Historic Home Tours in Charleston, South Carolina

Visitors to downtown Charleston, South Carolina, are typically amazed at the number and size of the historic homes and buildings that dot the peninsula city. When asked how this preservation has come about, the common response is that for about 100 years after the Civil War Charlestonians were too poor to tear anything down, so they lived with what they had. Another often heard statement is that Charleston and China have a lot in common as both societies love rice and revere their ancestors. (Charleston was once the capital of rice production for North America and derived much of its great wealth from the crop.) The reality is that an enormous debt is owed to the visionary few who saw the value of preserving, restoring, documenting and ultimately sharing the City of Charleston's historic properties with visitors and residents alike.

The properties introduced below are open to the public for guided tours with admission. Visiting all of the houses is more than a day's worth of touring but a visit to any of these unique properties is well worth the time.

The Aiken-Rhett House at 48 Elizabeth Street is sited in an area of the city known as Wraggsboro, the streets of which are named for the children of Joseph Wragg. Located on the NW corner of Wragg Mall, the Aiken-Rhett House has been a jewel on the Charleston landscape since its construction in 1810. The house gets its name from the famous of its owners, William Aiken, Jr. former governor of South Carolina and Governor Aiken's granddaughter, Mrs. Henrietta Rhett. The property has extensive outbuildings including a workhouse/slave quarters building and a stable building that are included in the tour.

The Nathaniel Russell House at 51 Meeting Street is a premier example of Adams-style architecture. The elegant antebellum townhouse was constructed in 1808 by Rhode Island native, Nathaniel Russell, a successful merchant. Marrying late at the age of 50, Mr. Russell set about spending some of his hard earned fortune on a home for his new family. Located South of Broad in downtown Charleston, it is one of the most prestigious addresses in the Historic District and is listed on the National Register. The house has a spectacular three-story, free-standing elliptical staircase that is worth the price of admission on its own. In addition to the marvelous interior, the tour includes the property's extensive formal gardens.

Owned and operated by the Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) and each of these houses is open for tours 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily. Admission is to a single HCF house is $10 for adults; $5 for children 6-16, and children under 6 are free. Combination tickets for both the Aiken-Rhett House and the Nathaniel Russell House can be purchased at a discount and can be obtained at either property.

The Joseph Manigault House (pronounced Man-e-go); was the townhouse of a wealthy rice planter. The historic property is located at 350 Meeting Street, across John Street from the Charleston Museum. The house was designed by Manigault's brother, Gabriel, a local architect of note. Construction was completed in 1803. It is a brilliant example of Adam-style architecture and is enhanced by the collection of period furnishings that are representative of the wealthy and socially important class of the time. The restored grounds include a small formal garden and a unique Gate Temple, which had once been used as a restroom for a gas station. The house was designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1973.

The Heyward-Washington House at 87 Church Street is a fine example of pre-Revolutionary architecture. This is the first of the city's museum houses and is complete with Charleston-made furniture and household items. In addition to the house, the tour includes the original kitchen building which also served as slave quarters, a stable, and the "necessary" or privy building, as well as a formal garden. The house was built in 1772 for Thomas Heyward Jr. by his father, rice planter Daniel Heyward. It was later leased it to George Washington for a week in 1871. This connection accounts for the name of the house. Heyward was a patriot of the Revolutionary War and also signed the Declaration of Independence, one of four signers from South Carolina. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1978.

Tours of these properties, which are owned by the Charleston Museum, are available from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m., Monday-Saturday and 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. on Sunday. Tour prices are $10 for adults and $5 for children 3 to 12 years and can be purchased at the museum or either of the houses. Multiple site tickets are available with a discount applied to adult tickets.

The Thomas Elfe House, located at 54 Queen Street, is the former home of one of most accomplished cabinetmakers in American history. The home dates to before the Revolutionary War and contains an amazing amount of intricate and unique woodwork. The home is privately owned and tours are limited. Tours are offered Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to noon. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children 6-16. The home, which is furnished with exceptional antiques, is also available for private showing by appointment. Call (843) 722-9161 for more information.

The Edmonston-Alston House, located at 21 East Battery is the only house on tour that faces Charleston Harbor. The home was built by Scottish merchant Charles Edmonston in 1825 and was later purchased in 1838 by Charles Alston, a rice planter. The second floor piazza offers one of the most impressive views of Charleston Harbor available and was the viewing point of General P.G.T. Beauregard during the attack on Fort Sumter that ignited the Civil War.

The home is furnished with family pieces and includes a genealogy chart mapping the familial connections of the majority of Charleston's wealthier families. The property is owned by the Middleton Plantation Trust. Tours are available Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Monday and Sunday. Tickets are purchased on site and admission is $10.

The Calhoun Mansion at 24,000 square feet and 35 rooms is the largest private residence in Charleston. Built by George W. Williams in 1876, the Italianate design is atypical for Charleston. One hundred years after construction completed, the house was scheduled for demolition due to years of neglect but a local Charleston attorney rescued it in 1976. Since then, the mansion's restoration has been extensive and is estimated to have cost approximately $5 million. The incredibly ornate interior includes 35 fireplaces, a grand ballroom, and piazzas on three floors. Lush gardens surround the house. Tours are scheduled beginning at 11:00 a.m. and continue through 5:00 p.m. Admission is $15 and tickets can be purchased on site. In addition, a special Grand Tour lasting an hour and a half is also available by reservation at a cost of $50 per person.