1|Page
CHARLESTON TOUR GUIDE EXAM NEWEST 2026-2027 ACTUAL
EXAM WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (100% VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+|
||PROFESSOR VERIFIED||
Who was Edward Brickell White? - ANSWER-architect who
worked in a variety of styles. Designed Market Hall (Greek
Revival), the College of Charleston portico (Roman, Ionic), and
the new Huguenot church (Gothic Revival).
Describe the main features of a Charleston single house. -
ANSWER-single piazza (side porch) with its own door separate
from the main entrance to the house, two or more floors, narrow
with short side facing the street, central hall with one room on
either side (two rooms per floor). Single houses are a work of
architecture unique to colonial Charleston, which is the only city in
the US to do so.
What is the purpose of a piazza? - ANSWER-provide air
circulation, shade, and social area. The term "north side manners"
refers to the fact that historically, piazzas were placed on the
south side of the house, so the north side contained fewer
windows in order to afford their next door neighbors some privacy.
,2|Page
What other buildings might occupy a lot besides the main house?
- ANSWER-carriage, slave quarters, privy, kitchen house,
workshop
What is the benefit of having a separate kitchen house? -
ANSWER-less risk of fire
Describe the features of a Charleston double house. - ANSWER-
main entrance located in the center of the building facing the
street, central hallway with two rooms on each side ("four
squares"), windows on all sides for air circulation, generally
Georgian or Greek Revival style
Describe the features of a freedman's cottage. - ANSWER-one-
story, two rooms, narrow, piazza entrance with one door leading
into each of the rooms, central chimney/fireplace. Originally built
during Reconstruction by white landowners to rent to newly freed
African Americans, hence the name.
,3|Page
What are the most common materials used in building roofs in
Charleston? - ANSWER-terra cotta, slate, and standing seam
sheet metal. These materials are better suited to Charleston's
climate and last much longer than modern asphalt tiles.
Why were wood shingles banned? What was many residents'
solution? - ANSWER-fire risk led to their prohibition in the 19th
century. Most homeowners just covered the shingles with
standing seam sheet metal.
What was the main drawback to the use of brick in early colonial
buildings? - ANSWER-they were handmade, so there was no
uniform shape/size. This was combatted by the use of mortar
joints to even out the layers. Machines were used for brick-
making after the 1870s.
What was mortar made of in early Charleston that made it
compatible with the climate? - ANSWER-lime, sand, and oyster
shells
, 4|Page
What makes Portland cement unsuited for restoring older
buildings? - ANSWER-It is very hard, so it deteriorates the soft
bricks used in most colonial buildings.
What is a "wythe"? - ANSWER-a row of bricks. Most Charleston
buildings have walls 2-3 wythes thick.
What are the terms for the two types of bricks used in a wall? -
ANSWER-the "face bricks", which are on the exposed part of the
wall, and typically have a more uniform design and harder texture
in order to withstand the climate; and the "common bricks", which
are behind the face bricks and typically of lesser quality
What is a "bond" in masonry terms? - ANSWER-the pattern in
which bricks are laid. The long side is called a "stretcher" and the
short end is a "header". Bonds are identified by the arrangement
of stretchers and headers.
What are some of the common bonds used in Charleston
buildings? - ANSWER-English Common, Flemish, American
Common
CHARLESTON TOUR GUIDE EXAM NEWEST 2026-2027 ACTUAL
EXAM WITH COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND CORRECT DETAILED
ANSWERS (100% VERIFIED ANSWERS) |ALREADY GRADED A+|
||PROFESSOR VERIFIED||
Who was Edward Brickell White? - ANSWER-architect who
worked in a variety of styles. Designed Market Hall (Greek
Revival), the College of Charleston portico (Roman, Ionic), and
the new Huguenot church (Gothic Revival).
Describe the main features of a Charleston single house. -
ANSWER-single piazza (side porch) with its own door separate
from the main entrance to the house, two or more floors, narrow
with short side facing the street, central hall with one room on
either side (two rooms per floor). Single houses are a work of
architecture unique to colonial Charleston, which is the only city in
the US to do so.
What is the purpose of a piazza? - ANSWER-provide air
circulation, shade, and social area. The term "north side manners"
refers to the fact that historically, piazzas were placed on the
south side of the house, so the north side contained fewer
windows in order to afford their next door neighbors some privacy.
,2|Page
What other buildings might occupy a lot besides the main house?
- ANSWER-carriage, slave quarters, privy, kitchen house,
workshop
What is the benefit of having a separate kitchen house? -
ANSWER-less risk of fire
Describe the features of a Charleston double house. - ANSWER-
main entrance located in the center of the building facing the
street, central hallway with two rooms on each side ("four
squares"), windows on all sides for air circulation, generally
Georgian or Greek Revival style
Describe the features of a freedman's cottage. - ANSWER-one-
story, two rooms, narrow, piazza entrance with one door leading
into each of the rooms, central chimney/fireplace. Originally built
during Reconstruction by white landowners to rent to newly freed
African Americans, hence the name.
,3|Page
What are the most common materials used in building roofs in
Charleston? - ANSWER-terra cotta, slate, and standing seam
sheet metal. These materials are better suited to Charleston's
climate and last much longer than modern asphalt tiles.
Why were wood shingles banned? What was many residents'
solution? - ANSWER-fire risk led to their prohibition in the 19th
century. Most homeowners just covered the shingles with
standing seam sheet metal.
What was the main drawback to the use of brick in early colonial
buildings? - ANSWER-they were handmade, so there was no
uniform shape/size. This was combatted by the use of mortar
joints to even out the layers. Machines were used for brick-
making after the 1870s.
What was mortar made of in early Charleston that made it
compatible with the climate? - ANSWER-lime, sand, and oyster
shells
, 4|Page
What makes Portland cement unsuited for restoring older
buildings? - ANSWER-It is very hard, so it deteriorates the soft
bricks used in most colonial buildings.
What is a "wythe"? - ANSWER-a row of bricks. Most Charleston
buildings have walls 2-3 wythes thick.
What are the terms for the two types of bricks used in a wall? -
ANSWER-the "face bricks", which are on the exposed part of the
wall, and typically have a more uniform design and harder texture
in order to withstand the climate; and the "common bricks", which
are behind the face bricks and typically of lesser quality
What is a "bond" in masonry terms? - ANSWER-the pattern in
which bricks are laid. The long side is called a "stretcher" and the
short end is a "header". Bonds are identified by the arrangement
of stretchers and headers.
What are some of the common bonds used in Charleston
buildings? - ANSWER-English Common, Flemish, American
Common
