• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SC Picture Project

The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

  • FIND A LANDMARK
    • BY CITY
    • BY COUNTY
    • BY CATEGORY
    • BYGONE LANDMARKS
  • ADD IMAGES
  • VOLUNTEER
  • SPONSORS
  • DONATE

Fort Hill

SC PICTURE PROJECT 2 Comments

SC Picture Project / Pickens County / Fort Hill

Fort Hill once served as the plantation of Vice President John C. Calhoun. Today, the house stands on the campus of Clemson University.

Fort Hill Clemson

William H. Myers, III of Seneca, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The areas of the Fort Hill open for public viewing includes Calhoun’s mansion, his office, a reconstructed kitchen, a partially restored spring, and a beautiful lawn.

Fort Hill

Andy Hunter of North Augusta, 2013 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Fort Hill Marker

James (Jim) Jenkins of Chesterfield, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Fort Hill in Clemson

Gary A. DuBose of Seneca © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Contributor Andy Hunter reflects on Fort Hill:

“I was on Clemson campus to attend a friend’s son’s graduation. As an alumnus, and because the campus offers so many different photo opportunities, I usually make time to see what new angles I can find with structures that I am very familiar with. I still smile when I think of how they used the Calhoun Mansion as a dormitory in the film “Midnight Man” starring Burt Lancaster. It was filmed on campus (and in surrounding locales) in the early 70’s just before I arrived at Clemson as a student.”

Fort Hill has been designated a National Historic Landmark. It is also listed in the National Register of Historic Places, which describes it as follows:

Fort Hill (John C. Calhoun Mansion & Library), the plantation home of John C. Calhoun during the last 25 years of his life, is today well-maintained in the center of Clemson University campus. When he moved to the house in 1825, Calhoun was Vice President of the United States, at the height of his career, having gained national recognition as one of the “War Hawks” in the Twelfth Congress and as Secretary of War under James Monroe. He long aspired to the presidency, without success, but he did serve another cabinet position, as Secretary of State under John Tyler in 1845. In 1850 Calhoun died and Thomas G. Clemson, his son-in-law, eventually inherited the estate. Clemson lived in the mansion for many years and he willed the estate to the state of South Carolina for the establishment of an agricultural and mechanical college, with a provision to provide for the preservation of the Calhoun mansion. The Greek Revival mansion and office are all that remain from the former 1,100-acre plantation with many outbuildings. The one-room library or office is located about fifty feet south of the mansion.

See a picture of the Calhoun House in Abbeville.

Plan Your Trip: Fort Hill

Where is Fort Hill located?
Address: Intersection of Fort Hill Street and Calhoun Drive, Clemson, SC 29634
GPS Coordinates: 34.677917,-82.838889
Website: http://south-carolina-plantations.com/pickens/fort-hill.html
What else should I see?
Tillman Hall 0.3 mile
Clemson University 0.8 mile
St. Andrew Catholic Church 0.9 mile
South Carolina Botanical Garden 1.6 miles
Show me more like this!
  • Clemson Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Historic Houses
  • See other South Carolina Plantations
    Fort Hill Map

    Please Help Us Stay Online

    We’d like thank everyone who generously supports the South Carolina Picture Project. You provide us with the inspiration and financial support we need to keep doing what we do. Every reader’s contribution, larger or small, is valuable. If you have enjoyed this website or found it helpful, please pitch in. Each donation helps – and it only takes a minute. Thank you!

    Support the SC Picture Project!

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    You may also like

    You may also like

    Default ThumbnailHanover Plantation Hopewell Plantation at Clemson UniversityHopewell Plantation Rankin Harwell HouseRankin-Harwell House Bonnie Doone RearBonnie Doone Koger HouseKoger-Murray-Carroll-House

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Carol Nordquist says

      August 28, 2013 at 12:05 PM

      I would like to point out the typo under the first picture of Fort Hill. Notice that mansion is misspelled — it reads mantion.

      Reply
      • SCIWAY says

        August 28, 2013 at 3:19 PM

        Thank you, noted!

        Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Primary Sidebar

    FIND A LANDMARK

    Why This Site Matters

    Help Keep This Site Online

    We depend on the support of today’s readers to document South Carolina’s landmarks for future readers. Please help us continue this important work by making a donation below.

    $ 50.00
    Select Payment Method
    Personal Info

    Credit Card Info
    This is a secure SSL encrypted payment.

    Donation Total: $50.00

    Recent Posts

    • H.L. Hunley
    • Strand Theater
    • Camden Depot
    • Charleston City Marina
    • Secession Hill

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    Footer

    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

    CONTACT US

    We’d love to hear from you! Send us a quick email at share@scpictureproject.org.

    If you are looking for permission to use a photo, please reach out directly to the photographer listed in the image’s credit.

    JOIN US ON FACEBOOK

    The South Carolina Picture Project has two Facebook groups. One is dedicated to SC Historic Landmarks and Iconic Landscapes, and the other is dedicated to SC Nature and Wildlife.

    South Carolina Picture Project © 2022 · All Rights Reserved