Hampton-Preston House

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Description 

The Hampton-Preston House is a handsome city mansion that was built in 1818 by Ainsley Hall, a Columbia merchant. Robert Yates was the contractor and Zachariah Philips served in the capacity of architect. Hall sold the house to the first Wade Hampton, fighter in the American Revolution and general in the War of 1812, planter, businessman, developer of the American West. His son, Wade Hampton II, lived in the house as did Wade Hampton III, the Civil War general, and state governor. The house is also associated with leading South Carolinian and state senator, John S. Preston. The South Carolina Presbyterian Institute for Young Ladies, later Chicora College, acquired the mansion in 1890. The house is of a post-Colonial, Classical Revival style, having a broad veranda across the front with Doric columns and a fanlight above. Inside is a sweeping circular stairway with mahogany rails. A crystal chandelier hangs in the middle of the hall. The rooms are spacious, and one is adorned with a white marble mantel by the sculptor Hiram Powers. The gardens covered a city block and were known throughout the state, but have been plowed under and felled, later becoming a parking lot. Listed in the National Register July 29, 1969. - SCDAH

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19th Century (37,887) Built 1818 (113) Built during 1810s (1,409) Columbia, South Carolina (110) Have Street View (47,033) House (27,684)

John S. Preston (1) Owned by state government (3,450) Richland County, South Carolina (177) Robert Yates (1) South Carolina (2,160) Zachariah Philips (1)

Update Log 

• October 15, 2014: Updated by Michael Miller: Added "Description" & "Street View"
• October 15, 2014: New Street View added by Michael Miller
• August 11, 2014: New photo from Michael Miller

Related landmarks 

• Columbia Historic District II (Parent district)

Sources 

• Wikipedia
• HABS SC-869 - Hampton-Preston House
• Michael Miller - michael_a_miller [at] yahoo [dot] com
• South Carolina Department of Archives and History
• National Register database - Reference number 69000172 (Search for documents)

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