Robert Barnwell Rhett House facts for kids
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Robert Barnwell Rhett House
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Robert Rhett House in 2013
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 6 Thomas St., Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1844 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001691 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 7, 1973 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
The Robert Barnwell Rhett House is a very old and important house in Charleston, South Carolina. It's located at 6 Thomas Street. This house is special because it was once the home of Robert Barnwell Rhett. He was a famous politician who played a big part in the history of the United States, especially before the Civil War. Because of its history, the house is recognized as a National Historic Landmark.
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The Robert Barnwell Rhett House
This beautiful house was probably built around 1844 by a person named James Legare. It was designed in a classic style, which means it looks grand and balanced. Robert Barnwell Rhett bought the house in 1856 and lived there until 1863. His son, Robert Barnwell Rhett, Jr., who was a newspaper editor, also lived in the house during that time.
After the Rhett family, the house had a few different owners. George Trenholm bought it in 1863, and then Theodore Wagner owned it briefly. In 1867, it was sold to a trustee for Susan Hanckel. The Hanckel family kept the house for about 70 years before selling it to the Shahid family in 1940.
Who Was Robert Barnwell Rhett?
Robert Barnwell Rhett was a very important politician in the 1800s. He was known for being a "secessionist." This means he strongly believed that states should have the right to leave the United States if they wanted to. He thought states should have more power than the national government.
Rhett was a leader in movements that pushed for states to act on their own, especially when it came to disagreements about taxes, like the Tariff of 1842. He was also a key figure at a big meeting in 1850 called the Nashville Convention. At this meeting, he tried to convince others that states should secede, but his idea was not supported by everyone there.
The Mysterious Gates
The Robert Barnwell Rhett House has a famous story connected to it, which is part of Charleston's local legends. Along Vanderhorst Street, which is next to the house, there are large and very fancy iron gates.
One of these gates has a sad and romantic tale. It's said that a woman stood at the western gate to say goodbye to her fiancé. As he left, she told him she would not open the gates again until he returned. Sadly, her fiancé was killed during the Civil War. Because of this, the gates have remained locked shut ever since. People who have lived in the house after that time have never reopened them.
A National Historic Landmark
Because of its connection to Robert Barnwell Rhett and its historical importance, the house was officially named a National Historic Landmark in 1973. This means it's a place that is recognized for its special role in American history.
