Williams Mansion facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Williams Mansion
Location	16 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina
Built	W.P. Russell
Built for	George W. Williams
Architectural style(s)	Italianate
Governing body	Private
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The Williams Mansion is a beautiful old house located at 16 Meeting Street in Charleston, South Carolina. It was once known as the Calhoun Mansion. Today, you can visit this amazing Victorian-style home on public tours.

History of the Mansion

Building a Grand Home

In 1873, a businessman named George W. Williams bought a piece of land in Charleston. He had big plans for a very large house. His dream home would include a special room for plants (a conservatory), a hot house, and beautiful gardens. It even had an observatory on top!

The house was built between 1875 and 1876. W.P. Russell designed the plans for Mr. Williams. The Devereux Brothers were the contractors who built it. The first stone was laid on April 26, 1875.

This huge house is about 24,000 square feet in size. It has thirty main rooms and many smaller ones. The main hallway is very long, stretching 50 feet. There's even a ballroom with a ceiling that reaches 45 feet high!

New Owners and a Name Change

George W. Williams passed away in 1903. His son-in-law, Patrick Calhoun, inherited the house. Patrick Calhoun was the grandson of a famous historical figure, John C. Calhoun. Because of Patrick's ownership, the house became commonly known as the Calhoun Mansion.

Starting in 1914, the mansion was even used as a hotel for a while. Later, in 1932, a part of the property was separated. The old stables and servants' living areas were turned into another house, called the Louis Gourd House.

Restoration and Display

In 1976, a lawyer named Gedney Howe and his wife, Patricia, bought the mansion. They worked hard to restore the house to its original beauty.

Mr. Howe put the house up for sale in 2000. It didn't sell right away. In 2004, he decided to try selling it at an auction. But before the auction, another lawyer and history lover, Howard H. Stahl, bought it privately.

Today, the Williams Mansion is used to show off Mr. Stahl's amazing collection of items. These items are from a time in history called the Gilded Age.

Returning to the Original Name

In 2020, the house officially went back to its first name, the Williams Mansion. The owner wanted to make sure people knew that John C. Calhoun never lived in the house. This name change happened shortly after a monument to John C. Calhoun was removed from Marion Square. The monument was taken down because of its connection to certain historical views.

Images for kids

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  George W. Williams' new house appeared in an illustrated guide to Charleston in 1875.

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  The house was shown in a 1909 postcard as the home of Patrick Calhoun.

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  The sign for the Williams Mansion

See also

In Spanish: Mansión Calhoun para niños