Like many of the older Charleston homes the Nathaniel Russel House sits behind a high wall, hedges, and other buildings. Getting a full frontal image is usually not possible.
Once inside the gate here you can finally get a good view.
This is a tall building, and unique since it was built in 1809.
One of the important things about Charleston architecture is the small details. Plantations, and unfortunately the slave trade made people extremely wealthy. Each of the old homes in this town were as much art work as houses. World famous artisans worked here, the residents spent fortunes. Until the US Civil War, that changed everything.
These houses have almost all had heavy renovations, canon balls make big holes.
Only a fraction of the original homes remain now. After the war this town was empty and destroyed. Only the big buildings at the end of the peninsula were untouched, they were out of range of the ships guns.
Charleston was spared a complete burn, even though it had been ordered. Being the scene of the first state to secede and the first battle of the Civil War it was not a popular place with the Union military. The battles turned inland and rather than destroy the town it was occupied.
Are the remaining plantations occupied by residents or are they maintained by a historical society? Beautiful pics
In town some have gone on to be private residences, the more historical homes supported and maintained by groups, some empty. Lots open to the public since Charleston is a big tourist town.
On plantations outside town the few remaining are maintained and open for tours. The big plantation houses right out on the plantations were mostly burned during the last battles in the Civil War.