Liberty Hall (Crawfordville, Georgia) facts for kids
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Liberty Hall
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Liberty Hall in Crawfordville, Georgia
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 Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Location in the United States
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| Location | Crawfordville, Georgia |
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| Area | 7 acres (2.8 ha) |
| Built | 1834 |
| Part of | A. H. Stephens Memorial State Park (ID95000764) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000216 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 13, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | May 4, 1983 |
| Designated CP | June 22, 1995 |
Liberty Hall is a historic house museum located in Crawfordville, Georgia. It was the home of Alexander H. Stephens, an important political leader from Georgia. He lived in this house from 1839 until he passed away in 1883.
Alexander Stephens served in the U.S. House of Representatives several times. He was also a leader for the Southern states during the American Civil War. After the war, he returned to the U.S. House and later became the governor of Georgia.
Today, Liberty Hall is a museum. It is part of A. H. Stephens Historic Park, which is a Georgia state park. This park offers places for camping, picnics, and fishing. It also has nature trails and cabins. Much of the park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps starting in 1933. Liberty Hall was sometimes called Bachelor's Hall in 1859. It was a quiet place for Stephens, away from the busy town of Washington, Georgia.
Contents
History of Liberty Hall
Alexander Stephens was born nearby in a log cabin. He became an orphan when he was fourteen years old. In 1845, Stephens bought the property where Liberty Hall now stands. This land had been his family's home before it was sold.
Building the Current Home
Between 1872 and 1875, Stephens rebuilt most of the old house. He kept only two rooms at the back. The house you see today has been restored to look like it did then. It is a simple, two-story white frame house. It has a hip roof and a wide porch called a veranda across the front.
Inside Liberty Hall
On the first floor, you can see Stephens's bedroom. It still has his original walnut furniture. There is a round table where he used to write. You can also see his wheelchair and a restored carpet with blue and gold striped wallpaper. The dining room has large chairs that are copies of an original chair.
At the back of the house is the library. Stephens wrote an important book there between 1868 and 1870. Steps lead from the dining room to the second floor. At the top of the stairs is the "Tramps' Room." Many guests, even unexpected ones, often stayed there.
Outbuildings and Life at the Hall
Behind the main house, there are several restored smaller buildings. These include slave quarters, a wine cellar, a smokehouse, a woodhouse, a washhouse, and a chickenhouse. Historically, these buildings supported the daily life of the home.
During the Civil War, in 1864, Stephens was captured at Liberty Hall by Union Army soldiers. He then formally surrendered and was held prisoner before being released.
Stephens had a large, fluffy white dog named Rio who was always with him. Many of Stephens's books are kept in a smaller building behind the house. He spent a lot of time there after the war. Liberty Hall was known for having many visitors from all walks of life. Stephens often invited them to share meals with him.
Liberty Hall as a Museum
After Stephens passed away in 1883, his sitting room was kept just as he left it. The house then went to his family. It was used as a boardinghouse until 1932. That year, it was given to the State of Georgia.
Today, the house looks as it did in 1875. Liberty Hall was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1970. It was named a National Historic Landmark on May 4, 1983.
Images for kids
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Alexander Stephens Memorial
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Slave Quarters
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Library
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Dining Room
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Kitchen
See also
