Nathaniel Russell House

One of America's most important and recognized neoclassical houses, the Nathaniel Russell House, c.1808, is now owned and operated by the Historic Charleston Foundation. Nathaniel Russell, originally an agent for Providence merchants, moved to Charleston in 1765 at the age of 27 and began to climb the social and economic ladder. After marrying, having two children, and working most his life Nathaniel Russell finally moved into his completed estate at the age of seventy. After the death of Nathaniel’s daughter in 1857 the house was sold to the Allston Family. Robert Francis Withers Allston, governor of South Carolina, was a successful Georgetown rice planter. At the beginning of the Civil War, Allston moved his family to North Carolina to escape the destruction and occupation of Union forces. From 1870-1901 the house was used by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, a Catholic establishment to educate young women. In 1901 it was purchased by the Mullally Family and used once again as a residence.