Middleton-Pinckney House

Built in 1797, for the widowed Mrs Frances Motte Middleton (1763-1843), it was completed with her second husband, Major-General Thomas Pinckney (1750-1828), Governor of South Carolina. They lived at their historic 3-story, Regency-style townhouse from 1801 to 1825 before selling it for $10,000 to Mrs Pinckney's son by her first marriage, John Middleton. After his death just the following year, his heirs sold the house to Mrs. Juliet Gibbes Elliott. Then known as the 'Elliott Mansion' it remained in their family until 1879 when it was purchased by Jesse W. Starr, Jr. who promptly sold it on to the Water Works Company of Charleston. In 1988, it became the headquarters of the Spoleto Festival and in 2002 the City donated the mansion to the festival.