Hibernian Hall, Charleston

Despite the challenges posed by the Civil War, multiple fires, and the devastating earthquake of 1886, many of Charleston's historic buildings have survived. Among them is the Hibernian Hall, a grand piece of Greek Revival architecture with imposing white columns, designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1973. It was originally designed for the Irish Hibernian Society, known for organizing the first Saint Patrick's Day parades in the United States.

Most important, however, is the hall's historic association with the 1860 Charleston Convention, in which the Democratic Party, divided by opinions on slavery, failed to select a presidential nominee and thus ensured victory for the anti-slavery Republican candidate, Abraham Lincoln, in the presidential election that year.

Having served as a venue for countless debutante balls hosted by the Hibernian Society, today the building is often used for wedding receptions. Its three-story rotunda, complete with dual staircases leading to the ballroom, provides an elegant setting for bridal parties to make a grand entrance, often accompanied by the stirring sounds of a bagpiper — a cherished Hibernian tradition.