For a bit of architectural appreciation, visit Charleston’s Williams Mansion, considered a masterpiece of Victorian design. It sits on a plot of land once owned by Governor Charles Pinckney, who hosted George Washington three times in 1791.
The home was built in 1876 by wealthy merchant George Williams and has had several owners, even serving as a hotel for a period. At the time of construction, Williams hoped the grand home would become a symbol of strength for Charleston as it rose from the ruins of the Civil War. Today, the 24,000-square-foot (2,200-square-meter) home is one of the city’s top sightseeing attractions.
Once deemed “the handsomest and most complete private residence in the South,” the Williams Mansion features 35 antique-filled rooms with 14-foot-tall (4-meter) ceilings, 23 period fireplaces and Louis Comfort Tiffany lighting. Making a memorable first impression, the entrance hall alone is 15 feet (4.6 meters) high, 14 feet (4.3 meters) wide and 50 feet (15 meters) long.
Ascend the impressive stairwell that makes its way toward a 75-foot-high (23-meter) domed ceiling. As you wander through the home and its manicured grounds, notice a grand ballroom, private elevators, Japanese water gardens, a koi pond and an elegant piazza. It’s not surprising the home has been featured in Architectural Digest, Forbes, American Castles and the Wall Street Journal.
If you’re in the mood for more Charleston history and architecture, head north to the nearby Heyward-Washington House. This Georgian-style double house built in 1772 was home to Thomas Heyward Jr, a South Carolina signer of the Declaration of Independence. See a 1740s kitchen, as well as lovely formal gardens.
Find the Williams Mansion on Meeting Street in Charleston. Note that it has previously been called the Calhoun Mansion. Tours are held on the hour and half-hour throughout the day. Purchase admission and tour tickets online or in the Museum Shop. For a more in-depth tour, make reservations for the New Grand Tour, which covers the entire mansion, including an Italianate tower. Guests are invited to enjoy the gardens.
The museum is open daily except Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
