The Colors of Rainbow Row: The Story and What Is True

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The Colors of Rainbow Row is a story told about East Bay Street, Charleston, Charleston County. Vote believe it or no way, then see what 1 named source say is documented.

WhereEast Bay Street, CharlestonCharleston County, Lowcountry
KindLegendnot a ranking
Sources1named, linked below
CheckedOct 262026

Collected 0 of 21All legends

Local legend. Not confirmed. Just for fun.

No. 8 of 21

The Colors of Rainbow Row

A popular story says the pastel houses were painted different colors so that sailors, tipsy from the harbor taverns, could find their own door.

What Is Actually True

The South Carolina Encyclopedia gives the documented history instead: in 1931 Dorothy Haskell Porcher Legge bought a house at 99-101 East Bay and began renovating it. Her paint scheme was inspired by pastel colors of colonial Caribbean buildings and was described as nonhistorical, meant to attract attention and encourage others to fix up the neglected row. The block was restored through the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s and became known as Rainbow Row. The Encyclopedia does not mention the sailor story; we found no source for it.

Sources: South Carolina Encyclopedia – Rainbow Row.

A note: Buildings are private homes and businesses; view from the street only. Say 'no source found' for the sailor story, do not call it false.

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Where do these facts come from?

From the named sources listed on this page: South Carolina Encyclopedia – Rainbow Row.

Sources

South Carolina Encyclopedia – Rainbow Row

Read on October 26, 2026. Stories are for fun; the facts come from these sources. How we check: editorial standards; spot a mistake? Tell us.

Cite this page: It's South Carolina, “The Colors of Rainbow Row”, itssouthcarolina.com/things-to-do/south-carolina-legends/rainbow-row-colors/ (updated 2026-10-26). By the It's South Carolina editorial team. Free to quote with attribution and a link to this page; data and tables are licensed CC BY 4.0.