FitzSimons-Hampton House
Also known as: Goodale Inn; FitzSimons-Hampton-Harris House
Why it's listed
Built around 1815 for Christopher FitzSimons, a Charleston merchant and planter, this brick house served as the main residence of his Goodale plantation near Augusta, Georgia. It has two and a half stories over a daylight basement, a side-hall plan, double parapet chimneys and long nine-over-nine windows with jack arches, all typical of the Federal period. The brick is laid in American bond, and the front porch and iron steps are later changes. The Goodale land was first settled around 1740 by Thomas Goodale, who ran a ferry and grist mill there. FitzSimons gave the plantation to his daughter Ann when she married Wade Hampton Jr., and the Hampton family owned it until 1835. Later owners included cotton planters and mill men. Today the house sits on two acres, surrounded by modern buildings and a river levee. After a period of abandonment it was restored in the 1970s, with a restaurant in the basement.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house represents Federal architecture in Georgia and is one of the state's oldest buildings to survive almost unaltered. Its ownership history also illustrates Augusta's agricultural, commercial and economic past, and it is tied to prominent figures including three Wade Hamptons, Christopher FitzSimons and Dr. George Jones. The site's closeness to the river and the Sand Bar Ferry also reflects local water transportation in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 76000645, listed October 29, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | GA 28, Augusta |
|---|---|
| County | Richmond County |
| Listed | October 29, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76000645 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Christopher FitzSimons of Charleston, South Carolina (builder/original owner) |
| Architectural style | Federal |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Transportation, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and under adaptive-use restoration since 1971; the basement is open to the public as a restaurant. It had earlier been abandoned and in disrepair. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 33.44990, -81.92129 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 76000645.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.