The Octagon House in Laurens, South Carolina, is a remarkable example of 19th-century architecture and innovation. Constructed between 1858 and 1859 by Reverend Zelotes Lee Holmes, a Presbyterian minister and educator, it is believed to be the first concrete house built in South Carolina .​

The house is designed in the octagon mode, a style popularized by Orson Squire Fowler in the mid-1800s. Its construction utilizes granite slabs—each approximately five feet long, twenty-one inches wide, and eighteen inches deep—to support walls made of stone and a concrete-like mortar ranging from twelve to eighteen inches thick . This innovative use of materials makes it one of the earliest concrete buildings in the South.​

The interior features a central two-story atrium with a skylight, promoting natural ventilation. The design includes sixteen chimneys, contributing to the complex roof structure of the main octagonal building and its four projecting corner rooms .​

The Octagon House stands as a testament to the ingenuity of its creator, Reverend Holmes, who supervised its construction with the assistance of enslaved laborers and his children. The building’s innovative design and construction techniques reflect a blend of architectural ambition and the social realities of the time.

In 1973, the Octagon House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, recognizing its architectural and historical importance .​

In May 2024, restoration efforts commenced under the guidance of the Octagon House Foundation, a nonprofit organization established in 2014. The foundation aims to restore the house to its original appearance, transforming it into a cultural and educational destination that honors the stories of both the enslaved individuals who contributed to its construction and the Holmes family .​ Address: 619 East Main Street, Laurens, SC​

While the house is currently undergoing restoration and may not be open to the public, interested individuals can visit the website for updates on the project’s progress and opportunities to support the restoration efforts.