Miles Brewton House, Charleston

A short hop away from the Nathaniel Russell House, this double house dating back to the 1760s (named for its layout with four main rooms per floor, divided by a central stair hall) was constructed for Miles Brewton, a prosperous slave trader and planter. It's often hailed as one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture globally. The striking medieval-looking wrought-iron fencing, known as 'chevaux-de-frise', was added much later, in the 1820s, in response to rumors of a potential slave uprising circulating through town.

This grand property, now a private residence, was the site of not one but two headquarters of occupying armies: that of British general Henry Clinton during the Revolution, and later, the federal garrison following the end of the Civil War. Located on a two-acre plot, its extensive collection of ancillary structures makes it one of the most complete Georgian townhouse complexes in the United States.

On the northern side of the house lies a so-called "plantation lane", where you'll find the property's various outbuildings. These include historically accurate slave quarters, a kitchen, and a pavilion, all connected by a covered arcade. The sizable garden area directly behind the house still retains its original 18th-century layout.