Charleston County Courthouse
Encyclopedia
Charleston County Courthouse (1790–92) is a Neoclassical building in Charleston, South Carolina
designed by Irish-born American architect James Hoban
. It was a likely model for Hoban's most famous building, The White House and both buildings are modelled after Leinster House
, the current seat of the Irish Parliament in Dublin.
President George Washington
visited Charleston on his Southern Tour in May 1791, may have met with Hoban, and summoned the architect to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(the temporary national capital) in June 1792. The following month, Hoban was named the winner of the design competition for the presidential mansion in Washington, DC. He later altered his design under Washington's influence.
The Courthouse itself is still in use, located in the historic district
near the park at Washington Square
. It was built on the site of and incorporated the ruins of the South Carolina Statehouse (1753, burned 1788), the capitol building for the Colony of South Carolina
under British
Rule.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
designed by Irish-born American architect James Hoban
James Hoban
James Hoban was an Irish architect, best known for designing The White House in Washington, D.C.-Life:James Hoban was born and raised in a thatched cottage on the Earl of Desart's estate in Cuffesgrange, near Callan in Co. Kilkenny...
. It was a likely model for Hoban's most famous building, The White House and both buildings are modelled after Leinster House
Leinster House
Leinster House is the name of the building housing the Oireachtas, the national parliament of Ireland.Leinster House was originally the ducal palace of the Dukes of Leinster. Since 1922, it is a complex of buildings, of which the former ducal palace is the core, which house Oireachtas Éireann, its...
, the current seat of the Irish Parliament in Dublin.
President George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
visited Charleston on his Southern Tour in May 1791, may have met with Hoban, and summoned the architect to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
(the temporary national capital) in June 1792. The following month, Hoban was named the winner of the design competition for the presidential mansion in Washington, DC. He later altered his design under Washington's influence.
The Courthouse itself is still in use, located in the historic district
Charleston Historic District
The Charleston Historic District, also known as Charleston Old and Historic District, is a historic district in Charleston, South Carolina. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960....
near the park at Washington Square
Washington Square (Charleston)
Washington Square is a greenspace in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. It is located behind city hall at the corner of Meeting Street and Broad Street in the Charleston Historic District. It was known as City Hall Park until 1881, when it was renamed in honor of George Washington....
. It was built on the site of and incorporated the ruins of the South Carolina Statehouse (1753, burned 1788), the capitol building for the Colony of South Carolina
Province of South Carolina
The South Carolina Colony, or Province of South Carolina, was originally part of the Province of Carolina, which was chartered in 1663. The colony later became the U.S. state of South Carolina....
under British
Kingdom of Great Britain
The former Kingdom of Great Britain, sometimes described as the 'United Kingdom of Great Britain', That the Two Kingdoms of Scotland and England, shall upon the 1st May next ensuing the date hereof, and forever after, be United into One Kingdom by the Name of GREAT BRITAIN. was a sovereign...
Rule.
See also
- Court House Square (Charleston)Court House Square (Charleston)Court House Square is the location of Charleston County Courthouse in downtown Charleston, South Carolina, USA, at the intersection of Meeting and Broad Streets. It is historically known as "the four corners of law" because the intersection hosted buildings from each level of government: the...
- Charleston Historic DistrictCharleston Historic DistrictThe Charleston Historic District, also known as Charleston Old and Historic District, is a historic district in Charleston, South Carolina. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1960....
- South Carolina Provincial Congress
External links
- Charleston County Courthouse from National Park Service.