Fort Hill (Clemson)

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Fort Hill.

A plantation home originally erected about 1803 and called Clergy Hall by Dr. James McElhenny, a local Presbyterian pastor. The home later became the home of John C. Calhoun in 1825. Calhoun enlarged it to fourteen rooms and renamed it Fort Hill, named for a fortification built around 1776. The architectural style is Greek revival with Federal detailing and with simple interior detailing. ^[1]

After Calhoun's death in 1850, the property passed to his son-in-law, Thomas Green Clemson. In his 1888 will, Clemson bequeathed more than 814 acres of the Fort Hill estate to the state of South Carolina for an agricultural college with a stipulation that the dwelling house "shall never be torn down or altered; but shall be kept in repair with all articles of furniture and vesture... and shall always be open for inspection of visitors." Clemson has operated Fort Hill as a house museum as stipulated in the will.

The home was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1960. Fort Hill was closed for a two year restoration project and was reopened in spring of 2003. Fort Hill was named a national treasure by the Save America's Treasures program, and its artifacts are currently undergoing a comprehensive conservation program funded by this federal grant and matching funds.