Charleston's $16.5 Million Stevens-Lathers House Hits the Market

Lucía Torres · 2026-09-18

Charleston's iconic 20 South Battery Street, known as the Stevens-Lathers House, just hit the market for $16.5 million. This isn't just any historic home—it's a piece of American history that's been standing proudly for nearly 200 years. Handsome Properties, Charleston's go-to luxury boutique real estate firm, is handling the listing, and they're excited to present a property that's as much a landmark as it is a residence. ### A Home With a Story to Tell Picture this: it's 1843, and shipping merchant Samuel N. Stevens builds a grand home that captures the essence of antebellum Charleston. Fast forward to 1870, when Colonel Richard Lathers buys the place and hires architect John Henry Devereux to give it a serious upgrade—think Second Empire style with a ballroom that could host the who's who of society. And it did. Politicians, military brass, writers, and business moguls all gathered within these walls. It was the place to be. ### The Birthplace of a Preservation Movement But the story doesn't stop there. In 1920, something pretty remarkable happened in the drawing room of this very house. Nell McColl Pringle and Susan Pringle Frost gathered a group of like-minded citizens to talk about saving Charleston's historic architecture. That meeting sparked the creation of the Preservation Society of Charleston, which has been protecting the city's charm ever since. How's that for leaving a legacy? ### Architectural Marvel The Stevens-Lathers House is a feast for the eyes. It's got all these Neoclassical details that'll make any architecture buff swoon: symmetrical design, stone window lintels, a balustraded parapet, pilasters, a tracery fanlight, fluted columns, an elliptical stair, a curved mahogany rail, and a scrolled Empire-style newel post. The News & Courier once called it one of the most "authentic representations of that last period of prosperity before the war." That's high praise. ### Modern-Day Grandeur Today, the property spans 15 bedrooms and 17 full and 2 half bathrooms. It also includes the historic Battery Carriage House Inn, an 11-room licensed inn with grandfathered use—so you can keep that hospitality vibe going. In 2020, the home hosted the Preservation Society's centennial celebration, exactly 100 years after that fateful meeting. Since its restoration, it's continued to be a gathering place for performances, galas, civic events, and charitable organizations. Plus, visitors from around the world have walked through its doors. ### Why This Listing Is a Big Deal Deborah C. Fisher, Broker-in-Charge of Handsome Properties, puts it perfectly: "20 South Battery is an exceptionally rare offering because of the combination of its history, architecture, scale and location. There are beautiful historic homes in Charleston, but very few have played such a meaningful role in the story of the city and have been so thoughtfully restored." She's not wrong. This is a chance to own a piece of Charleston's soul. ### About Handsome Properties Handsome Properties is a boutique real estate firm in downtown Charleston. They're all about knowledge, ethics, and teamwork, and they know the Charleston community inside and out—its history, architecture, and culture. They represent legacy properties like the famed Sword Gate House and iconic Fenwick Hall Plantation, as well as urban lofts, new construction, and historic homes. If you're in the market for something special, they're the ones to call. Reach out to Deborah C. Fisher at debbie@handsomeproperties.com or (843) 810-4110. For more info, visit www.HandsomeProperties.com or call 843-727-6460.