Fort Hill, the antebellum plantation of John C. Calhoun, South Carolina’s pre-eminent 19th century statesman, started as a four-room Clergy Hall. Through a succession of Calhoun-Clemson women, Fort Hill would come into Thomas Green Clemson’s possession. In 1888, Clemson bequeathed three-fourths of the Fort Hill plantation and $80,000 to the state of South Carolina for the establishment of a public scientific and agricultural college. He willed that Fort Hill “shall always be open for the inspection of visitors."
This photo gallery features the following:
- Portrait of John C. Calhoun - South Carolina Statesman
- Fort Hill Historic Landmarker
- Brooches which belonged to the Calhoun family.
- Replica china and dinnerware on display in Fort Hill. These replicas on display in the home are in the style of what John C. Calhoun would have used during his days in Washington, D.C.
- John C. Calhoun's Dining Table at Fort Hill, where guests enjoyed dining and entertainment.
- Portrait of Thomas Clemson
- Portrait of President Andrew Jackson, under whom John C. Calhoun served as Vice President.
- Portrait of John C. Calhoun - Vice President of the U.S.A.
- Original sideboard made from the mahogany paneling of the U.S.S. Constitution's officers' quarters. Also on display are original cattle horns, gifted to John C. Calhoun, from his brother in law, James Edward Colhoun.
- Bust of Thomas Green Clemson as he would have looked in his later years.
- Fort Hill Main Hallway
- The facade of Fort Hill
- John C. Calhoun's walnut lap desk, which later belonged to Thomas Clemson
- John and Floride Calhoun's Master Bedroom, which also doubled as a family sitting room.
- This room was once the bedroom inhabited by the Calhouns' daughter, Cornelia Calhoun. Today, this room is staged as a nursery.
- Model ship which belonged to the Calhouns
- The bedroom of Andrew Pickens Calhoun- the eldest son of John C. and Floride Calhoun.
- The bedroom of Patrick Calhoun - the second oldest son of the Calhoun family.
- One of the "dressing rooms" inside Fort Hill. This room also features a metal wash tub, which family members and/or guests would have used for bathing.
- Early 19th century wash tub and basin.
- This green trunk belonged to both Thomas Green Clemson, and John C. Calhoun before him.
- The bedroom of the Calhouns' third son - John C. Calhoun, Jr.
- Thomas Clemson's bedroom
- Portrait of Thomas Clemson, hanging in Anna Clemson's bedroom
- Anna Clemson's personal dresser
- Outside view of John C. Calhoun's Plantation Office
- John C. Calhoun's Parlor Room
- John C. Calhoun's Vice President Desk - the very same desk used to pen his "Fort Hill Address"
- Fort Hill Plantation Office
