Charleston, Day 3
We headed back to Charleston for one last visit before renewing our journey north on the ICW. We wanted to visit two of the homes we saw while on our walking tour of the historic district. Our first stop was at the Aiken-Rhett House which gives one a good overview of how these homes were organized and operated in the 19th Century. Construction on the house began around 1820 and additions were made as necessary to support the life-style of the owners. The house is largely unfurnished and is being conserved rather than restored. The docent provided a very detailed picture of how those living on the property benefited from the design and layout of the house and its outbuildings.
https://www.historiccharleston.org/Visit/Museums/Aiken-Rhett-House-Museum.aspx
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| Aiken-Rhett House Outbuildings |
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| Rear of Aiken-Rhett House |
Our next stop was the Nathaniel Russel House. Unlike the Aiken-Rhett House which is being preserved as is, the Russel House has been fully restored. Extensive research was done to determine what the interiors might have looked like throughout its history. The home today looks as it did in the first two decades of the 19th Century and is fully furnished in pieces from the Russel family or items of the period which would be similar to what the Russel family might have owned during the time. The most outstanding feature is the oval floating staircase which is believed to be unique. This house is beyond debate one of the prime examples of early American neoclassical architecture.
https://www.historiccharleston.org/Russell.aspx
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| Russel House |
We were fortunate in that as we passed St. Michael's Episcopal Church the doors were open and we were able to view the beautiful Tiffany stained glass windows. St. Michael's built between 1751 and 1761 is the oldest church structure in Charleston. George Washington and Robert E. Lee attended services there when in Charleston. The church also served as a landmark for ships heading into Charleston Harbor and as a range marker for Union artillery when they bombarded the city.
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| St. Michael's |
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| St. Michael's |
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| St. Michael's |
Our final stop for the day was the Old Slave Market or Ryan's Mart on Chalmers Street. Ryan's Mart was one of the most widely known slave markets with traders from throughout the South trading slaves at Ryan's. The building is remarkably small when you consider the number of slaves put up for sale at a single auction. The building now houses the Slave Mart Museum which is little more than posters and a few artifacts. Still, it was worth exploring. Also of interest was the German Fire Station located next door to the slave market. The building was constructed in 1851 for the volunteer German Fire Company and became Charleston Fire Station No. 1 when the city assumed responsibility for fire protection. Later, it served as the armory for the Carolina Light Infantry. Today it is a law office.
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| Slave Mart and German Fire Company Station |
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