Robert Mills House facts for kids
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Robert Mills House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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Robert Mills House - Ainsley Hall House
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1616 Blanding St., Columbia, South Carolina |
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| Area | 4 acres (1.6 ha) |
| Built | 1823 |
| Architect | Robert Mills |
| Architectural style | Early Republic, Federal |
| Part of | Columbia Historic District II (ID71000799) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000595 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1970 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
| Designated CP | May 6, 1971 |
The Robert Mills House is a really cool old building in Columbia, South Carolina. You might also hear it called the Robert Mills Historic House and Park or the Ainsley Hall House. It's located at 1616 Blanding Street and is now a historic house museum that you can visit!
This amazing house was built way back in 1823. It was designed by a famous architect named Robert Mills. Because of its special design, it was named a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Today, the Historic Columbia Foundation takes care of the house. They have filled it with beautiful furniture and art from the early 1800s. This includes styles like American Federal, English Regency, and French Empire.
Contents
Exploring the Robert Mills House
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The Robert Mills House sits on a big piece of land, about 4 acres (1.6 ha). This area is like a park and takes up a whole city block in the middle of Columbia. The house itself is a two-story building made of brick. It has a tall basement with cool arched walls.
Special Design Features
The front of the house faces north. It has a grand entrance with four tall columns. These columns hold up a triangular roof section, which is a classic design. Above the main door, there's a special fan-shaped window. The windows on either side of the door are set in round arches. This round-arch style is a signature of Robert Mills's designs.
Inside, the entrance hall is perfectly balanced. The staircase is hidden behind a door. Across from it, there's a "fake" door that looks exactly the same. This makes the hall look very neat and orderly. The hall and the main rooms (called parlors) have curved walls. This clever design makes the rooms feel much bigger than they actually are!
Who Built the House?
Robert Mills designed the house, and it was finished in 1823. It was meant for a person named Ainsley Hall. Sadly, Ainsley Hall passed away before the house was even finished. For many years, the house was part of the Columbia Theological Seminary. This school moved out of Columbia in 1960.
After the school left, there was a worry that the property might be torn down. Luckily, the Historic Columbia Foundation stepped in and bought it. They worked hard to fix up and restore the house. It finally opened as a museum in 1967, so everyone could come and enjoy its history and beauty.
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