Charleston Landmark Loses Historic Magnolia Tree to Hurricane Dorian

Meghan Overdeep

Just because Charleston managed to avoid the brunt of Hurricane Dorian this week, doesn’t mean it didn’t sustain a few hard hits.

On Friday morning, Historic Charleston Foundation shared on Instagram that one of the city’s most beloved properties was damaged in the storm.

“We are sad to report that one of the last remaining magnolia trees that formed the 19th century carriage allée at the Aiken-Rhett House was snapped in half by #hurricanedorian,” the foundation wrote on Instagram alongside a photo (below) of the fallen tree.

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We are sad to report that one of the last remaining magnolia trees that formed the 19th century carriage allée at the Aiken-Rhett House was snapped in half by #hurricanedorian. We were fortunate it only clipped the roof of the carriage house on the way down — it could have been much worse. It seems Charleston was spared the worst of the storm, for which we are extremely grateful, and our hearts go out to everyone in the Bahamas. Let the rebuilding begin. 📷 @glenrgardner #historiccharlestonfoundation #witnesstree

A post shared by Historic Charleston Foundation (@historiccharlestonfoundation) on Sep 6, 2019 at 7:56am PDT

Build in 1820, the former home of Governor William Aiken is considered the best-preserved complex of antebellum domestic structures left in Charleston.

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“We were fortunate it only clipped the roof of the carriage house on the way down—it could have been much worse,” the caption continues. “It seems Charleston was spared the worst of the storm, for which we are extremely grateful, and our hearts go out to everyone in the Bahamas. Let the rebuilding begin.”