These houses represent a wide range of history, from the 1700s to around 1900 (Charleston's greatest prosperity came in the 1830s and 40s, but much of what you see today was built or rebuilt after the city was destroyed in the Civil War), and also, as you can see, a range of architectural styles.
One style stands out, though, because it's unique to the city. This is what's known locally as a "single house":
You see them in many neighborhoods, and clearly in many price ranges, but all have this in common: The short end faces outward because street frontage was at a premium on the narrow peninsula where the city was built, and the balconies (known locally as "piazzas") were oriented the way they were to catch the prevailing winds.
Most interestingly, the front door does not open into the house, but rather onto one of the piazzas. Since this person left his door open the day we were there, you can see what it looks like:
We didn't get to go inside one of these houses (most are still in private hands), but I would love to know what it's like to live this way.
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