Dome

Detail of the top floor of the piazza, Ionic columns and cornice with dentil moulding; This house was used as a hospital by Union troops in the closing days of the Civil War. The house has a Charleston-style multi-storey porch known as a ‘piazza’ running the full length of the house (as typical, on the south side) and a raised basement with entrance on the second or "reception" level. The "reception level" piazza has Doric columns, the upper floor has Ionic. Instead of a side entrance to the piazza, this has a central staircase made of marble. The interior includes black marble mantels and excellent plaster work. Construction circa 1852 is attributed to Lewis Reeve Sams (1784-1856), a planter who at one time owned half of Dataw Island. Source: Beaufort Online [website]; http://www.beaufortonline.com/ (accessed 5/2/2011)