Alanah Hallam
Region: US
Sunday 31 May 2026 20:43:51 GMT
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Alena | Life in Charleston :
Historically if the porch door was open it meant that visitors are welcome to come socialize on the piazza! If closed, it’s a sign to “do not disturb” 😊
2026-05-31 21:23:52
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Dat Bish :
It’s called a hospitality door and it would let people know on the street that the home if the door was open, you could come inside and mingle and if it was closed, it was private for family only
2026-06-01 02:26:32
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ava :
im ill i miss charleston need to move back
2026-07-05 21:12:55
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Liz Bailey776 :
It’s a Charleston Single House side porch (veranda) and the design is intentional. They face the south or west to catch the sea breeze and provide cross ventilation to the home
2026-05-31 21:45:46
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HoneySass 🍓 :
Tell us you’re not from the area w/o actually telling us
2026-06-01 21:21:42
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A2865 :
If it's open... they want visitors .. if it's closed, they do not.
2026-05-31 21:55:41
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Suuuuuuupp :
None of these answers are right by the way.
2026-06-01 19:58:02
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Emily MacDonald :
Also in Charleston they can’t remodel to remove those doors. Anything over 75yrs is there forever. It’s the 2nd most historically preserved city in the world.
2026-06-02 01:59:22
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Booklover9390 :
Highly recommend a history tour they all explain and much more Charlestons history is super interesting
2026-06-01 13:55:08
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WhatWouldTomDo :
It's called a charleston single because it 's a single room wide and multiple rooms deep usually three or four. They were built before air conditioning existed. so the veranda is basically an extra room, so i the summertime they can sit out there and be cool. I highly recommend you take one of the walking tours.You'll learn a lot.
2026-06-01 12:19:14
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ncbludot :
Those are called hospitality doors. Before AC- folks spent a lot of times out on the veranda. It was a form of privacy if the door was closed and welcoming if the door was open.
2026-06-01 13:07:30
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HellyjellyHelena :
People comment different things but I think it serves multi purpose. Knowing Charleston and it being in the south I would’ve guessed it had something to do with spirits lol
2026-06-01 20:58:37
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Ancient history :
You should always take the historic and architectural tours when visiting a new city. The locals answer these questions. My favorite are the ghost tours!
2026-06-05 01:10:51
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Sfoxlucy :
In Charleston, the long, stacked side porches found on historic homes are known as piazzas. The actual entrance doors located on the street-facing end of these piazzas are uniquely referred to as hospitality
2026-06-02 02:20:08
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ElleDee89 :
It’s also part of an old law
2026-06-01 16:08:32
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Mer_29 :
The style is called Charleston Single house. The double porches/piazzas are for ventilation and cross breezes. I assume the front door is originally for public use and side doors are for private uses. Normally there are gates on the driveway. Some renovated homes removed the gates.
2026-06-01 06:01:49
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Dlphnlvr :
take a tour and learn the history!!
2026-06-03 19:57:28
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Pizza Grump :
I love the amount of people on here saying “that’s not why” while simultaneously not telling anyone why…
2026-06-01 13:03:00
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M Concepcion :
Back in the day you got taxed, from the road to the door. They used to have a window tax too. That’s why you see a whole bunch of windows with bricks in front of them now.
2026-06-01 19:51:06
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Amy Barnes :
OMG guys…it’s bc of taxes. Bc Charleston use to tax the owner based on the length of the home on the street. So they built homes perpendicular to the street to reduce their tax liability, so they put a traditional door there to achieve the Lower tax judgement
2026-06-03 15:07:51
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Hannah :
It’s because they were taxed based on how big the front door side of the house was. It was to get around that
2026-06-01 02:09:43
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rachael sanders :
i love it but i need someone to tell me the logic
2026-05-31 20:52:04
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summerfunday :
People use to sleep on their porches when it was to hot inside and the door offered them a since of privacy
2026-06-01 12:36:40
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perche :
What a weird tone to be asking that question in
2026-06-01 12:38:32
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Kate Evans :
It was for taxes and hospitality back in the day
2026-06-03 14:19:19
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