“H” is for Hibernian Hall (Charleston). Designed by Philadelphia architect Thomas U. Walter, Hibernian Hall is among the most significant examples of Greek Revival in Charleston. In the early 1830s the Hibernian Society began making plans to build a meeting hall. The society held a national competition for the architectural plans. Construction began in 1839 and was completed in 1842. The design was based on the Ionic temple of Ilissus in Athens. The original portico was in the Ionic order, but after the 1886 earthquake, it was rebuilt with reapportioned columns and a Corinthian pediment. Set above the entrance in relief is a gilded harp. In contrast to the restrained exterior, the interior is an elegant, dramatic space—featuring an extraordinary rotunda, a coffered dome, and oculus. In 1973, Hibernian Hall was designated a National Historic Landmark.
“H” is for Hibernian Hall (Charleston)
