Oct20

biggest.

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here is the biggest house in Charleston, South Carolina, USA

(in contrast to yesterday’s tiniest house)

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The Williams Mansion is the largest private residence in all of Charleston.

Built in 1876 by George W. Williams, the mansion was his contribution to the reemergence of Charleston after the civil war. It took nearly five years to build, employing hundreds of local artisans and craftsmen and is more than 24,000 sq ft containing 35 grand rooms including the grand ballroom and the music room which boasts a 45 ft covered glass skylight. The home also holds 23 period fireplaces, numerous ornate chandeliers and beautiful plaster and wood molding.

It is known as the “Grande Dame” of Charleston’s great homes and was once dubbed “the greatest post civil war home on the eastern seaboard.” After the death of Williams in 1903 the house began to deteriorate and was eventually condemned in 1972. The mansion was eventually rescued by a Charleston native who spent 25 years and nearly five million dollars restoring it to its original grandeur.

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‘ah, my friend, one may live in a big house and yet have no comfort.’

-agatha christie

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70 responses »

    • I could not agree more. the history is interesting, but so far from anything I would live in. I am all for cozy, small homes feel like home. this reminds me more of a museum.

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  18. Spending $5 million on a restoration job obviously shows how much that person loves the property. I guess if I were filthy stinkin’ rich, I might do the same. Alas, I’m at most two of those three things on any given day, and neither of them rhymes with itch.

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  28. George must have had a pretty big family or just a show off! :) Although a beautiful city, I felt a kind of sadness while visiting there one time…that many of those huge beautiful homes were built on the back of slaves from the money made from owning them.
    We did read that some of the “plantation” homes are no longer a venue for joyful events such as weddings, etc. as their history was far from joyful for generations of the Gullah people that were enslaved in them. Chris

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    • chris, exactly how it felt, when learning the history. it’s an odd feeling in the city. there are big and small and in between things. the old, the new, and yet, the history, the stories, will never fade, they will always be there. I so agree

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