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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
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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We were the first organization in the country to develop a revolving fund as a preservation strategy.
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Archaeological digs help answer questions about Charleston’s history that documentary records alone cannot provide.
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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.
Read MoreAiken-Rhett House & Nathaniel Russell House
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Discover Charleston through your camera (or cell phone) lens! Historic Charleston Foundation’s staff photographer will share tips, tricks and techniques valuable to anyone wishing to capture Charleston’s charm from beginner...
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“Blackout Poetry” is a much older activity than you may believe – dating back into the 1700s! Be inspired by the preserved-as-found Aiken-Rhett House Museum in this fun and engaging...
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Stroll through the Old & Historic District on a two-hour walking tour led by Charleston’s most experienced certified guides. Intimate groups will begin at Shop Historic Charleston, 108 Meeting Street,...
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During the 2023 Festival of Houses & Gardens, there will be a special schedule of Pop-Ups and Book Singings at Shop Historic Charleston, 108 Meeting Street. Each of these vendors…
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Historic Charleston Foundation is proud to be launching the MakeItCharleston.com website. MakeItCharleston.com is a community resource to better understand, keep updated, and engage with the time-sensitive Union Pier development. Through the website, viewers can…
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-by Justin Schwebler, Properties Manager and BAR-L Liaison, February 27, 2023 How can developers of new large-format projects use the past as inspiration in their designs? On February 22, 2023…
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