- Nathaniel Russell House
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Nathaniel Russell House 
The front façade of the Nathaniel Russell House, located on 51, Meeting Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina.General information Architectural style Nathaniel Russell House
Location: 51 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina Coordinates: 32°46′26″N 79°55′53″W / 32.77389°N 79.93139°WCoordinates: 32°46′26″N 79°55′53″W / 32.77389°N 79.93139°W Built: 1809 Architect: Unknown Architectural style: Other, Federal Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 71000750 Significant dates Added to NRHP: August 19, 1971[1] Designated NHL: November 7, 1973[2] Town or city Charleston, South Carolina Country United States Construction started 1809 Cost 80,000 dollars[3] Design and construction Client Nathaniel Russell Architect Unknown The Nathaniel Russell House is a historic house located in downtown Charleston, South Carolina near High Battery. It belonged to Nathaniel Russell, a Rhode Island merchant, who spent $80,000 on this Adamesque building before 1809. He and his wife, Sarah Russell, lived in the house during the early 19th century. It was sold to the state in 1955 by the Pelzer family, and today is used by the Historic Charleston Foundation as offices and also for tours.[3] It is currently a museum open for tours.
The house is widely recognized as one of America's most important Neoclassical houses and features three important geometric designs: a front rectangular room, a center oval room, and a square room in the rear.[4] Other rooms of the house include: the turquoise-color First-Floor Oval Dining Room; the Second-Floor Drawing Room, where the women of the house retired to after dinner; and the Withdrawing Room.
It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.[2]
An interesting fact is that the house has an elliptical spiral staircase, which ascends three floors. In addition, iron balconies surround the house, however not being interconnected. The house also has a large adjoining garden. Standing in the front garden, a green lawn can be seen behind which stands an arbor bench.
The Adamesque ornamentation of the fireplaces' mantles and cornices are among the most detailed in the city.[5] Much of the art displayed throughout the Nathaniel Russell House are of Charleston origin.
According to the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, the "interior detail has all the delicacy and intricate ambition of the American version of the Adam manner."[6]
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Elliptical spiral staircase, which ascends three floors
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Museum gift shop, former residence of the Russell family slaves
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View of the gardens, ending in a small green lawn, surrounding the house
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b "Nathaniel Russell House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1145&ResourceType=Building. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
- ^ a b Foster, Mary Preston (2005). Charleston, A Historic Walking Tour. Arcadia. p. 26. ISBN 0-7385-1779-8.
- ^ "Nathaniel Russell Hous". Historic Charleston Foundation. http://www.historiccharleston.org/experience/nrh/. Retrieved January 12, 2007.
- ^ "The Nathaniel Russell House". Talk of the Towne. http://www.talkofthetowne.com/nrhouse.html. Retrieved January 12, 2007.
- ^ "Nathaniel Russell House, Charleston County (51 Meeting St., Charleston)". National Register Properties in South Carolina listing. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/charleston/S10817710039/index.htm. Retrieved 2008-03-22.
External links
- Nathaniel Russell House, at the Historic Charleston Foundation
- Nathaniel Russell House, Charleston County (51 Meeting St., Charleston), at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
- Nathaniel Russell House, 51 Meeting Street, Charleston, Charleston County, SC: 11 photos and 3 data pages, and related *Dependencies: 2 photos, at Historic American Building Survey
- Historic Chareleston Foundation — Gallery of images of the Nathaniel Russell House
- Google maps — Satellite image centered on the building
U.S. National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina Lists by county Abbeville • Aiken • Allendale • Anderson • Bamberg • Barnwell • Beaufort • Berkeley • Calhoun • Charleston • Cherokee • Chester • Chesterfield • Clarendon • Colleton • Darlington • Dillon • Dorchester • Edgefield • Fairfield • Florence • Georgetown • Greenville • Greenwood • Hampton • Horry • Jasper • Kershaw • Lancaster • Laurens • Lee • Lexington • Marion • Marlboro • McCormick • Newberry • Oconee • Orangeburg • Pickens • Richland • Saluda • Spartanburg • Sumter • Union • Williamsburg • York
Lists by city Other lists Categories:- Houses in Charleston, South Carolina
- National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
- Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina
- Buildings and structures completed in 1809
- Historic house museums in South Carolina
- Museums in Charleston, South Carolina
- Biographical museums in South Carolina
- National Register of Historic Places in Charleston, South Carolina
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