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Aiken-Rhett House
One review for Aiken-Rhett House
1 review in English
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Review from Laura A.
Charlottesville, VA
5/3/2007 5 photos
Well, I've finally been initiated into Charleston society: I sipped my very first mint julep in the back garden of the Aiken-Rhett House this evening at a cocktail party thrown in anticipation of the Kentucky Derby and sponsored by the Young Collectors. Dahling! It was GLORIOUS. I was only missing the flamboyant hat. What made the event so glamorous for me, mostly, was the setting: the Aiken-Rhett House is one of those places that tourists come to Charleston to visit, but that we residents take for granted like it was a dry cleaners. Just another grande old dame of a mansion parked on the corner of Ann and Elizabeth Streets (possibly my favorite Charleston borough), right? Well, you'd have to wait for another selective soiree to experience what I did tonight, but I must say that exploring a gloomy, antebellum mansion at dusk, two juleps later, is a delectable way to spend a Thursday evening.
Sneaking a peak into the house's Art Gallery, we ran into the house's curator, a surprisingly young woman who spoke intelligently about the room's art and furniture (all original to the house). She said the A-R had just gotten audio tours, and they were well worth it. I'm planning to go back in the daylight (possibly packing a thermos of juleps to recapture the mood) and hear the whole story. Bonus: the prettiest outhouse you've ever seen (check the pix).
