News

Historic Charleston Foundation (HCF) is proud to announce a generous $1.25 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to complete the rehabilitation of the historic Pine Tree Hotel and adjacent Skeeta Beach Lounge for the newly formed Historical Mosquito Beach Foundation.

Tourism is a key part of the Charleston economy, and it certainly imparts many benefits for locals—no one is disputing that. However, we periodically need to take a pulse check and see how and where we need to improve, pivot, adjust. The Foundation has a long history of advocacy in this area.

While the John Gough Linen Press is on loan to the DAR Museum in Washington DC, the Nathaniel Russell House Museum will have three models on display including a model of the Bennett Rice Mill following Hurricane Donna.

It has taken me this long to process the sudden and tragic death of my dear friend Dale Morris earlier this month. Dale was one of those incredible colleagues that you meet and immediately connect with both professionally and personally—a very rare thing. I first met Dale when he came to town with the Dutch embassy in the spring of 2018.

HCF has been working for decades to strike a healthy balance between neighborhood vitality, residential livability, and responsible tourism. The latest challenge to this balancing act is the threat of new hotel proposals for properties not currently zoned for accommodation uses. For example, the proposal at the April 16th Planning Commission requests an extension of the Accommodations Overlay Zone to allow for a hotel at 529-537 Meeting Street – if allowed, this extension could create a detrimental precedent.

The Saving Grace Initiative continues to gain momentum, with a temporary roof installed at New Tabernacle Fourth Baptist Church to protect its historic structure, ongoing preservation efforts at St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church, and both churches actively engaging with the community through restoration work and upcoming events.

Historic Charleston Foundation led the charge during the 2025 National Historic Preservation Advocacy Week on Capitol Hill in early March, catch up with our Advocacy Team to learn more.

We are launching into the new year with several exciting new grants that are going to fuel our preservation work in the months ahead. Read the full update from President & CEO Winslow Hastie with exciting news from the Foundation.

Following the February 19 Planning Commission meeting, an amendment to the Land Use Districts was approved and will now move to the first reading at City Council. What does that mean for Union Pier? Catch up with Director of Advocacy, Lisa Jones.

Standing at 200 feet tall, and nearly 200 years old, St. Phillip's Church is truly an icon of Charleston. The National Historic Landmark has an enduring legacy of resilience, so when the city saw scaffolding surround its historic spire, our team took the opportunity to learn more and discovered an incredible example of stewardship and preservation.

HCF is excited to support, Fighting for Freedom: Black Craftspeople and the Pursuit of Independence, a new exhibit at the DAR Museum in Washington, DC, with a very special loan from the Nathaniel Russell House.

The upcoming Charleston Planning Commission will be meeting to amend the City Comprehensive Plan to rename the ‘Future Planning Area’ district and replace with ‘Urban Waterfront’ district.” What does that mean? We're here to break it down before the Feb 19, 2025 meeting.

From Director of Museums, Tracey Todd, learn more about the Nathaniel Russell House's recent feature on Walter Edgar's Journal, and how the house museums are preparing for 2025.

A word from Winslow Hastie, President & CEO, reflecting on HCF's work over 2024, and looking ahead to 2025. Browse HCF's 2024 Impact Report to dive deeper into our work in preservation, advocacy, and the two historic house museums this year.

Affectionately known in Charleston as the “Toilet Paper Tower” HCF receives a reply from the State Historic Preservation Office and the FCC regarding the tower's design.

As part of Saving Grace, HCF is proud to support the congregation of St. John’s Reformed Episcopal Church (c. 1850) in the preservation of its historic structure. This year, Clemson MSHP students contributed detailed research and documentation to aid restoration efforts and grant applications.

Dive into Charleston’s rich holiday traditions with Director of Museums, Tracey Todd. From the lively 18th-century festivities with fireworks and special meals to the 19th-century introduction of Christmas trees and familiar customs; visit the Nathaniel Russell and Aiken Rhett House museums to see how historic celebrations continue to inspire the season today.

Important information for guests of The Charleston Festival or Charleston by Design 2025!

Charleston’s commitment to preserving its historic buildings could benefit significantly from integrating climate resilience insights provided by The 1772 Foundation’s Climate Action Summit during the recent National Trust for Historic Preservation Conference in New Orleans.

New Orleans was the perfect host city for the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s PastForward 2024 Conference, where HCF joined preservationists from across the country to share insights, tackle challenges, and experience preservation efforts firsthand.