Charleston City Hall
Charleston City Hall
4.5
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4.5
44 reviews
Excellent
18
Very good
24
Average
2
Poor
0
Terrible
0
LostInTime
Pittsburgh, PA22,266 contributions
June 2024 • Business
It's a very nice old building with a really nice little square behind it. The square has a statue of George Washington. The building has great columns and looks very impressive. Nice to look at. This was previously the site of the city meat market.
Written 23 June 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kathy G
Auburn, NY524 contributions
Aug 2019
City Hall has a rich and varied history to tell. From the roots of the property and the use over the years, all staff seem to know everything about it - and are very friendly. We stopped here while bike riding around Charleston. There are public bathrooms here - VERY clean. They have relics on display that have been uncovered during various renovations. There is an opportunity to see the City Council chamber - you must! The docent, Lindsay, is a huge information resource! If you are lucky enough to run into her during your visit, spend some time talking with her. There are some things to take note of when you are here. A great and historically significant portrait of George Washington as well as Andrew Jackson. This is the second oldest city hall in continuous use in America! To have access to such a great building is amazing.
Written 20 September 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Razorfish
Little Rock, AR5,287 contributions
Aug 2011 • Couples
When you need a nice public restroom when in dowtown Charleston, check out the City Hall restrooms in the basement. They are very clean and are one of the more beautifully designed restrooms in the city.
Written 6 January 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry H
Seattle, WA750 contributions
Apr 2016 • Couples
Our tour guide recommended we go to the second floor of City Hall to see both the beautiful room and an infamous painting by John Trumbull, considered the premier portrait artist of his time.
The city of Charleston commissioned a painting of George Washington by him, which he finished (discovered in hindsight that it is considered a very fine painting). Dilemma was that Turnbull painted Washington in his prime and in Trenton, NJ.
Not what the city fathers of Charleston wanted. So they didn't pay him and requested he do another. Which he did - and yes, it was grounded in Charleston. The city fathers finally paid him. Turnbull requested that he keep the painting for a few more days for 'finishing touches'. His revenge (I won't spoil it for you) was the finishing touches.
The room itself is beautiful; it is where the city council meets.
This is an easy recommendation - go here; you won't be disappointed. There are also other paintings of famous people in the main and adjoining rooms (Beauregard, Andrew Jackson, Joseph Ryan [ mayor of Charleston for 40 years! - he just retired in fact). There is also a beautiful basket made of sweet sea grass.
The woman who tells you about the painting and other historical facts is quite charming as well - perhaps a bit lonely as the city can't advertise the room. She really liked to talk and, I think, was a bit reluctant to have her audience leave.
Another reason to go to City Hall :>)
The city of Charleston commissioned a painting of George Washington by him, which he finished (discovered in hindsight that it is considered a very fine painting). Dilemma was that Turnbull painted Washington in his prime and in Trenton, NJ.
Not what the city fathers of Charleston wanted. So they didn't pay him and requested he do another. Which he did - and yes, it was grounded in Charleston. The city fathers finally paid him. Turnbull requested that he keep the painting for a few more days for 'finishing touches'. His revenge (I won't spoil it for you) was the finishing touches.
The room itself is beautiful; it is where the city council meets.
This is an easy recommendation - go here; you won't be disappointed. There are also other paintings of famous people in the main and adjoining rooms (Beauregard, Andrew Jackson, Joseph Ryan [ mayor of Charleston for 40 years! - he just retired in fact). There is also a beautiful basket made of sweet sea grass.
The woman who tells you about the painting and other historical facts is quite charming as well - perhaps a bit lonely as the city can't advertise the room. She really liked to talk and, I think, was a bit reluctant to have her audience leave.
Another reason to go to City Hall :>)
Written 1 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Alysia O
Charleston, South Carolina, United States109 contributions
Oct 2015
Beautiful City building, still in use - you can attend public City Council meetings here, or in the 'off hours', during the day, get a tour of the City Council chambers, which are gorgeous and historic. Docents are friendly and have great knowledge. Also, a great pit stop for A/C and a restroom (on ground floor) in the summer months).
Written 28 October 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dave S
7 contributions
July 2015 • Couples
We actually went in to use the restrooms (very clean!) but wound up staying for a short video presentation about the structure which included a bit of history of Charleston. Be sure to visit the council chambers and view the portrait of George Washington which includes the artists "revenge" on Charleston. I won't spoil it, go there to hear the whole story!
Written 31 July 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Big_bro_1_usa
Chicago, IL1,943 contributions
Mar 2015 • Family
Pros: interesting building with beautiful restrooms where the jail used to be ( the bars are still there!); used to be a beef market. Pure white exterior. there are exhibits on the ground floor on items found when they were renovating the building.
Cons: none;
Cons: none;
Written 15 April 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
QuickWhitTravel
Washington DC, DC3,779 contributions
July 2014 • Solo
Beautiful building! Take a look, and I hear their bathrooms are the best. ;) Seriously, it's lovely, and there's some history behind it as well. Check it out!
Written 23 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jackw0219
New York City, NY11 contributions
June 2019 • Couples
A must see is the special portrait of George Washington on display. I'd never heard of a revenge painting. But in the era of the Twitterverse, I can appreciate it.
Written 6 June 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CBArnold
Terrell, TX657 contributions
May 2019
Charleston City Hall is worth your time. Simply beautiful and lots of good stories told by staff. Checkout the George Washington portrait!
Written 21 May 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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