William Aiken House and associated railroad structures

Infobox_nrhp | name =William Aiken House and Associated Railroad Structures
nrhp_type =nhld

---

caption = Camden Depot (1969 HABS photo)
location= 456 King St., Charleston, South Carolina
locmapin = South Carolina
area =
built =1807
architect= Unknown
architecture= No Style Listed
designated= November 4, 1963cite web|url=http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=523&ResourceType=District
title=William Aiken House and Associated Railroad Structures |accessdate=2008-02-12|work=National Historic Landmark summary listing|publisher=National Park Service]
added = October 15, 1966cite web|url=http://www.nr.nps.gov/|title=National Register Information System|date=2007-01-23|work=National Register of Historic Places|publisher=National Park Service]
governing_body = Private
refnum=66000698

William Aiken House and Associated Railroad Structures is a historic district in Charleston, South Carolina, that contains structures of South Carolina Canal and Rail Road Company and the home of the company's founder, William Aiken. These structures are considered "nationally significant" in relation to the history of the development of the railroad industry in the United States.

The South Carolina Department of Archives and History states that the structures in this district "represent the best extant collection of antebellum railroad structures illustrating the development of an early railroad terminal facility."cite web|url=http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710007/index.htm
title=William Aiken House and Associated Railroad Structures (456 King St., Charleston) |accessdate=2008-03-21|work=National Register Properties in South Carolina listing|publisher=South Carolina Department of Archives and History] The railroad company with which they are associated was the first to use steam from the beginning of its operations, use an American-made locomotive, and carry U.S. mail. When it began operation in 1833 it had the greatest length of track in the world under single management.

The district was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1963.citation|title=PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Text/66000698.pdf National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: William Aiken House and Associated Railroad Structures] |32 KB|date=May 12, 1981 |author=James Dillon and Cecil McKithan |publisher=National Park Service and PDFlink| [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NHLS/Photos/66000698.pdf "Accompanying seven photos, from 1961 and 1975"] |32 KB]

Contributing structures in the district include:
* "William Aiken House", built in 1807. An octagonal wing added in 1831 but damaged in 1886 earthquake, and certain woodwork was removed in 1931. A servants wing is unchanged.
*A coach house at the back of gardens on the William Aiken House property
*"Camden Depot", a railroad depot
*"Deans Warehouse", built in 1856
*"South Carolina Railroad Warehouse"
*"Tower Passenger Depot"
*"Line Street Car and Carpenter Shops"
*"Railroad Right-of-Way"
*"Best Friend of Charleston" Replica", a replica of the first American-made steam locomotive

Non-contrbuting structures in the district include:
*"Hughes Lumber Company Warehouse and Martshink Beer Warehouse"
*"Shed" housing the "Best Friend of Charleston" replica locomotive
*"Buildings along John Street, King Street and Meeting Street:
**Chicco Apartment Buildings A and B
**39-4, 39-B, 39-C John Street
**41-B, 43, 51 John Street
**424 King Street
**426 King Street
**428 King Street
**434 King Street
**436 King Street
**438 King Street
**460 King Street
**462 King Street
**464 King Street
**466 King Street
**470 King Street
**474 King Street
**476 King Street
**478 King Street
**480 King Street
**484 King Street
**486-488 King Street
**490 King Street
**492 King Street
**Brick building at Meeting Street and Ann Street
**Lilienthal's Stained Glass
**371 Meeting Street
**369 Meeting Street
**365-367 Meeting Street

ee also

*Gov. William Aiken House, home of his son

References

External links

* [http://www.williamaikenhouse.com/ William Aiken House website]
* [http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710007/index.htm William Aiken House and Associated Railroad Structures, Charleston County (456 King St., Charleston)] , including 13 photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.sc0393 South Carolina Railroad-Southern Railway Company, 456 King Street, Charleston, Charleston County, SC: 31 photos, 2 data pages] , and related [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.sc0403 Carriage House, 456 King Street: 2 photos] at Historic American Building Survey
* [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.sc0394 South Carolina Railroad-Southern Railway Company, Camden Depot, Anne Street, Charleston, Charleston County, SC: 4 photos] , and related [http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.sc0395 South Carolina Railroad-Southern Railway Company, Warehouse, 42 John Street: 1 photo] at Historic American Building Survey