A beautiful circa 1803 Charleston historic home. I've been here one other time around 2012, and this time around was better. The original staircase, molding and mantels are stunning. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and nice. read more

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Another of the many historic homes in Charleston, owned by a wealthy "planter" (ie slaveowner). Appropriate respect is paid to those who really ran the home, and the trials and tribulations they went thru. Best party is this house was the included guides tour. Our docent was so knowledgeable, and weaved interesting takes about life during that period, both for the slaveowners and the enslaved. Highly recommend! read more

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Beautiful and impressive home, the attendants are also friendly and accommodating. This was part of the grayline city bus tour. Please take your time to walk around the garden in the front entrance, it's beautiful and well maintained. read more

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We purchased combo tickets to the Charleston Museum and two historical houses, this was one of them. We arrived twenty minutes before the tour began and had to wait outside for the next one to start. We came for the thirty minute tour, it was nice to learn about what life was like back then. Our tour was a bit underwhelming, but it was still interesting to see the inside of the house. If you are into architecture or Southern history, I'm sure this house will be interesting to you. FYI, there were no bathrooms on property, so you will have to walk across the street to the Charleston Museum. Parking is kind of a pain in the butt in Charleston, so you will need to find a pay garage someplace NEAR here. We kept finding that these garages were full even on a weekday. read more

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Built in 1803, this beautiful Adam-style mansion is conveniently located adjacent to the Charleston Museum where you can buy admission tickets. An Esso fuel station once occupied the backyard. Thankfully, Charlestonians rallied and prevented the Esso from demolishing the home. As part of the mansion's rich history, American soldiers attended dinners in the house during World War II, and the Red Cross trained there as well. The magnificent free-standing staircase was an architectural feat at the time, and the dining room conjures up images of formal dinner of yesteryear. The plaster medallion surrounding the chandelier atop the staircase is almost completely original, although the light fixture is just a replica. The back porch is absolutely wonderful! read more

This house museum is, to me as someone deeply interested in architectural history and with a degree in the same, very worth visiting. By reading the reviews here however, it's clear some visitors differ in opinion with me on that. Which is fine, and my point here is, it's a serious house museum, albeit not a sprawling house (like a plantation house) and what is here includes spaces off-limits to the tour. So it's a fairly quick tour also, because there isn't a tremendous amount to see, although still plenty of interest. There is no effort at dramatic interpretation, either: the docent on my tour was an older lady with a clear command of her material and I found that material interesting, but if you are picturing a matronly librarian sort of lady offering a pretty dry and academic treatment of the house, well, you're not so far off. My point here is, if you're serious about the history of Charleston this house should not be missed. If you're interested in historical architecture of America, you also need to see it. If, however, you have three young kids along and are just trying to find something to do before the aquarium, maybe not. The house, or at least those rooms open for visitors, has been carefully restored and filled with period furnishings--few of which apparently come from the house itself, and many have been sourced elsewhere to provide as accurate a portrayal as possible of the type and style of furnishings the owners would have had. Over time, many original items were sold or willed off to heirs so understandably, few remained on-site (if you take the tour, the exact reasons behind this including the many non-residential uses of the house in the twentieth century are explained in full). To me, many of these items--even if some came from afar--were also worth the price of admission to see and to see in situ as they would have been used instead of in museum display cases. In all, it's a very good house museum. Perhaps the tour could be more lively but I felt it was very well-researched, the docent highly-informed, and accurate, interesting, information was presented. The care in the stewardship of the house is of a high level and its place in Charleston's history of high regard. Just don't expect this tour to be entertainment more than education. read more

Joseph Manigault House - The famed semi-circular staircase and main hall. - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

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Located beside the Charleston Museum, this is a beautiful historic house museum. While the site does not include any ancillary structures (ie outbuilding kitchen or carriage house) to wander through, the main house is very detailed architecturally and worth a visit if historic architecture is your thing. read more

I really enjoyed our tour of this mansion and its garden. The Joseph Manigault house was across the street from the Charleston Museum, so we were able to make easy use of our combo tickets (which also included admission to the Heyward-Washington House). The architecture and history of Charleston is something that I really enjoy. This National Historic Landmark is full of both. The mansion was built in 1803 for a family that made its wealth in rice. We walked the grounds and gardens while we waited for our tour to begin. We were taken on an informative and nicely paced tour of the house. There are touches throughout the home that were a nod to the family business. Gathering rooms were multi use and it was cool how they could rearrange the furniture to set up for gambling, dancing or socializing. Gorgeous furniture and architecture throughout the place. The floating staircase is the centerpiece of the mansion and an impressive feat of construction. It was self supported and could stand even without the walls. I loved the verandas here and how they set up rooms to allow for the wind, remember no AC. My inner Beavis and Butthead got a kick out of the "necessary", which is just a chair with a bowl under the seat. You may be rice moguls, but do you have TP? read more

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This is one of the House Museum tours packaged with the Charleston Museum- which is right across the street. If you buy the package it includes the main museum and 2 house museum tours & you can split up the 3 on different days if you like- which is what we did. We had rushed from one tour to the last one at this house and made it just in time! Jean was our guide and excellent. She explained the history of the house and the owners and all the rooms before setting us loose inside. Because they deep clean between tours- you get 30 minutes inside the house and tours are started on the hour between 10am and 4pm. They split up everyone- sending them in different directions to help maintain social distancing. The house has some very interesting features- a curved wall on one side and curved porches on the other and even false doors to maintain the symmetry of the house. The kitchen house was built separate, as was the privy and stables. The staircase and chandelier in the house are so grand. The question posed was why did they entertain on the 2nd floor- I guess incorrectly- but gave an interesting response- I said it was to show off that staircase and chandelier- putting on airs. Actually air was the reason- to be above the smells of the horses and the bathroom and also to be above the mosquitoes. I liked my theory better- but the real reason was much more practical for city life. We were given so much information- great learning! This house is very elegant- the amazing craftsmanship and most of that beauty was created by slaves. Talented artisans. The information about how hard it was to make this a museum! There was a period of time when people wanted to piece everything about the house and build new. The restoration and preservation is incredible. read more

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The Joseph Manigault House is an example of early 19th century architecture. As a historically significant house, it is managed by the Charleston museum. The many artifacts on display in the house are part of the museum's collection. While many have no relation to the Manigault family, they are all period correct. Our tour guide did a very good job of telling the story of the Manigault family, the house and Charleston. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Joseph Manigault House - Joseph Manigault House as viewed from the garden - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

The Joseph Manigault House as a part of the Charleston Museum is a well preserved historic house that has a tour that is informative and educational. It is a good example of the history that Charleston has to offer. read more

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We attempted to take the tour, but we're unable to leave our undersized-stroller inside during the tour. We were told by the ticket cashier/ stroller-hater that there were no accommodations that could be made to allow our stroller (and around $500+ of additional baby gear) to remain inside during the tour while we carried our child. Based on that, we decided to skip this tour. As we were leaving, someone that had observed the ticket cashier and stroller-hater interact with a few other customers said "she seems like the worst." For a place that seems targeted to tourists and fans of history, I would expect more accommodations for little things like this. If you're a tourist and looking for something to do with kids, steer clear of this place. Some of the other reviewers talk about poor customer service which I laughed at before trying to go on the tour. I now very much agree with them. There are other historical spots that are much more accommodating for tourists and kiddos alike. AVOID THIS PLACE if you have kiddos. read more

Rosemary is an amazing guide! She loves the house and history and it shows.lovely lady in a lovely refurbished home.

This house is beautiful and I love the history of it. My problem is the guides. The lady posted upstairs only talked to one other guest the whole time. I was not able to get any questions answered. Very disappointing. Very rude as well. I will not return nor would I support anything to do with this home. read more

We visited this house on Sunday, Feb 28th... I purchased the Essential Charleston Passport (Enthusiast level) which allowed us to see all of 5 houses, 3 museums, and either Drayton Hall or Middleton Place plantations... We were pretty much done after an exhausting day of walking EVERYWHERE on Friday and Saturday, but decided to make the most of our passports by stopping here as well! When we approached this house from the outside with its large courtyard, walls, entry gate, and fortress-like appearance we had no idea that what waited on the inside was airy, graceful, light, and beautifully welcoming!!! This house was a nice surprise! Rescued by a grant from a very generous benefactor it was saved at least three times from the wrecking balls!! During WWII it served as a hub for the USO and an estimated 350,000 service men and women were briefly sheltered (over night stays on their way to ship out), fed, and entertained in this house! As with so many of these places, you can never judge them from their outer appearance... this was a show house, a party house, almost destroyed, given new life again during the war, and now a beautiful museum to its own rich past!! read more

I was really looking forward to this tour however I was turned away because I had my small emotional support dog with me which would have stayed in my arms for the tour. I'm very disappointed. read more

The lady giving the tour was great in that she really understood the history of the house, which is actually interesting. It's not just your typical "old mansion", it's actually had an interesting occupancy in the last 100 years. That being said, the tour only included 2 of the 4 floors and was relatively short, just under 30 mins. The furnishings were sparce, so really the only interesting part was the tour guide and maybe the architecture a bit. I have been on historic tours in other cities, and this one was just ok. If you have the time (which sadly, I didn't), you can get a decent deal on a pass for 3 sites for 25 dollars which would be a better value than just seeing this one for 12. read more

This house tour consisted of a lot of really interesting information, however, the tour guide's delivery of it was subpar. They spoke in a monotone voice; as if they were reading directly from a script. With that being said, I will say that the house is stunning. The back story of it is captivating and I feel a better sense of appreciation for it after visiting. With a different tour guide, this tour would've be phenomenal! read more

This is the historic house across the street from the Charleston Museum, and you can get a deal combining admission to this, the museum, and one more historic house. We toured this one because it was nearby and looked nice from the outside. I thought our docent was good and gave an interesting tour. The house was very nice and the furnishings inside are as pretty as you'd expect from the outside. As nice as it all was, I have a hard time getting interested in this period of history - thus the 3 star rating. Overall, though, if you like the look of the house, you'll probably like the tour. read more

If you are thinking of visiting this beautiful house/ grounds please be advised. My family and I arrived for our tour a few minutes early. We saw an older couple who was seated outside the house waiting for the tour to start. The temperature was about 36 degrees with the wind making it feel more intense. When I rang the bell for access inside (as posted on the sign) I was greeted by an elderly lady. She said that we would have to wait outside for 15 minuets until the next tour. When I asked if they could provide an adequate waiting area inside, she replied that unfortunately they could not. Understandably, there would be a wait time if you arrive early. However, expecting customers to wait outside in harsh weather conditions is inhumane as well as appalling. We left and do not plan on returning. read more

Located right by the Charleston Visitor Center, Charleston Museum, and the Aiken-Rhett House. The tour was very informative and you should certainly visit this beautiful home. Make sure to purchase a 2-day passport from the visitor center for the best deal to see Charleston! Beware that the only waiting area is outside until your tour begins. read more

Nowhere on website does it state people are only admitted every 30 minutes. Absolutely ridiculous. Arrived right after and had to wait 20 minutes in the heat. read more

charlestonian architecture is so radically different than what we typically see on the west coast, and for that reason, i think the joseph manigault house is worth a visit! now owned by the charleston museum, this house is a true landmark. the adams-style interior design, as well as the furniture, and art, all tell the story of the elegant and sophisticated city that is charleston and its people, especially some of its most notables. tickets can be purchased at the museum next door, and if you visit both the museum and house, there is a discount. allow yourself about 30 minutes for the tour, and maybe a bit more to just walk around, as the grounds are lovely too! read more

Genuinely enjoyed the tour and the grounds! Our tour guide was very informative and knowledgeable of the time period and the city of Charleston! read more

I very much enjoyed the surrounding garden and the tour with the history and stories behind the house. Beautiful plastering and antiques are seen in here. 30 minutes tour. read more

This historical house is the highlight of the trip to Charleston, South Carolina. It has a circular staircase that passes a chandelier, hanging in the stairwell, and the rooms are furnished in the Sheraton style. read more

Nice old house. The tour guide was a bit too scripted. But enjoyed seeing the interior of a historic city home.

We visited the Manigault house along with the package from the Charleston museum and Heyward-Washington House ($28 for the 3 places or $27 for military or with AAA discount). The house was stunning with beautiful gardens, unique architecture, great period pieces and the most stunning staircase and entry ever. The lady who did the tour was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. Both houses have tours every 30min and the tours take ~30-45min so plan ahead. This house is right across from the museum and the other house (Heyward-Washington) is about 1 mile away. read more

A wonderful historic home with lots of history, beautiful period furniture and trappings. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. We enjoyed our visit very much. read more