Fort Hill (Clemson, South Carolina) facts for kids
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Fort Hill (John C. Calhoun House)
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | Clemson University campus, Clemson, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1802 |
| Architectural style | Greek revival |
| Part of | Clemson University Historic District II (ID89002139) |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000708 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | December 19, 1960 |
| Designated CP | January 4, 1990 |
Fort Hill, also known as the John C. Calhoun House and Library, is a very important historical building. It is located on the Clemson University campus in Clemson, South Carolina.
From 1825 to 1850, this house was the home of John C. Calhoun. He was a famous politician and the 7th Vice President of the United States. Calhoun was known for his ideas about states' rights.
Clemson University was built on the land that used to be the Fort Hill plantation. This happened in 1889. The university keeps the house and its surrounding area as a museum and library. This is what remains of the original large plantation.
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History of Fort Hill
_Historic_Marker.JPG)
The Fort Hill house was first built around 1803. It was a small house with four rooms. A pastor named Dr. James McElhenny lived there and called it Clergy Hall.
In 1825, John C. Calhoun and his wife, Floride Calhoun, moved into the house. Calhoun made the house much bigger, adding more rooms until it had 14. He then renamed it Fort Hill. The name came from a nearby fort called Fort Rutledge, built around 1776.
The house's style is called Greek revival. This means it looks like ancient Greek temples, with simple details inside.
Ownership Changes Over Time
John Calhoun died in 1850. His property, including the house and the enslaved people who worked there, went to his wife, Floride. She shared it with three of her children.
One of their daughters, Anna Maria, was married to Thomas Green Clemson. Anna sold her part of the property to her mother. Floride then sold the entire plantation to her son, Andrew Pickens Calhoun. She kept a mortgage on the property.
Andrew died in 1865. Floride started a legal process to take back the property from Andrew's family. She died in 1866 before the process was finished.
After many legal steps, the plantation was sold at an auction in 1872. The person in charge of Floride's estate won the auction. The property was then divided among her remaining family members.
Anna Clemson, Floride's daughter, received the house and about 814 acres of land. Her great-granddaughter, Floride Isabella Lee, received about 288 acres. Thomas Green and Anna Clemson moved into Fort Hill in 1872.
Fort Hill Becomes Clemson University
Anna Clemson passed away in 1875. Her husband, Thomas Green Clemson, then inherited Fort Hill.
In his will from 1888, Thomas Green Clemson gave more than 814 acres of the Fort Hill estate to the State of South Carolina. He wanted an agricultural college to be built there. He also made a special rule: the house "shall never be torn down or altered." He said it must always be kept in good condition with its furniture and clothing. He also wanted it to "always be open for inspection of visitors."
Clemson University was created based on this will. The university has kept Fort Hill as a house museum, just as Thomas Green Clemson wanted. Today, the house is the only part left of what was once a very large plantation.
Restoration and Recognition
Fort Hill was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1960. This means it is a very important historical site in the United States.
The house was closed for two years for a big restoration project. It reopened in the spring of 2003. Fort Hill was also named a national treasure by the Save America's Treasures program. Its old items are being carefully preserved with money from a special grant.
See also
