Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art - Augusta, GA - Pre-Victorian Historic Homes on Waymarking.com

The former home which houses the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art is known as “Ware’s Folly.” Built by Nicholas Ware in 1818, it is a beautiful example of the Federal style of architecture of the time. Several prominent Augustans called this building home throughout the years, including members of the Sibley family, as well as Emily Tubman. It was purchased in 1937 by Olivia Herbert, who donated it to the Augusta Art Club for classroom & exhibition space. -Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art

"This is a three story house, essentially a frame structure with the ground floor of brick and with a low pitched hip roof of tin. The imposing entrance facade is an original exercise of Federal design with its central three-tiered portico balanced by triple-sided and triple-story bays.-i^ The columns of the portico are repeated in the pilaster detail accenting the bays. On each floor there is a shuttered six over six light window in each section of each bay. The ground floor shutters are solid, the others are movable louvres.'^A sweeping horseshoe stairway with a mahogany hand rail leads up the original stone steps to the finely detailed entrance with fan light and side lights.

The second floor portico is more intricately detailed. The simplified sheaf of wheat baliastrade, the elaborately beautiful doorway with fan light and side lights, and the ceilingmedallion decorated with feather and oak leaf motif all contribute to a beautifully detailed and finely proportioned balcony. Overhead the portico is accented by an exquisite Greek broken pediment dormer with a domed fan light. The entablature is extremely fine with Greek motifs of the triglyph and metope with patera. Care of detail is evident everywhere, even in the small circles of wood lending pattern to the lower facia of the dentils. A definite pattern emerges from the simplicity of the ground floor increasing in detail to the enriched entablature and culminating in the dormer.

Originally the rear facade had a two story wooden porch with a straigh flight of steps to the center of the porch and another flight from the left of the door leading to the second story of the proch. The rear facade now has French doors in the left rear room opening onto a lovely brick terrace with an iron double circular stair to the garden area. In 1959 the area beneath the terrace was enclosed and became a utility room and class area with entrance from the ground floor hall. Today the entrance coTirtyard is probably similar to its earlier counterpart, although there was a fountain in the center circle where a camellia bush now stands. The beautiful second floor portico was once shaded by a wisteria vine; old pecan and magnolia trees still stand. The site of the old well is marked by a modem sculpture."-NRHP Nomination Form

Earliest Recorded Date of Construction: 01/01/1818 Architectural Period/Style: Federal architecture Architect (if known): Unknown Landscape Designer (if known): Unknown Type of Building e.g. Country House, Stately Home, Manor: Mansion, now art gallery/studio Interesting Historical Facts or Connections: The home was built for Nicholas Ware, a United States Senator from Georgia. Main Material of Construction: Brick Private/Public Access: Public access Monday - Friday 10 AM - 5 PM Admission Fee (if applicable): 0.00 (listed in local currency) Opening Hours (if applicable): From: 10:00 AM To: 5:00 PM Related Website: [Web Link] Rating: Additional Dates of Construction: Not listed Listed Building Status (if applicable): Not listed

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