Edmondston Alston House
This house is part of the Middleton Place Foundation, the same non-profit that manages the plantation under the same name. It was built in 1825 by Charles Edmondston, a successful Charleston merchant. He ended up losing his fortune during a series of economic depressions, selling the home in 1838 to Charles Alston, a member of one of the wealthiest rice-planting dynasties in South Carolina. The original architecture was based on the Federal style of construction with a low-key front entrance facing the side. Alston completed significant renovations, mainly to change the exterior to fit the popular Greek Revival style. The house is beautifully preserved, with more than 90 percent of the items in the house original to the Alston family. The collection of 18th century silver items on display in the Dining Room are stunning. You can tell that the Foundation has worked tirelessly to make sure the home and its contents look the way they would have when either the Edmondston or Alston family lived there. Although not part of the tour, you can see the original stable and carriage house behind the main residence. Lastly, the piazza (side porch) where you wait for the tour to begin is lovely. This house tour is well-worth the admission fee.
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