“A Really Old Door…” Rediscovering the Nathaniel Russell House’s Kitchen House

The Horry County Museum and the AVX Foundation present a lecture by Grahame Long June 11 on recent discoveries at the Nathaniel Russell House in Charleston.

Constructed circa 1808, a rear outbuilding of the Nathaniel Russell House originally held a cook room, a laundry and three living chambers for its enslaved. It was said, however, that mid-20th century renovations had destroyed all remnants of its original fabric. Those beliefs were false.

Discovering new data in 2019, Historic Charleston Foundation began peeling back modern materials within the Nathaniel Russell house’s kitchen and quarters, a process that revealed original construction and new information once thought lost. These discoveries are now providing crucial information and representation to the heretofore unknown individuals that were enslaved there.

As Director of Museums for Historic Charleston Foundation, Grahame Long leads all research, stewardship, interpretive and education initiatives at the Nathaniel Russell House and Aiken-Rhett House museums and serves as curator for the extensive collections therein. He has authored three books, published numerous articles and lectured extensively throughout the Southeast on various topics concerning material culture, decorative arts and social histories of South Carolina.

The former chief curator for The Charleston Museum, he is the resident historian for the German Friendly Society, a member of the Mayor’s Walled City Task Force and an honorary member of the Washington Light Infantry. He is a volunteer curator for The Citadel Archives and Museum and works as a historical consultant for the U.S. Air Force Explosive Ordnance Disposal.

The program will begin at 1 p.m. in the McCown Auditorium located at 805 Main Street in Conway. This event is free and open to the public. For more information, call (843) 915-5320 or email hcgmuseum@horrycounty.org. To view a full list of programs, visit our website.