Archaeological excavations under the original 1808 floorboards of the kitchen building behind the Nathaniel Russell House produced almost ten thousand artifacts that reveal the extravagance of the Russell family’s meals, the product of Russell’s direct trade with China and the material residue of the family’s daily lives. The artifacts also reflect the labor of the enslaved who not only prepared every meal for the Russells and worked the laundry for the mansion, but who filled in the basement space under the kitchen with Russell family trash and daily discard. Agha’s lecture will detail how the archaeology and artifacts from under the kitchen building reveal a robust, dynamic picture of the Russell family during the first half of the nineteenth century, and the labor and lives of the enslaved Africans who lived on the property.
Food For Thought Lecture Series - Enjoy a light lunch and lecture at Historic Charleston Foundation's headquarters overlooking The Battery.
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Historic Charleston Foundation advocates for a future for Charleston that honors and protects its people, places, culture, and community.
As the Foundation’s largest annual fundraiser, the net proceeds from ticket sales and donations from patrons of The Charleston Festival provide HCF with critical resources needed to effectively protect one of our nation’s most treasured historic places. This support allows us to use our resources where and when they are most needed to affect successful outcomes against the challenges facing the Charleston community and to provide important educational opportunities for students of all ages. Thank you for your support!
I M P O R T A N T:
Please read and save this guide: Sales Policy and Guide to The Charleston Festival
We suggest you bookmark or print this guide as it answers the most frequently asked questions and provides valuable information about The Charleston Festival. With the 2024 rebranding of The Charleston Festival (previously called the Festival of Houses and Gardens), there are many changes – new ticket office location, new venues, etc. This guide tells you everything you need to know about tickets, parking, event location, and more!
* All ticket sales are final. No refunds.
* A 3% processing fee is added to all orders.
* Save your email confirmation to show for admission to your events+. It is automatically sent upon completion of your order. It may land in your junk, spam, or promotions folder if not in your inbox. (+TOUR ticketholders will need to retrieve TOUR maps and credentials from the ticket office. Email confirmations do not admit ticketholders to properties on tour.)
* Ticket office location is in The Charleston Visitors' Center, 375 Meeting Street, and will open to the public on Monday, March 16, 2026.