Aiken-Rhett House, Charleston

4.5

#6 of 37 in Historic Sites in Charleston

Historic Site · Tourist Spot

Create an itinerary including Aiken-Rhett House

Constructed in 1820 by Charleston merchant John Robinson, Aiken-Rhett House serves as a time capsule for 19th-century Southern architecture and the life of the Aiken family who took ownership of the property in 1827. Surrounded by palm trees and other greenery, the preserved, three-story home is on the National Register of Historic Places. The grounds were also home to a number of skilled African American slaves, who were freed after the end of the Civil War. You can wander the area and see their living quarters. The family passed the property down from one generation to the next until the house was donated to the Charleston Museum in 1975. Make Aiken-Rhett House part of your personalized Charleston itinerary using our Charleston trip itinerary builder app.

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Aiken-Rhett House reviews

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TripAdvisor traveler rating

1,691 reviews

Google

4.6

By spephf

This is an excellent chance to see untouched Charleston and then also compare it to a restored version of a similar house - the Nathaniel Russell House. We thought the combined ticket was very much.... more

This is an excellent chance to see untouched Charleston and then also compare it to a restored version of a similar house - the Nathaniel Russell House. We thought the combined ticket was very much.... more »
By historylover3

Visiting the Aiken-Rhett House was a definite highlight of our trip to Charleston. The historic mansion and slave quarters were "preserved as found", i.e., kept in the neglected-looking state from...

Visiting the Aiken-Rhett House was a definite highlight of our trip to Charleston. The historic mansion and slave quarters were "preserved as found", i.e., kept in the neglected-looking state from... more »

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Google

By A Frisbee

Beautiful mansion with intact kitchen, carriage house, and salve quarters. All this in downtown Charleston. Wonderful audio tour to guide you through the rooms. I truly wish this property would change from preserved to restored 😪 . However, it is still totally worth a visit.

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By Johnathan Nazarian

The beauty of this house is that it lays relatively untouched by man. Rather than restoring this relic, it has been preserved. This unique experience let's you see the potential... The bones and tattered remains of a once glorious house. Even more impressive is the historical accounts of both the estate owner as well as the slaves and their conditions. There's an eerie quality to the place. Think abandoned home rich with history and a glimpse into a broken past. Tips: Go on a cool day or in the cool of the day (no AC). But the two-house pass. Pretty significant discount, and the other house is very impressive.

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