The Stunning Building In South Carolina That Looks Just Like Hogwarts

Passionate Harry Potter fans have perhaps all dreamed of visiting their hero’s famous school. Since we most likely won't be receiving our invitations via an owl, we have to settle for our own Muggle buildings. The next best thing just might be seeing this unique building in South Carolina that looks like it could almost be a satellite campus for Hogwarts.

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. If you find yourself in South Carolina's oldest city, you can see a beautiful building that has many parallels to European architecture and even the magical world of Harry Potter.

The Circular Congregational Church, located on Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, undeniably gives off serious Hogwarts vibes. If you’re in Charleston and looking to immerse yourself in an architectural wonderland, this definitely could be mistaken for one.

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.

The church is one of the oldest continuously worshipping congregations in the South. And it looks just like Hogwarts in South Carolina! Its adaptation of the Romanesque style is evident in the massive quality, thick walls, round arches, large towers, and decorative arcading.

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. It almost looks like it belongs on a list of “Castles in South Carolina."

The steeple was not a part of the original structure. It was added in 1838. This addition put an end to the jokes that had been made 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.

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.

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. If you’re thinking, “Harry Potter Charleston SC- how could that be?” We understand. But this building could make you look twice!

You can learn more about this church and its history at the Circular Congregational Church’s website.

Feeling inspired? Try planning your own trip to Charleston using Only In Your State’s itinerary planner. While you're planning your trip, you might be inspired to stay at this Harry Potter-themed Airbnb. It's a little out of the way if you're visiting Charleston, but the detour might be worth it for true Potterheads.