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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
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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Archaeological digs help answer questions about Charleston’s history that documentary records alone cannot provide.
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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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We were the first organization in the country to develop a revolving fund as a preservation strategy.
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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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Illumination Charleston DECEMBER 2–5, 2021 A weekend of inspired design, Southern culture, and holiday décor in Charleston, SC This three-day event will be a gathering of the South’s (and beyond!)...
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Enjoy the Opening Night Party of Illumination Charleston on December 2nd at the historic Aiken-Rhett House. Hosted by Historic Charleston Foundation, the organizing co-chairs of this fabulous evening are Jaimie...
Buy TicketsEnjoy a Candlelight Tour of the Nathaniel Russell House During the Holiday Season Step back in time and witness the romantic light at the day's end with the flicker of flame in...
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THURDSDAY, DEC. 2 – SUNDAY, DEC. 5 To purchase tickets or ticket packages, visit IlluminationCharleston.com. Please see notes below the schedule for help with selecting the tickets you desire. All…
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This is the Commercial Club/Timrod Hotel at 101 Meeting Street. The Commercial Club stood on Meeting Street between the Charleston County Courthouse and Hibernian Hall. The building was a late-19th century…
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HCF has gotten numerous calls with questions about the Army Corps peninsula seawall project. And rightly so – this is a massive, complex project and entails a lot of unfamiliar…
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