Clark Mills Studio facts for kids
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Clark Mills Studio
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Clark Mills Studio
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 51 Broad St., Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Part of | Charleston Historic District (ID66000964) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000703 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 21, 1965 |
| Designated NHLDCP | October 9, 1960 |
The Charleston, South Carolina building that was once the art studio of sculptor Clark Mills is a very important place. Mills worked here from 1837 to 1848. This was his first studio before he moved to Washington, D.C. In 1965, the Charleston studio was named a National Historic Landmark. This means it's a special place recognized for its history.
The building is located at 51 Broad Street in Charleston. Before Clark Mills used it, it was a tenement house, which is a building with many apartments for rent. Today, it holds professional offices. Clark Mills became famous after he moved to Washington, D.C., and created a large bronze statue of Andrew Jackson.
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Clark Mills' First Studio in Charleston (1837–1848)
The old Clark Mills Studio building is in Charleston's historic area. You can find it on the south side of Broad Street, just west of Church Street. It's a four-story building made of brick covered in stucco.
Today, the front of the building has shops on the ground floor. The second and third floors have bay windows that stick out. Inside, the building has been changed into offices. This happened around the early 1900s.
The building was first built as a tenement house. In the 1830s, two different people lived there. One of them, Erastus Bulkeley, sold marble from a nearby yard. In 1837, the other tenant moved out. Clark Mills then rented that space. He made it his home and his art studio.
It is believed that Clark Mills created his first important artwork here. He taught himself how to sculpt. His first major piece was a marble bust, or head-and-shoulders sculpture, of John C. Calhoun. Calhoun was a famous politician from South Carolina.
On December 21, 1965, the Broad Street building was officially named a National Historic Landmark. This was done by the Office of Archeology and Historic Preservation. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.
Clark Mills' Famous Washington, D.C. Studio (1848)
In 1848, Clark Mills' studio and foundry were chosen for a very important project. They were asked to create an equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson. An equestrian statue shows a person riding a horse. This memorial statue of Andrew Jackson is in Lafayette Square. This park is very close to the White House in Washington, D.C..
To work on this big project, Mills moved from Charleston to Washington. He brought with him skilled workers, including a master craftsman named Philip Reid. Reid had become Mills' apprentice, learning from him. They built a temporary foundry, which is a place for casting metal, south of the White House.
According to James M. Goode from the Smithsonian, Mills and his team made six copies of the equestrian statue. When the bronze statue was finished in 1852, it was a huge achievement. It was called the "first bronze statue ever cast in America." The workers, including Mills, had no formal training. They made it through "trial and error." This made their success even more amazing. It was also the first equestrian statue made in America where the horse is rearing up on two legs without extra support.
Clark Mills Studio and Foundry in Maryland
Clark Mills also had a large studio and foundry on Bladensburg Road in Maryland. This building was shaped like an octagon. In 1863, the bronze Statue of Liberty (not the famous one in New York, but a smaller one) was cast here. This building is recognized by the White House Historical Association.
Images for kids
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Clark Mills Studio
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Equestrian statue of Andrew Jackson in Washington, D.C.
