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Charleston SC Historic Homes and Garden
Museums
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Aiken-Rhett House The
Aiken-Rhett House stands alone as the
most intact townhouse complex
showcasing urban life in antebellum
Charleston. Built in 1818 and greatly
expanded by Gov. and Mrs. William
Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s and 1850s, the
house has survived virtually unaltered
since 1858. A successful businessman,
rice planter, distinguished politician
and governor of South Carolina, William
Aiken, Jr. was one of the state’s
wealthiest citizens. Following a
well-established tradition among
Charleston’s elite, Governor
Aiken and his wife, Harriet Lowndes
Aiken, traveled in Europe and returned
with magnificent fine art and
furnishings. Today, visitors will find
many of these objects in the same rooms
for which they were purchased. 48
Elizabeth Street Charleston, SC (843)
723-1159
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Calhoun Mansion
(1876) After the Civil War,
wealthy banker George Walton Williams
built this Victorian Baronial Manor
House with a stairwell that reaches
to a 75-foot domed ceiling. The
24,000 square foot manse with 14-foot
ceilings has ornate chandeliers,
plaster and moldings, and a ballroom
with a glass skylight. 16 Meeting
Street Charleston, SC (843)
722-8205
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Edmondston-Alston House
(1825-1838) One of the
first dwellings built on
Charleston’s High Battery.
The stately Edmondston-Alston House
was built in 1825 on Charleston's
High Battery and is one of the
city's most splendid dwellings. A
witness to many dramatic events in
Charleston’s history, the
Edmondston-Alston House is a
classic example of the city’s
changing and sophisticated taste in
architecture and decorative arts.
21 East Battery, Charleston, SC
(843) 722-7171
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Thomas Elfe
House (1760) The Thomas Elfe
House was built by Cabinetmaker
Thomas Elfe. Built in the
pre-Revolutionary War period,
this, Georgian-style single house
was built with woodwork of rare
quality. Cornice moldings, china
cabinets and closets are artfully
incorporated with chimney
alcoves. The home also showcases
18th and 19th century
furnishings. 54 Queen Street,
Charleston, SC (843) 722-9161
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Heyward-Washington House
(1772) Located in the
downtown Historic District,
within the area of the original
walled city, this brick double
house was built in 1772 by rice
planter Daniel Heyward as a
town-house for his son, Thomas
Heyward, Jr. The City rented it
for George Washington’s
use during the
President’s week-long
Charleston stay, in May 1791,
and it has traditionally been
called the
“Heyward-Washington
House. Thomas Heyward, Jr.
(1746-1809) was a patriot
leader, signer of the
Declaration of Independence,
and artillery officer with the
South Carolina militia during
the American Revolution.
Captured when the British took
Charleston in 1780, he was
exiled to St. Augustine,
Florida, but was exchanged in
1781. Heyward sold the house in
1794. It was acquired by the
Museum in 1929, opened the
following year as
Charleston’s first
historic house museum, and was
recognized as a National
Historic Landmark in 1978. 87
Church Street Charleston, SC
(843) 722-0354
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Joseph Manigault House
(1803) Designed by
gentleman architect Gabriel
Manigault for his brother,
Joseph, this three-story
brick town-house is an
exceptional example of
Adam-style, or Federal,
architecture. The Manigaults
descended from French
Huguenots who came to America
to escape persecution in
Europe. Joseph owned
plantations, sat in the state
legislature, and was a
trustee of the College of
Charleston. Gabriel, who
owned plantations and
commercial investments, is
credited with designing
Charleston’s City Hall
and the South Carolina
Society Hall. 350 Meeting
Street Charleston, SC (843)
723-2926
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Nathaniel Russell House
(1808) Since 1808,
visitors have admired the
grand Federal townhouse of
Charleston merchant
Nathaniel Russell. Set amid
spacious formal gardens,
the Nathaniel Russell House
is a National Historic
Landmark and is widely
recognized as one of
America’s most
important neoclassical
dwellings. The graceful
interior with elaborate
plasterwork ornamentation,
geometrically shaped rooms
and a magnificent
free-flying staircase are
among the most exuberant
ever created in early
America. 51 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC (843)
724-8481
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