South Carolina Heritage

From the sandy shores of South Carolina all the way to the steps of Washington, D.C., Robert Mills, the renowned American architect, led a life marked by a passion for architecture and public service. He was born in Charleston, South Carolina, in 1781. Hailing from humble beginnings, Mills exhibited a strong desire for education and creativity from an early age. His architectural journey began after he worked as a millwright, eventually leading him to study in Europe, where he absorbed the principles of neoclassical design. Throughout his life, he remained dedicated to his craft and played a vital role in promoting neoclassical and Greek Revival architecture.  He left behind  iconic structures including many courthouses found throughout our beloved South Carolina, the famed Robert Mills House in Columbia, and even the Washington Monument.

The Robert Mills Courthouse is also known as the Kershaw County Courthouse. This courthouse was constructed between 1822 and 1825.  It reflects Robert Mills’ classical training and commitment to the Greek Revival style.  Symmetry defined Mills’ work and was his trademark both on both the interior and exterior.

The Colleton County Courthouse was constructed in 1822 making it another one of the oldest courthouses in South Carolina. Both courthouses are still in use today. The Robert Mills House in Columbia is a historic mansion showcasing early 19th-century Southern lifestyle.  Mills’ designed this home for Ainsley and Sarah Hall but it was never formally used as a personal residence.  It was first used to house the Columbia Theological Seminary in 1831 where Woodrow Wilson’s father was on staff.  Once the seminary moved to its permanent residence in Georgia, it housed missionary families and later was the first location for Columbia Bible College, now known as Columbia International University.  When the college moved in 1960, The Robert Mills House was restored and opened to the public as a museum.  The gardens surrounding The Robert Mills House, although only added in the past 50 years, are English formal style as believed Ainsley Hall would have preferred had he lived to see the home to completion.