Girish Mahajan (Editor)

Robert William Roper House

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Built
  
1838

Designated NHL
  
November 7, 1973

Opened
  
1838

Architect
  
Edward Brickell White

NRHP Reference #
  
73001692

Designated NHLDCP
  
October 9, 1960

Added to NRHP
  
7 November 1973

Robert William Roper House

Location
  
9 E. Battery St., Charleston, South Carolina

Part of
  
Charleston Historic District (#66000964)

Address
  
9 E Battery, Charleston, SC 29401, USA

Architectural style
  
Greek Revival architecture

Similar
  
Millford Plantation, Ayr Mount, Simmons‑Edwards House, Robert Brewton House, Edward Rutledge House

The Robert William Roper House is a historic house at 9 East Battery in Charleston, South Carolina. It was built on land purchased by Robert W. Roper, a prominent cotton planter, in May 1838. The house is an outstanding example of early 19th Century Greek Revival architecture, built on a monumental scale. Although there are now two houses between the Roper House and White Point Garden to the south, at the time of its construction nothing stood between the house and the harbor beyond. "It is said that Mr. Roper intended his showcase home to be the first residence seen by visitors approaching Charleston from the sea."

The authors of the nomination form for the National Register of Historic Places (1973) speculated that Edward B. White was the architect, although no evidence is given in support of this. Others, including Jonathan H. Poston and the Classical American Homes Preservation Trust, have suggested Charles Friedrich Reichardt, a highly regarded Prussian architect, who was working in Charleston at the time on the new Charleston Hotel [now demolished], built in the Greek Revival style.

The house was purchased in 1929 by Solomon Guggenheim of New York. It was acquired in 1968 by Richard Jenrette, who restored it, completing in the early 1980s what Jonathan H. Poston calls "one of America's most notable restorations of a Greek Revival house."

The Roper House was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.

References

Robert William Roper House Wikipedia