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Robert Mills House and Gardens

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This week I will show you another beautiful house.The Robert Mills House and Gardens, located in Columbia SC. One of only five National Historic Landmarks within Columbia! Maintained by the Historic Columbia Foundation this is a wonderful home to visit.

Robert Mills House Front, Medium 5

Now if you remember last week I introduced you to the Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens well, The Robert Mills Home, located across the street from the Hampton-Preston Mansion, completes the story of the Hall family that was persuaded to sell their home to Wade Hampton. To appease his wife for the loss of her home, Hall hired Robert Mills, the preeminent American architect of the early 19th century, to design a new townhome for her. The result is the Classical Revival Robert Mills Home. To ensure she was satisfied with her new home, Mills designed it to be taller than the Hampton-Preston Mansion, so that Mrs. Hall would be able to look down on her neighbors. Sadly, she never enjoyed that opportunity. Her husband died before the house was completed — and he failed to address the disposition of the house in his will.

Robert Mills House Rear, Medium 5

After years of fighting in court to win the house, Mrs. Hall triumphed in court in 1837, but was forced to sell the home to the Presbyterian church to use as a school that same year as a result of the cost of the lawsuits. The house was used by various colleges and seminaries until the 1960s, when the Historic Columbia Foundation was created to save the house. They have filled the house with American antiques from the early 19th century. It is a beautiful mansion with amazing furniture — and its gardens are equally beautiful.

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This is another beautiful historic home to visit if you ever come to South Carolina!

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April Yap

Thursday 18th of August 2016

I have a lithe garden in our home and I love visiting anykind of garden area and I am gaining Idea for a future purposes.

Christy Maurer

Saturday 2nd of March 2013

That is so pretty! I want to live there! So sad that her husband died before finishing and she didn't own the house :(

Jennifer Williams

Friday 1st of March 2013

I found this looking for places to visit while on vacation, I will definitely add this to my list.

Dee Mauser

Friday 1st of March 2013

That's SO cool. From the front it looks like an old school house.

Kelley Johnsen

Friday 1st of March 2013

I love the garden! Looks like a fun place to visit!

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