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 special historic house in Crawfordville, Georgia. It was once the home of Alexander H. Stephens, a very important political leader from Georgia. He lived here from 1839 until he passed away in 1883.
Stephens served in the U.S. House of Representatives (a part of the United States government) several times. He was also the Vice President of the Confederate States of America during the American Civil War. After the war, he 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 has places for camping, picnics, fishing, and nature trails. Much of the park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps starting in 1933.
The house was sometimes called Bachelor's Hall in 1859. It was a quiet place for Stephens, about twenty miles from Washington, Georgia.
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History of Liberty Hall
Alexander Stephens was born nearby in a simple log cabin. He became an orphan when he was only fourteen years old. Stephens bought this property in 1845. It had been his family's home before, but it was sold after his father died.
Building the Current House
Between 1872 and 1875, Stephens rebuilt most of the old house. He kept only two rooms at the back. The house you see today is a simple two-story white frame house. It has a hip roof and a porch called a veranda across the front.
Inside Liberty Hall
On the first floor, you can see Stephens's bedroom. It has his original walnut furniture and a round table where he used to write. His wheelchair is also there. The dining room has large chairs that are copies of an original one.
At the back of the house is the library. Stephens wrote an important book here between 1868 and 1870. Stairs lead from the dining room to the second floor. At the top, there's a room called the "Tramps' Room." Many guests, even unexpected ones, often stayed there.
Outbuildings and Life at the Hall
Behind the main house, you can find restored smaller buildings. These include former living quarters for enslaved people, a wine cellar, a smokehouse, a woodhouse, a washhouse, and a chickenhouse. During the time of emancipation in 1864, Stephens had thirty-one enslaved people. Many of them stayed with him even after the war ended.
It was at Liberty Hall that Stephens was captured by Union Army soldiers. He then formally surrendered and was held prisoner before being released.
Stephens had a constant companion, a large, fluffy white dog named Rio. 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.
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. Then, it was given to the State of Georgia.
Today, the house looks like it did in 1875. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 13, 1970. It was also named a National Historic Landmark on May 4, 1983.
Images for kids
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Alexander Stephens Memorial
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Former living quarters for enslaved people
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Library
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Dining Room
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Kitchen
See also
