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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
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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Easements are a successful tool that help protect a historic property by safeguarding its historic character, materials and significance.
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To protect the cultural character of our neighborhoods, we’ve embarked upon a housing affordability initiative.
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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.
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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.
Read MoreAiken-Rhett House & Nathaniel Russell House
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Charleston is confronted with every known water hazard and faces intense land use and development pressures. To expand the conversation around water and resiliency, HCF (in partnership with the City...
Historic Charleston Foundation is again honored to host its Women Who IMPACT Preservation event. This annual event awards and honors women who have made a significant contribution and impact on historical...
Historic Charleston Foundation is excited to announce Community Day at The Aiken-Rhett House Museum. This family-friendly day features free admission to the Aiken-Rhett House Museum, including the Flight textile installation...
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For over a year now, HCF staff have been meeting with members of Evening Post Industries, Liberty Senior Living, Robert A.M. Stern Architects, and LS3P Architects, to review plans for…
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It’s Festival season, y’all! We’re excited to kick off our 75th Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens, from March 16 through April 9. In addition to a variety of Street…
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Join us for Free Admission Afternoon with Cookie Washington on Friday, April 22 from 12 – 4 pm. Local residents with zip codes of 294- will receive free admission with…
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