- The Sword Gate House is one of the oldest and most expensive mansions in Charleston, South Carolina.
- The home just sold for $10 million, after taking years of price cuts.
- It’s more than 200 years old and has nine bedrooms and 13 full bathrooms.
- It also boasts priceless historical value -the home represents the best of Federal Era design and was owned at one point by a granddaughter of President Abraham Lincoln.
- Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.
A 200-year-old home once owned by Abraham Lincoln’s granddaughter just sold for $10 million.
The 17,142-square-foot Charleston, South Carolina mansion has spent the past decade on and off the market, according to public records.
Until this sale, the home had the same owners since 1999. They had listed it in 2016 for $19.5 million, and gave it a number of price cuts since most recently listing it at nearly $15 million. This means the buyers snagged the property for two-thirds the asking price – and nearly half off the asking price of four years ago.
The buyers were represented by Chasen McCall of The Exchange Co.
Check out the charming southern estate.
The Sword Gate House at 32 Legare St. is one of the oldest and grandest homes in Charleston, South Carolina. It was just sold for $10 million — about $5 million under the most recent asking price.
Source: Work and Money, Zillow
Previous owners bought the Sword Gate House in 1999 for $3 million and set about renovating the property.
Source: Realtor, Work and Money
Today, the home marries sophisticated style with priceless historical value.
Source: Realtor
"While it's very formal, it doesn't feel like a museum — it feels like someone lives here," preservation architect Glenn Keyes told Handsome Properties.
Source: Handsome Properties
In its lifetime, The Sword Gate House has been an inn, a private all-girls school ...
Source: Handsome Properties
... and was once owned by a granddaughter of President Abraham Lincoln. While it was intended to be a seasonal residence for Jessie Lincoln Randolph, who bought the mansion in 1930, she never ended up living in it.
Source: Handsome Properties, Town and Country
"It has kind of a mysterious air to it," historian Robert Rosen told Charleston Real Estate. "It's like a miniature history of Charleston."
Source: Charleston Real Estate
It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places, according to Historic Charleston Foundation documents.
Source: Historic Charleston Foundation
The estate's name, Sword Gate House, was inspired by the sturdy wrought iron gate at its entrance.
Source: Work and Money
The gate was originally designed by Charles Reichardt, a German architect, and crafted by Charleston ironworker Christopher Werner in 1838 for the city's Guard House. But it was rejected because it was too expensive, according to Historic Charleston Foundation documents.
Source: Work and Money
The gate was later purchased and installed in front of the Sword Gate House.
Source: Work and Money
Past the gates, and the brick walls that line the entire property, is the garage.
Source: Zillow
A towering Magnolia tree on the property is 180 years old.
Source: Town and Country
There's also a converted carriage house with three guest suites.
Source: Work and Money
A living room inside the carriage house features brick walls and beamed ceilings.
Source: Handsome Properties
Another room features patterned wallpaper and a brick hearth.
Source: Handsome Properties
There's also a separate wing for staff and a conservatory ...
Source: Zillow
... but nothing compares to the breathtaking interior of the main residence.
Source: Handsome Properties
When the house was renovated in the early 2000s, preservation experts helped ensure that the home maintained its details from the Federal Era.
Source: Work and Money
The home's plasterwork and woodwork are prime examples of Federal Era design, Richard Marks, president of Richard Marks Restoration, told Handsome Properties.
Source: Handsome Properties
"Sword Gate really represents some of the best surviving architecture of that Federal Period in Charleston," he said.
Source: Handsome Properties
The home has wood-burning fireplaces ...
Source: Handsome Properties
... and multiple glittering chandeliers.
Source: Handsome Properties
The dining room's walls were hand-painted with a mural inspired by the Charleston Harbor ...
Source: Work and Money
... while the breakfast room is painted a pale green.
Source: Handsome Properties
A chandelier hangs down from the upper floor.
Source: Handsome Properties
One of the manor's nine bedrooms is decked out in a rich royal green color palette ...
Source: Realtor
... and its bathroom's palette matches.
Source: Realtor
Another bedroom is decorated in shades of red and pink French toile ...
Source: Handsome Properties
... and the master suite is stunning.
Source: Handsome Properties
The master bathroom has a pristine freestanding tub, which was added during the home's restoration.
Source: Handsome Properties
Another bathroom in the carriage house has a clawfoot tub as well as wallpaper along its walls and ceiling.
Source: Handsome Properties
Not every bathroom holds a unique, vintage tub — this one is more standard.
Source: Handsome Properties
Upstairs in the attic of the main house is another bedroom.
Source: Handsome Properties
Blue and white French toile wallpaper fills the space with its nautical theme.
Source: Handsome Properties
Perhaps the most modern space is the kitchen.
Source: Handsome Properties
A curved counter sits feet from the island.
Source: Handsome Properties
And a modern-day oven is installed for use ...
Source: Handsome Properties
... but a touch of the Old World can still be spotted in the carriage house kitchen, where the stove is modeled after an old wood oven.
Source: Handsome Properties
It's nothing but luxury outside in front of the conservatory, where you'll find a reflecting pool.
Source: Realtor
Relaxing seating areas are sprinkled across the .87-acre lot ...
Source: Realtor
... and there's also a hot tub to help you relax and unwind.
Source: Handsome Properties
"The grounds are magnificent. It makes a statement," historian, lawyer, and author Robert Rosen told Handsome Properties. "This house is a very, very handsome house."
Source: Handsome Properties