Camden Depot

Camden Depot, built in the 1850s, is part of the William Aiken House and Associated Railroad Structures National Historic Landmark, which includes some of the best extant antebellum buildings associated with early railroad development in the South. Its most distinct features are the tiered crenelated stone towers fronting Ann Street, whose battlements give the building the appearance of a medieval fort or castle and reflect the Gothic Revival style. Gothic Revival, a revival of building styles from the Middle Ages in Europe, was popular in the United States from the 1830s until the 20th century, especially for churches and educational buildings, but it was uncommon for railroad buildings, making Camden Depot unique. The railroad once ran down the center of the courtyard, and the brick pattern there recreates the tracks. On either side stood warehouses used for storing and moving goods; the original wooden buildings were constructed in 1850, and the current brick and metal buildings were built in 1910.

Charleston, South Carolina · United States