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Aiken-Rhett House Museum
Categories: Arts & Entertainment Museums Public Services & Government Landmarks & Historical Buildings Museums, Landmarks & Historical Buildings [Edit]
48 Elizabeth StCharleston, SC 29401
(843) 723-1159
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 5 pm
Sun 2 pm - 5 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
9 reviews for Aiken-Rhett House Museum
9 reviews in English
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Review from Emily R.
1/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
This was by far the most memorable stop of my visit to Charleston. I applaud their decision to conserve rather than restore the home. As a result, as you walk through you feel as if you have truly traveled back in time or are strolling through some sort of dream world. It's surreal. The art work, the furnishings, the lighting fixtures - I loved it all. The living room (parlor?) was my favorite. Unfortunately they do not allow photography inside but that's probably good otherwise I would have been in there all day. The slave quarters and carriage house in back are fascinating as well. An absolute treasure.
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Review from Hula B.
Chicago, IL
2/29/2012
this was pretty neat. they give you head set and you walk through and listen to the history of the place.
everything from slave quarters to horse stables and changing rooms once grand dinning room and ball room.
and what an amazing library room. -
Review from Stephen H.
Overland Park, KS
4/27/2011
Goodness this is a beautiful old home. It's very illustrative of antebellum home-building. Bricks were made poorly at that time and as a result over time families stuccoed over the brick and then scored it to make it look like stone.
There are slave quarters, a detached kitchen, and a stable are part of this property, with a lot of original fixtures preserved. Also, great tours given by knowledgeable staff. -
Review from Deb B.
1/12/2011
I decided to be a tourist in my own town today and visited. What a fabulous stop! I love going into a museum and seeing things in its original form. I've been to several *Historic Houses* to see that the house isn't original or that it's filled with things bought during the http://dot.com explosion.
This is in its splendor and the audio tour told story after story about the house. It felt as if it almost "came alive".
Whether you are a tourist or local, this is a must see! -
Review from CHRISTINA C.
Kissimmee, FL
9/9/2010
This house is "conserved" ie, basically sitting there rotting, only maintained to the point that it does not disintegrate or pose a hazard (we hope) , vs "restored" (where things are repaired to original grandeur).
Personally, I have no idea why reupolstering a sofa, and repainting walls makes a home any less authentic if it is done in correct period decor.Many people don't like the "restored" houses, they are not "authentic". Those are the same prople who don't like Disneyland, and they have no place in my world.
Now, that is all just personal commentary, and all of that being said, I really did enjoy touring the house (I am glad however, I did it PRIOR to visiting the far far superior Boone Hall). You are free to move at your own pace, and listen to an mp3 tour, and there is only one room that has the dreaded ropes that screech if you dare lean over them.
The house is dilapadated,(though "conserved') and holes in walls, floors, peeling paint, decaying furniture etc. But the tour was interesting, and I really like to go at my own pace. The cost is $10, and there are docents available for chatting if desired.
Go EARLY, it has no a/c, and it swelters.
Again, while slave quarters are toured, and slavery mentioned, it is never portrayed in a negative light. Apparently this doesn't bother most people (This is still the south, and the differences in race and class continue to apall me) but I find it shocking that NEVER is in mentioned as anything but just the way of life. I am not expecting a long anti-slavery tirade for civil rights, but an acknowledgement of the evils of the past would be good. -
Review from Casual O.
Chatham, NJ
2/24/2012
That's true; it's conserved and not restored. And that's a huge difference between here and the other historic homes on the peninsula. The tour guide mentioned that the home had been used as a set for the filming of some eerie movie and the inside certainly is like that. Original, peeling paint and unrestored floors and ceilings give the inside the feel of walking through a haunted house; completely unlike the other homes you'll visit in town. I thought it was the most depressing site visited as it was a faded impression of what had once been an elegant home.
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Review from David B.
11/13/2010
I've been going to house museums for years and marvel at those that have the cajones to do something different to preserve the resource and tell their story. Aiken Rhett does that in spades.
Mgmt has made the decision to conserve the interiors rather than restore. For the casual visitor it provides an experience into a different facet of historic preservation. This is the same strategy employed at Drayton Hall, to great success. The audio tour is well done and illuminates a fascinating story of the home's builders and occupants. Personally, although I enjoyed the grand public spaces of the house, I found the slave quarters to be the most amazing spaces of the house.....very rare urban survivors and a keen reminder as to how this house and lifestyle were supported.
This offers a unique experience in Charleston, a welcome contrast to the plethora of house museums available in the city. -
Review from James W.
Dallas, TX
7/12/2010 4 photos
We recently spent the weekend in Charleston and simply put, this is a must see for anyone visiting this amazing city.
Built by the Aiken family in 1808, this house has been beautifully preserved for anyone willing to pay the $10 admission fee. Unlike most of the museum houses, this one has been "preserved," and not "restored" to original grandeur. The main difference being that the Aiken-Rhett house has been left alone to age. From the original carriages in the carriage house, to the outhouses in the work yard, to the warming kitchen, you truly get a sense of what life was like for this family. However, the highlight (and lowlight) of this house are the intact slave quarters. Not many other houses have this portion of the house intact. Truly amazing/sad to see.
There is a 45 minute, self-guided audio tour, which was really well done, and you can walk around and enjoy this house on your own. The Historic Charleston Society has done a great job. The Volunteers are very nice and helpful. I am glad we stopped in. -
Review from Kate C.
Stamford, CT
2/21/2011
Tours, etc., are not something I normally do when on vacation, but this was amazing. There give you a little MP3 player to walk around with, so the tour is basically self guided. Wow, I really felt like I got a feel for the house, the time, and the people that lived there. I highly recommend this for people who want to learn something while visiting Charleston but don't want to spend a lot of timing doing it (no more than 1 hour) and don't want to be bored.
