William Gibbes House
Encyclopedia
The William Gibbes House, located at 64 South Battery, Charleston, South Carolina
, was built for Mr. Gibbes between 1772 and 1788. The Smith family remodeled portions of the house in about 1800 in the Adamesque
style including the marble
steps in front. The cove-ceilinged ballroom
is considered one of the most beautiful rooms in America. The wrought iron balustrade
and lantern standards in front are considered among the best ironwork
of the Adamesque period in Charleston.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1970.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History declares it "is one of the finest two-story frame residences in America."
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
, was built for Mr. Gibbes between 1772 and 1788. The Smith family remodeled portions of the house in about 1800 in the Adamesque
Adam style
The Adam style is an 18th century neoclassical style of interior design and architecture, as practiced by the three Adam brothers from Scotland; of whom Robert Adam and James Adam were the most widely known.The Adam brothers were the first to advocate an integrated style for architecture and...
style including the marble
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of recrystallized carbonate minerals, most commonly calcite or dolomite.Geologists use the term "marble" to refer to metamorphosed limestone; however stonemasons use the term more broadly to encompass unmetamorphosed limestone.Marble is commonly used for...
steps in front. The cove-ceilinged ballroom
Ballroom
A ballroom is a large room inside a building, the designated purpose of which is holding formal dances called balls. Traditionally, most balls were held in private residences; many mansions contain one or more ballrooms...
is considered one of the most beautiful rooms in America. The wrought iron balustrade
Baluster
A baluster is a moulded shaft, square or of lathe-turned form, one of various forms of spindle in woodwork, made of stone or wood and sometimes of metal, standing on a unifying footing, and supporting the coping of a parapet or the handrail of a staircase. Multiplied in this way, they form a...
and lantern standards in front are considered among the best ironwork
Ironwork
Ironwork is any weapon, artwork, utensil or architectural feature made of iron especially used for decoration. There are two main types of ironwork wrought iron and cast iron. While the use of iron dates as far back as 4000BC, it was the Hittites who first knew how to extract it and develop weapons...
of the Adamesque period in Charleston.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1970.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History declares it "is one of the finest two-story frame residences in America."
External links
- William Gibbes House, Charleston County (64 S. Battery, Charleston), at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
- Gibbes House, 64 South Battery Street, Charleston, Charleston County, SC: 53 photos and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey
- Gibbes House, Dependency, 64 South Battery Street, Charleston, Charleston County, SC: 5 photos, at Historic American Building Survey
- Gibbes House, Necessary, 64 South Battery Street, Charleston, Charleston County, SC: one photo, at Historic American Building Survey