Chesnut Cottage, Civil War residence in Columbia, USA
Chesnut Cottage is a 1.5-story frame house in Columbia with Classical Revival features, including a central dormer window and octagonal columns supporting the front portico. The structure displays symmetrical design elements typical of the neoclassical architectural style popular during the 19th century.
The house was built in 1850 and later became the site of a significant speech delivered from its front steps by a Confederate leader in fall 1864. The residence witnessed important moments during the American Civil War period.
Mary Boykin Chesnut documented daily life in the South during the Civil War through her detailed diary while residing in this cottage.
The residence is located on Hampton Street in downtown Columbia and is easy to find in the area. Visitors should note that this is an occupied building, so access to view the exterior and any open areas may be limited to certain times.
The cottage remains one of the last privately operated buildings of its type in Columbia, maintaining its historical character since the 1850s. Its long history under continuous local ownership makes it a rare example of how private stewardship can preserve a structure through changing times.
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