R. F. W. Allston House was the summer residence of Robert F. W. Allston (1801–1864), who owned it when the state of SC granted the marsh behind it to him in 1846. Allston was a large property owner, a successful rice planter, and served as governor of SC from 1856 to 1858. The house remained in the family until 1901. After Hurricane Hugo struck SC in 1989, the house was placed on higher wooden posts.