Colonial Lake Area Tour I

By the turn of the 19th century, Charleston’s wealthiest planters and merchants began building elegant residences around Colonial Lake, turning the area into one of the city’s earliest and most desirable suburbs. Along Rutledge Avenue, visitors will see exceptional examples of Federal, Regency, Greek Revival, and early Victorian architecture, each showcasing Charleston’s signature piazzas, ironwork, and craftsmanship. Many homes still bear historic features—including earthquake bolts added after 1886—and reflect more than a century of dedicated preservation efforts. Anchored by the beautifully restored Colonial Lake, this neighborhood offers a vivid look at Charleston’s architectural evolution and enduring charm.

The Charleston Festival's Street Tours are the hallmark of this annual spring festival. Guests will have the opportunity to step beyond the doorways and garden gates of Charleston to experience the city’s renowned architectural buildings, inside and out. Each Street Tour is centered on a "central street", and each tour is curated to…