In the spring of 1920, local Charleston activist Susan Pringle Frost gained public support to save the Joseph Manigault house on Meeting Street, slated for demolition at the time. She gathered 32 concerned citizens to join forces in the fight for responsible preservation of Charleston. The stand she took inspired the creation of the first grassroots preservation organization in the nation, the Preservation Society of Charleston.

In 1931 the Society was instrumental in persuading Charleston City Council to pass the nation’s first zoning ordinance enacted to protect historic resources. The ordinance established the first Board of Architectural Review and designated a 138 acre “Old and Historic District.” For nearly a century, our Board of Architectural Review has been a model for cities around the country, tasked with reviewing applications for demolitions, alterations, and new construction within an area covering over 1,000 acres. Much of our cherished skyline, streetscapes, and historic materials can be attributed to the strong protections provided by this legislation.

The Society has sought to fulfill its mission through programs that focus on preservation education, advocacy, and planning. There is tangible evidence of our work throughout Charleston, including our notable Carolopolis Award plaques, awarded to exceptional examples of preservation, and our historical markers programs, providing a fuller narrative of our city’s history. Residents also benefit from other initiatives including the recently launched Resilience Guidance for Charleston, a crucial new aid for residents of all income levels living in older homes, which includes hundreds of best practices for property maintenance and resilience planning.

One of the most important aspects of our work is participating in public meetings – where decisions are made that affect not only Charleston’s historic districts but also how the built environment of the city at large takes shape and functions. PSC Advocacy Staff reviews projects on every public meeting agenda and works to provide value-driven recommendations. Working alongside city staff, residents, and property teams, the PSC advocates for the best in livability and thoughtful urbanism in Charleston.

The PSC works on behalf of all 4000 members of our global network, each with a shared passion for Charleston. Preservation today is about honoring the living city — one that evolves to support the needs of the people who live and work here, while maintaining the elements that make it special. Together, we will continue to promote positive long-term growth, historic preservation, and strong community within the Charleston area.

Keep scrolling to learn about how the PSC works for your neighborhood!