St. Philip's Church, Charleston

Among Charleston’s churches, Saint Philip’s plays it cool—second in prominence, but hardly second in presence. Built in the 1830s, it may not be the oldest structure in town, but its congregation goes all the way back to Charleston’s earliest colonial days.

Right in the middle of the French Quarter, this is the kind of place that doesn’t need to try too hard—people have been coming here for centuries anyway. The tall tower, designed in that elegant Wren-Gibbs style, rises above the rooftops with just enough confidence to remind you it’s earned its National Historic Landmark status.

Now, step into the graveyard—because in Charleston, history doesn’t always stay politely inside the buildings. During the 18th century, this was the regular Sunday stop for some very recognizable names. Charles Pinckney, one of the key minds behind the U.S. Constitution, is buried here. Not far away lies Christopher Gadsden, the man behind that famous coiled snake flag with the message “Don’t tread on me”—subtle, it was not... Together, they turn this quiet churchyard into something closer to a Founding Fathers’ guest list.

As the 19th century rolled in, Saint Philip’s kept attracting big personalities. John C. Calhoun—senator, vice president, Secretary of State, and a major voice in the states’ rights debate—made this his spiritual home. When he died in 1850, he was first laid to rest in what was known as the “stranger’s churchyard,” which sounds a bit less prestigious than it turned out to be. With the Civil War approaching, his remains were moved across the street, and eventually South Carolina decided a large monument was in order—because when it came to tribute, bigger was better...

Before you move on, take a moment to look across the street at the French Huguenot Church. It’s a rare Gothic-style building in a city that usually prefers something a bit more classical, and between the two, you get a neat architectural contrast—and twice the history without even changing corners.