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© Historic Charleston Foundation
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Historic Charleston Foundation is an advocacy organization advancing the mission of historic preservation. As historic preservation has evolved into more than a movement to simply save historic buildings, the Foundation has broadened its scope into balancing the needs of modern society with protecting the sensitive fabric of the historic district.
Communities must be vibrant to survive. With vibrancy comes inevitable growth and development. Our mission is to address modern society’s needs – mobility and transportation, tourism, livability and growth – while protecting and preserving the architecture and material culture of Charleston and its Lowcountry environs. Historic Charleston Foundation champions the historic authenticity, cultural character and livability of the Charleston region through advocacy, stewardship and community engagement. The Foundation envisions a livable Charleston that honors its historic places, its people and its culture.
Pictured Above: Deborah Edwards on the porch of her newly renovated Freedmans Cottage in the North Central Neighborhood. Through its Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, HCF and the City of Charleston preserved this historically significant structure.
We advocate for all neighborhoods, parks, gardens, historic buildings and the memories they’re made of – and help make the vital decisions that move us all forward.
Why We PreservePreservation in Action
To protect the cultural character of our neighborhoods, we’ve embarked upon a housing affordability initiative.
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The goal of the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative is to stabilize neighborhoods by securing the future of their historic structures and community.
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Easements are a successful tool that help protect a historic property by safeguarding its historic character, materials and significance.
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Archaeological digs help answer questions about Charleston’s history that documentary records alone cannot provide.
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We were the first organization in the country to develop a revolving fund as a preservation strategy.
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We’ve been at the forefront of efforts to protect the nationally significant historic Ashley River Corridor and lead the expansion of the National Register-designated Ashley River Historic District from approximately 7,000 to 24,000 acres.
Read MoreAiken-Rhett House & Nathaniel Russell House
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(traditional copper sabotiere for making ice cream) I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream! Even in colonial-era Charleston, the days were hot! Have you ever wondered how...
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Today, the National Trust for Historic Preservation announced that the threat posed by incompatible development at Union Pier justifies placing Charleston in the national spotlight on its 2023 America’s 11 Most Endangered…
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Each May, Historic Charleston Foundation and similar organizations across the country celebrate Preservation Month. While preservation is at the core of our mission and something the Foundation fulfills daily, it…
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Each April, Historic Charleston Foundation commemorates its 1947 founding by honoring extraordinary contributions in preserving Charleston’s irreplaceable historic built environment and cultural character. We are honored to celebrate the following…
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