Dock Street Theatre
National Register Listing
Street Address:
135 Church St., Charleston, SC (Charleston County)
Alternate Name:
Planters' Hotel
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817710057
Description and Narrative:
(Planter’s Hotel) The Dock Street Theatre is an excellent example of a historic building being usefully adapted to meet the needs of the city while preserving visual evidence of our past. Once known as the Planters’ Hotel, the Dock Street Theatre complex is the last surviving antebellum hotel building in Charleston. The three-story building is a valuable example of the Federal-transitional commercial hotel. The hotel underwent several enlargements as shown by differences in brick coloration and composition of voussoirs. Because of the various expansions, the building can be described as six separate buildings. The main building is the oldest, dating from ca. 1809, and contains a recessed, three-step porch with six brown sandstone columns, two of which are engaged. This recessed porch shelters five round arches; the three central ones contain massive double doors. Projecting outward above the recessed porch is a wrought iron open-work balcony with flat columns and hipped roof. The most recent building is located at the interior of the lot. Built in 1935, this building contains the main theatre stage. Notable interior features include Federal woodwork and the grand staircase in the lobby that ascends to the drawing room. Listed in the National Register June 19, 1973.
Period of Significance:
1809;19th century
Level of Significance:
National
Area of Significance:
Social History;Architecture;Performing Arts
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
June 19 1973
