The part of the building constructed in 1845 is the most recent new construction. On the northwest corner of Tradd Street and East Bay, two buildings, one dating from 1845 and the other between 1778-1785 after a fire, form a structure numbered 79-81 East Bay street. Many homes retain the name of early owners. In addition to the color, each property a lot bay street has an interesting history of its own. The different colors give the neighborhood a unique vibe A more practical theory suggests that owners may have painted the exterior of their homes in hot Charleston in colors that might lower the internal temperature of the building. The color choice may even have been a marketing tool to identify what was sold there. Other stories maintain that the color Identified the buildings for illiterate slaves sent on shopping missions, but the painting frenzy occurred long after slavery cease to officially exist. Some versions have them painted in bright colors to direct drunken sailors home from sea to the place where they were supposed to bunk. The reason for the distinctive color choices has generated considerable historical speculation. to cap off your efforts, she painted them pink to create a Caribbean color scheme.īy the mid-1940s, existing and subsequent owners picked up her cues and painted their properties of rainbow of pastel colors. In 1931, Dorothy Haskell Porcher Legge purchased a block of houses number 99 through 101 East Bay and immediately started renovation. By the 1920s, the homes were recognized for their potential historic value and Susan Pringle Frost, women’s activist, real estate agent, and founder of the Society for the Presentation of Old Buildings, bought a block of six of them but was unable to put the money into immediate restoration.

While the area remained prosperous, it deteriorated into a slum after the Civil War. Having one place to live and work offered convenience to shop owners who eliminated their commute by foot. Dating from 1740 when life was more monochromatic and functional, the 13 homes from 83 to 107 Easy Bay Street were built by merchants who had stores on the first floor and lived on upper floors with their families. The homes did not start out as the colorful pieces of history they are today. The pastel paint on the homes, accented by modern outdoor lanterns, make the west side of East Bay Street, between Tradd Street and Elliot Street one of the most popular go-to locations for tourists.

In a city distinguished by many sites to see, the Rainbow Row of 13 homes on East Bay Street is one of the most interesting parts of Charleston.

99 101 east bay street