Edmondston-Alston House, Federal and Greek Revival mansion at East Battery, Charleston, United States
The Edmondston-Alston House is a three-story Greek Revival mansion on East Battery in Charleston that displays original furnishings, silver collections, and decorative arts from the 19th century. The interior spaces are filled with period pieces and family heirlooms that document the lifestyle of the wealthy residents who lived there.
A Scottish merchant named Charles Edmondston built the house in 1825 with Greek Revival design, and Charles Alston purchased it in 1837 during changing economic conditions. The building later became a witness to major events in Charleston's political history.
The house displays family furniture and personal belongings that belonged to the prominent Alston rice-planting family who shaped the local region. The rooms reveal how wealthy Charlestonians lived in the 19th century and what objects mattered to them.
The house sits in a historic neighborhood with sidewalks along the bay and is easily reachable on foot. Visitors should wear comfortable shoes since the stairs between floors are steep and the house spans multiple stories.
From the house's back piazza, General P.T. Beauregard watched the bombardment of Fort Sumter on April 12, 1861, the event that sparked the Civil War. This moment made the building a place where a pivotal moment in American history was directly witnessed.
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