HeritagePhoto Wikimedia CommonsAiken-Rhett House
South Carolina · United States
Historic home located in downtown Charleston
Contents
11 sections · tap a section for its opening lines1Aiken-Rhett House
Welcome, inquisitive traveler, to the Aiken-Rhett House. I am thrilled to guide you through what is undeniably one of Charleston's most important and evocative historic homes. …
Listen in the app2The Enclosed Workyard and the Architecture of Control
We have now stepped into the courtyard, the bustling, enclosed workyard located behind the main mansion. Take a moment to look around at the perimeter. …
Listen in the app3The Kitchen, Laundry, and the Labor of Sustenance
Step now into the kitchen and adjacent laundry spaces, situated on the ground floor of the outbuildings. The atmosphere in here immediately shifts. …
Listen in the app4The Enslaved Quarters Above the Kitchen
Let us climb the well-worn, uneven wooden stairs up to the second level of the outbuilding. We are now standing in the quarters where the enslaved domestic workers actually lived and slept. …
Listen in the app5The Carriage House, Stables, and Garden Structures
Continuing our exploration of the perimeter, we arrive at the carriage house and the surviving remnants of the stables. This area was the transportation hub of the estate. …
Listen in the app6The Wraparound Piazza and the Facade
We now transition from the utilitarian workyard toward the main residence, stepping onto the sweeping, wraparound upper porch. In true Charleston fashion, this extensive outdoor gallery is proudly referred to as a piazza. …
Listen in the app7The Double Parlor and the Haunted Drawing Room
We now cross the threshold into the interior of the main house, stepping into the breathtaking double parlor, which transitions seamlessly into the formal drawing room. This is the architectural apex of the Aiken family's social…
Listen in the app8The Dining Room and the Unionist's Library
Moving elegantly through the first floor, we arrive in the formal dining room. This space was the centerpiece of the eighteen thirties renovations undertaken by Governor Aiken. …
Listen in the app9The Upper Bedrooms and the Evolution of Light
Let us ascend the main staircase to the upper family quarters, arriving in the private bedrooms and the highly specialized bathing room. The bedrooms here reflect the intimate, daily routines of the Aiken family. …
Listen in the app10The Art Gallery and the Climax of Wealth
Our final interior stop brings us to the most architecturally distinct addition to the Aiken-Rhett House: the grand Art Gallery. Stepping into this room feels entirely different from the rest of the house, and that is completely…
Listen in the app11Closing
As we exit the main house and make our way back toward the wrought iron gates facing the street, it is time to reflect on the profound complexity of the journey we have just completed. The Aiken-Rhett House is not a simple,…
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What is Aiken-Rhett House?
Aiken-Rhett House is a place in South Carolina · United States with 11 story sections on Tellby. You can read the opening of each section on this page; the sound plays in the app.
| Location | South Carolina · United States |
|---|---|
| Type | Heritage |
| Story sections | 11 |
| Text language | English |
| Coordinates | 32.7915, -79.9349 |
| Last updated |
Nearby places
within a 5-minute walk
Fort Sumter Visitor Education CenterHeritage9 sectionsOld South Carriage CompanyHeritage8 sections