About the Mansion

Owner

The mansion that now houses the Louisville Bourbon Inn was commissioned in the mid-1880s by Russell Houston, a prominent attorney and one of the earliest directors of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad. After serving as the railroad’s vice president and later president, Houston moved to Louisville in 1864 and remained deeply influential in both legal and civic circles. A former Tennessee Supreme Court justice, he notably served without accepting a salary, believing in public service for the greater good. President Andrew Johnson indicated that he would nominate Judge Houston for the U.S. Supreme Court should a vacancy arise during his term as President.

Architect

In 1887, Houston enlisted architect Mason Maury to design a grand residence for his family. The result was an 8,800-square-foot Richardsonian Romanesque mansion, featuring intricate masonry, Roman arches, stained glass, and elegant tower elements—hallmarks of the architectural style.

Architectural Style

Richardsonian Romanesque, named for Henry Hobson Richardson, is known for its heavy stonework, rounded towers with cone-shaped roofs, Romanesque arches, and medieval details. The mansion reflects a unique, localized interpretation of this style, blending strength and grace in a way that still impresses visitors today.

Ghost

Some claim that the Louisville Bourbon Inn is haunted by the ghost of Annie Whipple, the nanny to Judge Houston’s children. When the youngest child fell ill with yellow fever, Annie was devastated and became desperate for a cure. She turned to vodou and black magic to summon a doctor from the dead who might know how to treat the child.  Annie suddenly died, believing she had hurt the child instead of helping her. At that same moment, the child recovered. Some say Annie’s ghost can be seen on occasions, but when you approach the figure, it disappears before your eyes.

Summary

Haunted or not, this historic mansion has been lovingly restored and preserved, and is now known as the Louisville Bourbon Inn—an elegant, award-winning bed and breakfast in the heart of Old Louisville.