Address Clemson, University Former names Main Building | Opened 1893 Architecture firm Bruce & Morgan | |
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Similar Fort Hill, Memorial Stadium, Clemson House, Fike Recreation Center, ESSO Club | ||
Tillman Hall, a building on the Clemson University campus, was constructed in 1893. Tillman Hall is the university's clock tower and signature building, and was designed by Atlanta architects Bruce & Morgan. Originally named "Old Main," Tillman Hall was built the same year that the college opened, but it was not until July 1946 when the building was named after Benjamin Tillman. The selection of the name was picked by Clemson's Board of Trustees. Prior to the renaming, Tillman Hall was referred to as the main building.
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Map of Tillman Hall, Clemson, SC 29634, USA
Tillman Hall was nationally registered as part of Clemson University Historic District I. It is one of the few remaining buildings from Clemson University’s original campus. Other original buildings include Hardin Hall and Godfrey Hall. Since the opening, Clemson University has largely expanded.
As well as Clemson University having a Tillman Hall named after Benjamin Ryan Tillman, Winthrop University in Rock Hill, South Carolina also named a building after the former governor. Both colleges were created under his oversight. Like Clemson University’s Tillman, Winthrop is also a large clock tower. The outside of both Tillman Halls resemble each other fairly closely.
Renovations
Since opening, the outside of Tillman has not undergone major construction. However, the interior has been rebuilt several times. The first rebuilding occurred after a fire that was set off a couple of years after opening. The next time was in the 1980s when the building was entirely renovated. Before renovation, the tower featured the first library on Clemson’s campus. It also included classrooms, laboratories, and a chapel. Today it is home to the Education department as well as an auditorium. There is a bronze statue on the front side of Tillman Hall. The statue is nicknamed “Old Green Tom”, which refers to the weathered down figure of Clemson University’s founder, Thomas Green Clemson. Tillman Hall also is directly behind Clemson University's Bowman Field. These two features are often the first sight when entering the Clemson University campus.
Current events
Due to Benjamin Tillman’s politics, actions, and stance regarding racial relations, the naming of the building currently known as Tillman hall has come under scrutiny in recent years, particularly during the 2014-2015 academic year. There has been discussion among the student senate, demonstrations by the student body, letters written by students to President Clements, and online discussions and petitions; however, the university has said that the only entity with authority to change the name of the iconic building is the current Clemson University Board of Trustees. Most recently, an anonymous group of students publicly defaced the brick of Tillman Hall with spray paint, with phrases such as "Tillman was a violent racist."
On April 13, 2016, a peaceful sit-in began on the steps of Sikes Hall in protest of the ways racial inequality and diversity are handled on campus. The protest, called the Sikes Sit-In, is affiliated with the See the Stripes campaign, which, among other things, has advocated for the renaming of Tillman Hall and the Strom Thurmond Institute, "buildings that are named after individuals who were known for their prejudice against underrepresented groups."