The Hanover House

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Built most likely by enslaved African Americans, the Hanover House stands on a lot in the SC Botanical Gardens. The house is now used as a museum in which many of the botanical gardens visitors go to. The house was originally built in Berkeley County, S.C. and was primarily used as a rice plantation. It was named 'Hanover House' by the St. Julien family in order to honor George I, also Elector of Hanover, who helped the French Huguenot's escape France after the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes in 1685. On the chimney of the house, the phrase 'Peu a Pue' was inscribed, meaning "little by little the bird builds its nest." This was inscribed by Paul de St. Julien himself, and the phrase was taken from a French proverb.

The house remained in the ownership of the Julien family for over 150 years. However, in the 1940's, the house was threatened by a man made lake, Lake Moultrie. Fortunately, the house was saved by the Historic American Buildings Survey, who noted that the house was historically significant. The house was then moved to Clemson University, 250 miles from its original location. In 1944, the house was relocated again to the SC Botanical Gardens. In the 1950's Spartanburg Committee of the Nation Society of Colonial Dames of America helped with furnishing the house with artifacts and furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries. Its furnishings represent a 1700-1750 low country rice plantation. Today, visitors of the gardens are able to take a tour of the house and learn more about its history.