William Aiken House

WILLIAM AIKEN HOUSE 

BUILT BETWEEN 1807 AND 1811. THE EAST WING WAS 
ADDED AFTER 1831. RESIDENCE OF WILLIAM AIKEN, FIRST 
PRESIDENT (1828-1831) OF THE SOUTH CAROLINA CANAL 
AND RAILROAD COMPANY. THIS COMPANY INAUGURATED THE 
AMERICAN STEAM RAILROAD ERA AT CHARLESTON. CHRISTMAS 
DAY 1830, BY USING FOR THE FIRST TIME ON THIS 
CONTINENT A STEAM LOCOMOTIVE IN REGULAR SERVICE TO 
PULL A TRAIN OF CARS ON A TRACK. IT WAS ALSO THE 
FIRST IN THIS COUNTRY TO CARRY THE MAIL. THE
PROPERTY WAS INHERITED BY GOVERNOR WILLIAM AIKEN, JR., 
WHO SOLD IT IN 1863 TO THE SOUTH CAROLINA RAILROAD 
COMPANY, WHICH LATER BECAME A PART OF THE SOUTHERN 
RAILWAY SYSTEM.

APPROVED BY THE 
HISTORICAL COMMISSION OF CHARLESTON, S.C.

Submitted by ykarps