The Effects of Climate Control on the Visitor Experience in Charleston House Museums

This thesis will describe how Colonial and Antebellum buildings were constructed in the south to respond to their environments and whether the experience of those who now visit these buildings is affected by the addition or absence of climate control. The study will focus on house museums in Charleston, South Carolina. Charleston house museums have a wide range of types of climate control, from none at Drayton Hall, to partial systems as in the forced air heating system at the Aiken-Rhett House and limited heating and air conditioning in the Joseph Manigault House. Charleston also provides a unique climate in which methods of European and vernacular architecture were blended together to create the distinct housing styles of the South Carolina Low Country. The climate is classified as Sub-Tropical and is generally hot and humid. Temperatures rarely drop below freezing in the winter, a feature that attracts visitors to the area year round. The question is how do the interior climates of Charleston's house museums affect the visitors who tour these sites? Do visitors select the house museums they visit based on physical comfort, or do they seek an authentic experience and put their needs aside?