street.
Dorothy Porcher Legge is, of course, the woman who started it all — she owned and restored 97 East Bay Street.
Tips for Visiting Rainbow Row in Charleston
If you want to make the most of your time in Charleston while visiting Rainbow Row, here are a few tips to help make your trip more enjoyable.
Getting to Rainbow Row
Rainbow Row Charleston is located on E. Bay Street — just one block from Charleston’s waterfront. The colorful homes begin on Tradd Street and march up all the way to Elliot Street.
You can easily get here by car, on foot (only a 20-minute walk from Marion Square), or by way of the 7 or 211 buses.
Visiting Charleston’s Rainbow Row Homes
Since it’s not possible to visit the interiors of Charleston’s Rainbow Row homes, you’ll want to get a little background information about each hand beforehand so you have a better understanding of what you’re looking at.
In the section below titled “Homes of Rainbow Row East Bay Street”, we’ve included notable homes and a little bit about their history.
We also invite you to join us for our Charleston History Tour, where you can hear the stories of the famous Charlestonians who once called Rainbow Row their home. We also stop at a few of the other sites on this list, so you can learn even more history.
Our tours are both informative and entertaining. While some travelers simply want to learn a little info about a site before visiting, our tours offer an in-depth look into Charleston’s past.
Rainbow Row Shopping
Rainbow Row is a residential street, so there’s no shopping here. Luckily, you can purchase Rainbow Row artwork all over Charleston.
If you want to bring home a Rainbow Row souvenir, we recommend heading to the nearby King Street shopping district or the Charleston Market.
In both locations, you’ll find local galleries and artisans that sell Rainbow Row paintings, as well as souvenirs featuring this famous Charleston street.
Homes of Rainbow Row East Bay Street Charleston SC
Each home on here has its own unique history — to go with the unique shades of each structure. We’ve included a brief history of the houses and their owners, but if you want to know more, you can always take our Charleston History Tour to find out more about the stories of each home.
Tradd Street House: Nos. 79-81
Rainbow Row begins on the corner of Tradd and East Bay Streets. The mint green building with green shutters is one of the newest homes, as much of it was rebuilt after the 1886 earthquake (“new” being slightly relative in this sense). Though it may be green today, not all the homes were painted the same colors they were throughout the years. In fact, this home was once a lavender blue with navy blue shutters.
William Stone House: No. 83
Built in 1784, this home is named after the owner who rebuilt the structure after a fire in 1784. Stone was a Tory who moved back to England during the Revolutionary War. After Stone left, it was owned by several merchants. During the 1941 renovations of Rainbow Row, it was restored by Susan Pringle Frost.
James Gordon House: No. 87
Like the William Stone House, this house was also destroyed by a fire. It was originally built in 1778 and rebuilt in 1792 by the namesake owner, James Gordon. Susan Pringle Frost also restored this one.
Deas-Tunno House: No. 89
Once the location of a merchant store and home, this house was built in the late 1770s and features a garden and old slave quarters.
James Cook House: No. 93
Built in 1778, this home is known for its impressive drawing room and library.
Charles Cotesworth Pickney House: No. 95
You might hear the name “Pickney” around Charleston a lot; the Pickneys are kind of a big deal here. This home was once owned by Charles Cotesworth Pickney, an American statesman as well as John McGowan, a playwright.
Othniel Beale/Dorothy Legge: No. 97
Othniel Beale (who built house nos. 99-101) lived in this house. This is the home that Dorothy Legge restored in 1931.
Joseph Dulles House: No. 103
This house was built by Joseph Dulles, an ancestor of Secretary of State John Foster Dulles.
Dutarque-Guida House: No. 105
Though the house was named after its former resident, Giovanni Domenico Guida, an Italian immigrant, the first occupant was a man named Lewis Dutarque in 1778. Yet the Victorian ironwork on the building is the work of Guida.
John Blake House: No. 107
Possibly the house with the most interesting history, no. 107 was once owned by Revolutionary War hero and senator John Blake in 1791. The home at one time also featured a two-story kitchen house!