“In looking back, I see nothing to regret and little to correct.” - John C. Calhoun


This landmark property was purchased in the late 1820’s by then Secretary of  War John C. Calhoun as a two-room country house for his family.  The house was enlarged once Calhoun was elected Vice President of the United States.  Family history indicates that while Calhoun was in Washington his wife oversaw many of the additions which brought the house to its current Greek Revival appearance by the 1850’s.  The interiors of Fort Hill were originally papered with a variety of hand-blocked wallpapers and borders, many of which were imported from France.  This is especially interesting in light of Calhoun’s support of trade tariffs for imported goods, including wallpapers.


Click here for an excerpt from the 2002 Interior Analysis


Scope of Services

  1. Furnishing Plan

  2. Recovery and analysis of more than 24 historic wallpapers

  3. Oversaw reproduction of several

  4. original wallpapers and selected

  5. appropriate period papers


Location

Fort Hill

Clemson, South Carolina 


Historic Designations

  1. National Register of Historic Places

  2. National Historic Landmark


Links

John C. Calhoun Biography

 

Above: Present day interior


Below: Samples of uncovered historic wallpapers, left to right, in the Stair Hall 210 and the Clemson Bedroom 109

Right: First border used in Parlor 106

Above: Second field and border used in Attic 107

Above: First field and border used in Attic 107

Fort Hill - John C. Calhoun House