进入一楼,中间是空旷的大厅,说得好听点儿,叫作古香古色,刻薄点儿,便可叫简陋穷酸。根本没有想象中的窗明几净,灯火辉煌的景象。大厅正中是一个雕像(John C. Calhoun),四周摆着沙发和圆桌。四面的墙上是刻在白色大理石上的一些历史人物、历史事件的纪念文字。楼梯、大门、窗框都是木质,显得非常有些年头。整个大厅里十分安静,由于光线也比较暗,有种阴森森的感觉。
John C. Calhoun (March 18, 1782 – March 31, 1850) was a leading United States Southern politician and political philosopher from South Carolina during the first half of the 19th century. He was best known as being an advocate of states' rights, limited government, and nullification. (来自Wiki的介绍)