The Majesty of Charleston (Majesty Architecture Series)

"A small, top-quality hardcover book with brilliant photography . . . recommended for those who may be considering a trip to Charleston or an armchair traveler interested in architecture and history."
-Reba J. McMellon, The Mississippi Press

The architectural profile of Charleston has had many face-lifts. Time, natural disasters, and wars have all left scars on historic homes and buildings, but still they exemplify the city's charm. Unlike many other cities, Charleston has abided by a desire to repair and maintain as opposed to raze and modernize.

Inside The Majesty of Charleston, photographer Peter Beney presents 242 color photos that preserve the beauty that nature has tried so hard to destroy. Stately mansions, historical landmarks, exquisite churches, museum houses, and many other buildings appear throughout this guide to the city's past. A gallery of fine architecture, this book gives readers an invitation to see, behind closed doors, the history and renovations that have made Charleston one of the best-preserved cities in the country.

Included in the tour are well-known residences such as the Heyward-Washington House, the Nathaniel Russell House, and the Calhoun Mansion. The raising of the Hunley submarine and its current home, the Warren Lasch Conservation Center, are also featured. In all, there are over sixty destinations, which can make for a magnificent safari for house watchers on the streets of Charleston, or just a delightful read for the armchair traveler.