Passionate Harry Potter fans have perhaps all dreamed of visiting their hero’s infamous school. The next best thing just might be seeing this Hogwarts-like building in South Carolina that looks like it could almost be a satellite campus, even.
The Hogwarts Castle architecture is a fascinating mixture of styles, including elements of Norman Romanesque, Gothic, and Gothic Revival styles and drawing inspiration from great European cathedrals.
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The Circular Congregational Church, located on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, undeniably gives off serious Hogwarts vibes.
WC-Travelers-75/TripAdvisor
Meeting Street got its name from the church, which first met in what it called the “meeting house.” Meeting Street was the road leading to it at the time, then called Meeting House Street.
Maarten Schafer/Google Reviews The church is one of the oldest continuously worshipping congregations in the South.
Its adaptation of the Romanesque style is evident in the massive quality, thick walls, round arches, large towers, and decorative arcading.
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The church was built in 1804 from plans drawn up by Robert Mills, Charleston’s leading architect who also designed the D.C. Washington Monument.
Circular Congregational Church/TripAdvisor
The steeple was not a part of the original structure. It was added in 1838.
Westend61/Getty Images This addition ended the laughter from joking often done over the lack of a steeple on a church building.
In 1892, the current building was constructed out of bricks from the ruins when it was destroyed by fire at the beginning of the Civil War.
Jeff Steinmiller/Google Reviews
Not only is the church visually reminiscent of Hogwarts, but its history in education gives it some common ground also. In 1816, the first Sunday School for religious education in South Carolina was started here, as well as a prototype of what would later become The American Bible Society.
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A National Historic Landmark, this church is well worth a visit, whether as a Harry Potter fan, a history buff, or while on a horse-drawn carriage tour of Charleston.
Taylor Clark/Google Reviews
You can learn more about this church and its history at the Circular Congregational Church’s website. Also in South Carolina, Harry Potter fans may want to stay at this Harry Potter-Themed Airbnb and Break Out Of This Harry Potter-Themed Escape Room! Have you ever seen any other Hogwarts-like buildings in our state? We’d love to hear about it in the comments below!
Via Tsuji/Flickr
WC-Travelers-75/TripAdvisor
Maarten Schafer/Google Reviews
The church is one of the oldest continuously worshipping congregations in the South.
jovannig/Getty Images
Circular Congregational Church/TripAdvisor
Westend61/Getty Images
This addition ended the laughter from joking often done over the lack of a steeple on a church building.
Jeff Steinmiller/Google Reviews
Louise Heusinkveld/Getty Images
Taylor Clark/Google Reviews
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Address: Circular Congregational Church, 150 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, USA
