Robert Toombs House State Historic Site

The Robert Toombs House State Historic Site is a historic property located at 216 East Robert Toombs Avenue in Washington, Georgia. It was the home of Robert Toombs (1810–85), who was a pro-Union U.S. representative and U.S. senator, and then a Confederate general and secretary of state during the American Civil War. Operated as a state historic site, the 19th-century period historic house museum also features exhibits about the life of Toombs. The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.[2][3]

Robert Toombs House
Location216 E. Robert Toombs Ave.,
Washington, Georgia
Coordinates33.73616°N 82.73387°W / 33.73616; -82.73387
Built1797
Architectural styleGreek Revival, Federal
NRHP reference No.72000410
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 11, 1972[1]
Designated NHLNovember 7, 1973[2]

Description and history

The Robert Toombs House State Historic Site is located on the east side of Washington, on the south side of East Robert Toombs Avenue. It is a two-story wood frame structure, fronted by a two-story colonnade of fluted Doric columns. Its main entrance is flanked by sidelight windows and topped by a transom. The interior of the house has been decorated to reflect its mid-19th century occupation by Robert Toombs, and includes his private library. The house was built sometime between 1794 and 1801 by Doctor Joel Abbott, and was acquired in 1837 by Toombs. Toombs is credited with a number of alterations, including the front colonnade and the west wing.[3]

Robert Toombs was one of the American South's prominent pre-Civil War orators. Although he supported the extension of slavery into the territories, he also opposed the breakup of the country, and was a major supporter of the Compromise of 1850. When the American Civil War began in 1861, he became the Confederate States of America's Secretary of State, but resigned over differences with President Jefferson Davis, and entered the Confederate Army. He fled the country at the end of the war, eventually returning to a successful law practice.[3]

  • Bedroom
  • Bedroom
  • Law Office / Library
  • Ladies Parlor
  • Dining Room
  • "Ophelia" Painting
  • Staircase

See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Robert Toombs House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2009-01-31. Retrieved 2008-04-30.
  3. Benjamin Levy (January 13, 1973). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Robert Toombs House" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying five photos, exterior, from 1970 (32 KB)
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