Hanover House (Clemson) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Hanover House
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Hanover House in the South Carolina Botanical Garden
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| Location | Clemson University campus, Clemson, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1714-1716 |
| Architect | Paul de St. Julien |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000594 |
| Added to NRHP | June 5, 1970 |
Hanover House is a very old house built between 1714 and 1716. It was built by a French family called Huguenots. They built it near the Cooper River in what is now Berkeley County. The house is also known as the St. Julien-Ravenel House. This name comes from its first owners.
In the 1940s, a big state project was planned. They wanted to build a dam and create Lake Moultrie. This new lake would have flooded the land where Hanover House stood. To save this important old building, the house was carefully moved. It was taken to the Clemson University campus in Pickens County.
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The Story of Hanover House
Hanover House was built by a man named Paul de St. Julien. He was a French Huguenot. Huguenots were French Protestants who faced tough times in France. Many of them moved to other countries, like America, to find religious freedom.
Paul de St. Julien built the house on land given to his grandfather in 1688. This land grant came from the Lords Proprietors of South Carolina. His grandfather had come to the colony to escape religious problems in France.
What the House Looks Like
The house is made of cypress wood. It has 1½ stories. The roof is a special type called a gambrel roof. This means it has two different slopes on each side. There are brick chimneys at both ends of the house. Inside, you can find fireplaces on both the first and second floors.
On one chimney, there's a special message. It says PEU À PEU. This is French for "Little by little." It's part of a proverb that means "Little by little, the bird builds his nest." It reminds us that big things are built one step at a time.
St. Julien named the house Hanover. He did this to honor the House of Hanover. This was the royal family ruling the Kingdom of Great Britain at the time. He wanted to show thanks to Britain for helping many Huguenot refugees.
Life at the Plantation
The plantation where Hanover House stood grew special crops. They grew indigo, which was used to make blue dye. They also grew rice. These crops were very important for trade. The work on the plantation was done by enslaved Africans and African Americans.
Paul de St. Julien's daughter later married Henry Ravenel. The house stayed in their family for almost 200 years.
Moving a Historic House
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In the 1930s, a big plan came up for the Cooper River. The state wanted to build a dam. This dam would help control floods and make electricity. It would also create a huge lake called Lake Moultrie. The problem was that Hanover House would be covered by the lake's water.
To save this important piece of history, the house was taken apart in 1941. Each piece was carefully moved to Clemson University. This university is in the northwest part of South Carolina. The house was then put back together on the east side of the campus.
In 1994, the house was moved again! This time, it went to the South Carolina Botanical Garden on the university campus. Today, the house is filled with furniture that looks like it's from the time it was built. Some items were even donated by the Ravenel family, the original owners.
Hanover House was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This means it's recognized as a very important historic site.
Visiting Hanover House
The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America helped restore the inside of Hanover House. Now, it's a historic house museum. This means you can visit it and learn about its past!
The house is open to the public on weekends.
- Saturdays: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
- Sundays: 2:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
