 stablished in 1947, Historic Charleston Foundation
works to protect buildings, landscapes and cultural resources that make up Charleston's rich and irreplaceable heritage. At
the heart of the Foundation's mission lie its preservation and advocacy programs, including protective covenants and
easements. This mission is supported through the generosity of preservation-minded donors, in addition to the Foundation's
earned-income programs, including the Annual Festival of Houses and Gardens, the
Charleston International Antiques Show, licensed products program,
and four retail shops. In addition, HCF fulfills its educational mission through the interpretation
of its collections and two museum sites: the Nathaniel Russell House, c. 1808, and the Aiken-Rhett House, c. 1818.
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The double parlors of the Aiken-Rhett House remain nearly unaltered since 1858.
credit: Micheal Eastman |
The Foundation is governed by a Board of Trustees of about 35 individuals with a strong interest or specialized knowledge in historic
preservation. Foundation operations are managed by an Executive Director, with support from five divisions: Preservation and Museums,
Marketing and Public Programs, Licensed Products and Retail, Development, and Administration.
Since its earliest days, Historic Charleston Foundation has been a national pacesetter in its effort to preserve the historic buildings,
neighborhoods and landmarks that make Charleston a unique American city. Since its founding, HCF has been an active voice at City and
County Council meetings, the Board of Architectural Review, and zoning hearings, helping to preserve historic structures and plan wisely
for Charleston's future.
| Festival docents train for their job as interpreters in the early 1950s. |
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The Foundation has a distinguished history of protecting buildings of national importance, including Drayton Hall, McLeod Plantation, the
William Gibbes House, Mulberry Plantation, Frank Lloyd Wright's Auldbrass Plantation, as well as its two house museums, the Nathaniel
Russell House and the Aiken-Rhett House.
HCF continues to play a major role in shaping public policies including local ordinances such as the 1973 City Preservation Plan, the 1975
Architectural Inventory, the 1978 Urban Height Ordinance, the 2004 height ordinance revision, the expansion of the Old and Historic District
from 144 acres to more than 1,000 acres, and the addition of the Cooper River Historic District to the National Register of Historic Places.
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