Aiken-Rhett House

NeShell White, a graduate of Virginia State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications, interned this summer with HCF's Communications Department. Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she came to Charleston through Explore Charleston and gained hands-on experience creating content for Instagram, TikTok, Adobe Express, and Canva, while also learning event planning strategy and hosting an event of her own. White reflects on the welcoming, close-knit culture at HCF and how the Foundation's commitment to Preservation, Advocacy, and Museums shows up in its everyday work with the Charleston community.

Molly Schweickhardt and Bates McLuer, both interns in HCF's Preservation Department, spent the summer immersed in hands-on preservation work. Schweickhardt assisted with easement inspections across the peninsula and researched pre-Civil War records at Calvary Episcopal Church, uncovering the stories of the church's enslaved and free congregants. Bates used ArcGIS to map the ruins of the Walled City and researched Free People of Color named in Calvary Church's historic records. Together, they also contributed to the Aiken-Rhett House Crack Study, measuring and documenting cracks throughout the historic house.

Each summer, Historic Charleston Foundation welcomes interns across every department. This July, it's Intern Takeover: hear directly from the students working alongside our team. Rising junior Kendall Snyder, a History and International Studies major at the College of Charleston Honors College, interned with HCF's Advocacy and Preservation team. Her work centered on the Board of Architectural Review process and the 106 Coming Street project, where she gained experience in research, community engagement, and architectural review. She also joined preservation interns on the Aiken-Rhett House Crack Study, documenting cracks throughout the historic house.

Historic Charleston Foundation announces the 2026 Charter Day award winners, honoring excellence in the protection, restoration, and interpretation of Charleston's historic built environment. From residential rehabilitations to cultural landscape preservation, this year's honorees embody the spirit of preservation in Charleston through expertise, vision, and a deep commitment to our city's legacy.

Few colors carry as much history as indigo — and few places feel that weight more than Charleston. In “Indigo: Variations in Blue,” curator Tushara Bindu Gude, Ph.D., brings together eight artists to explore indigo as color, pigment, memory, and meaning inside one of the South's most extraordinary historic spaces: the preserved “as-found” Aiken-Rhett House c. 1820. Part of Historic Charleston Foundation's 2026 Festival and events, the exhibit runs from March 18–April 11.

A look back at some of the most impactful work from 2025 across the Foundation's pillars: Preservation, Advocacy, Museums.

One of the most important jobs in a Museum of any kind is the maintenance and care of its collection items. During the summer, Museum intern Julia Keadle worked with both historic house museums to update collection items and imagery. Read directly from Julia about her summer.

Historic Charleston Foundation is fortunate to have dedicated, and brilliant students join our staff for internships in all departs, all year long. This summer, preservation intern Jackson Dent, MSHP Clemson University, and Annave Allred (ARTM, College of Charleston) continued an important preservation project more than 15 years in the making at the Aiken-Rhett House. Hear directly from the students about this work.

With the help of primary sources, we are able to learn more about the resilient life of Dorcas Richardson (1821-887). Enslaved at the Aiken-Rhett House until the age of 44, Dorcas went on to become the author of her own story, dedicating her life to hundreds of orphaned children and leaving behind a legacy we continue to learn from.

From Director of Museums, Tracey Todd, learn more about the Nathaniel Russell House's recent feature on Walter Edgar's Journal, and how the house museums are preparing for 2025.

Dive into Charleston’s rich holiday traditions with Director of Museums, Tracey Todd. From the lively 18th-century festivities with fireworks and special meals to the 19th-century introduction of Christmas trees and familiar customs; visit the Nathaniel Russell and Aiken Rhett House museums to see how historic celebrations continue to inspire the season today.

Charleston-based artist, David Boatwright, is known for his iconic murals but thi fall, he's bringing a new body of work to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum for a temporary art exhibit titled, "Tht's ALL Folks!"

A word from President & CEO, Winslow Hastie, about the upcoming fundraising events and mission-driven work for the September Newsletter.