HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION
PO BOX 1120, CHARLESTON, SC 29402 www.historiccharleston.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO CHAMPION THE HISTORIC AUTHENTICITY, CULTURAL CHARACTER, AND LIVABILITY OF THE CHARLESTON REGION THROUGH ADVOCACY, STEWARDSHIP, AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT.

PRESERVATION SERVICES - HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION (HCF) IS ONE OF THE NATION'S OLDEST AND MOST RESPECTED HISTORIC PRESERVATION ORGANIZATIONS. FOUNDED IN 1947 BY A GROUP OF CONCERNED LOCAL CITIZENS, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES ITS IMPORTANT ROLE IN REVITALIZING CHARLESTON AND PRESERVING THE CITY'S HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND NEIGHBORHOODS. HCF IS CURRENTLY ONE OF THE MOST INNOVATIVE AND EFFECTIVE PRESERVATION ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES.THE FOUNDATION CREATED THE NATION'S FIRST REVOLVING FUND FOR NEIGHBORHOODS, SAVING AND PROTECTING 140 HISTORIC STRUCTURES, AND STRESSING THE IMPORTANCE OF REVITALIZING ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS RATHER THAN JUST INDIVIDUAL BUILDINGS. ITS ANSONBOROUGH PROJECT IS CREDITED WITH INSPIRING COMMUNITY-BASED CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS THROUGHOUT THE NATION. THE FOUNDATION'S NEIGHBORHOOD IMPACT INITIATIVE IS AN ARM OF THE REVOLVING FUND. ESTABLISHED IN 1995, THE GOAL IS TO BE A CATALYST FOR THE PRESERVATION OF ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOODS BY CREATING COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACES AND REHABILITATING DETERIORATED PROPERTIES WITH ARCHITECTURAL MERIT, WHILE ALSO PREVENTING DISPLACEMENT OF RESIDENTS. IN 2014, HCF PROVIDED FUNDING TO ESTABLISH THE ROMNEY URBAN GARDEN, A JOINT PROJECT WITH NEW ISRAEL REFORMED EPISCOPAL CHURCH WHICH OWNED AN ABANDONED LOT IN THE NORTH CENTRAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE COMMUNITY GARDEN CONTINUES TO FLOURISH AS THE SITE OF COMMUNITY EVENTS TO INCLUDE MUSICAL PERFORMANCES, POETRY READINGS AND PIZZA PARTIES, WITH PIZZA AND PIES MADE IN THE GARDEN'S COB OVEN. THE COMMUNITY GATHERING SPACE CONCEPT HAS BEEN SO SUCCESSFUL THAT HCF EXPANDED THE PROGRAM TO INCLUDE WORK WITH LOCAL PARTNERS TO ESTABLISH A BOOK NOOK READING AND POLLINATOR GARDEN IN THE SAME NEIGHBORHOOD.HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION ALSO IS KNOWN AS AN INNOVATOR IN HISTORIC EASEMENT AND COVENANT PROGRAMS. THE FOUNDATION HOLDS 454 EASEMENT AND COVENANT PROPERTIES, WHICH PROTECT HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY AND OUTLYING AREAS AS WELL AS 2082 ACRES OF OPEN LAND OF HISTORIC SIGNIFICANCE. PROPERTIES PROTECTED BY EASEMENTS AND COVENANTS HELD BY HCF ARE AS DIVERSE AS THE MAGNIFICENT WILLIAM GIBBES HOUSE IN CHARLESTON TO AULDBRASS NEAR BEAUFORT, SC, THE ONLY PLANTATION DESIGNED BY FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT. THROUGH ITS DEDICATED EASEMENTS MANAGER, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES TECHNICAL OUTREACH TO ALL OF OUR EASEMENT AND COVENANT PROPERTY OWNERS, HELPING WITH APPROPRIATE CONSERVATION TECHNIQUES FOR ISSUES RANGING FROM BRICK RE-POINTING TO WINDOW RESTORATION TO THE CLEANING OF ARCHITECTURAL STONE.HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION HAS AN ACTIVE ADVOCACY ARM THAT CONTINUALLY MONITORS AND ADDRESSES PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT ISSUES ACROSS THE CITY OF CHARLESTON AND PROTECTS THE PUBLIC PROCESS. THE PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT ATTENDS CITY COUNCIL, ZONING AND DESIGN REVIEW HEARINGS TO PROVIDE HCF'S POSITION ON PROJECTS, AND MEETS REGULARLY WITH PROPERTY OWNERS, DEVELOPERS AND ARCHITECTS TO REVIEW THEIR PROPOSED PROJECTS AND PROVIDE INPUT. ADDITIONALLY, HCF ACTIVELY LOBBIES ON CAPITOL HILL, WITH THE PROTECTION OF HISTORIC TAX CREDITS IDENTIFIED AS A MAJOR LEGISLATIVE PRIORITY. SPECIAL PROJECTS INCLUDE RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES, NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATIONS AND ASSISTING THE CITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRESERVATION POLICIES. IN 2019, THE FOUNDATION ASSISTED IN CRAFTING A NOMINATION FOR THE HISTORIC MOSQUITO BEACH COMMUNITY, ONE OF THE MOST INTACT AFRICAN AMERICAN "BEACHES" DESIGNATED AS SUCH DURING THE SEGREGATION ERA, RESULTING IN A LISTING TO THE NATIONAL REGISTER. MOSQUITO BEACH IS LOCATED IN THE SOL LEGARE COMMUNITY, A CLOSE-KNIT COMMUNITY FOUNDED BY FORMER SLAVES. IT IS A SIGNIFICANT AND WELL-PRESERVED CULTURAL, RECREATIONAL AND COMMERCIAL EPICENTER SERVING THE BLACK COMMUNITY DURING SEGREGATION. A LARGE GRANT SECURED IN 2019 FROM THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE THROUGH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL RIGHTS PROGRAM TO THE FOUNDATION HAS ENSURED THE REHABILITATION OF THE HISTORIC PINE TREE HOTEL, WHICH SERVED AS LODGING FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS WHO TRAVELED GREAT DISTANCES TO GATHER SOCIALLY AT MOSQUITO BEACH. IN 2019, HCF WAS THE LEAD PARTNER WITH THE CITY OF CHARLESTON IN SPEARHEADING THE DUTCH DIALOGUES CHARLESTON PROCESS, TO ADDRESS FLOODING AND SEA LEVEL RISE IN CHARLESTON, WHICH POSES ONE OF THE MOST EXISTENTIAL THREATS TO THE PENINSULA. THE DUTCH DIALOGUES TEAM INCLUDED LEADING INTERNATIONAL EXPERTS WHO HELD A SERIES OF PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND MEETINGS WITH THE COMMUNITY AND LOCAL EXPERTS TO IDENTIFY PROGRESSIVE SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS SEA-LEVEL RISE AND TIDAL AND STORM-RELATED FLOODING CONCERNS. THIS PROJECT HAS CHANGED THE DISCOURSE ABOUT HOW TO ADDRESS FLOODING AND DEVELOPMENT AND THE RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THE DUTCH DIALOGUES TEAM WILL SERVE AS A MAJOR GUIDING DOCUMENT IN ALL CITY PLANNING MOVING FORWARD. WITH HOTEL PROLIFERATION THREATENING THE CHARLESTON AREA, HCF HAS BEEN LEADING EFFORTS TO PROTECT MIXED-USE DEVELOPMENT ON THE PENINSULA, WHICH IS PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TO A MONOCULTURE OF USE. IN 2019, HCF FILED A LAWSUIT AGAINST THE CITY'S BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS AND A HOTEL DEVELOPER OVER BZA'S DECISION TO APPROVE A 252-ROOM HOTEL. THE LOCATION IS IN AN AREA OF THE CITY THAT ALREADY HAS AN OVERCONCENTRATION OF HOTELS. THE LAWSUIT WAS ULTIMATELY NEGOTIATED WITH THE DEVELOPER AGREEING TO COMPLY WITH THE SPIRIT OF A HOTEL ORDINANCE PROTECTING A MIX OF USES AT THE PROPERTY AND WITH A SIGNIFICANT FEE STRUCTURE TO GENERATE FUNDS FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING.WITH ACCELERATED COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHARLESTON, THE POPULATION INCREASE AND RISING HOUSING COSTS, THE FOUNDATION HAS PRIORITIZED HOUSING AFFORDABILITY AS A SIGNIFICANT ADVOCACY ISSUE THAT IS ADVERSELY AFFECTING RESIDENTIAL QUALITY OF LIFE. HCF'S WORK WITH THE PALMETTO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, AN INITIATIVE STARTED IN 2018 BY HCF WITH THE CITY OF CHARLESTON, CONTINUES. FUNDS FROM THE SETTLEMENT OF THE PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED LAWSUIT, ALONG WITH AN ADDITIONAL $3 MILLION RESULTING FROM THE PAYBACK OF A FEDERAL LOAN BY THE DEVELOPERS OF CHARLESTON PLACE HOTEL, HAVE ALLOWED PCLT TO BEGIN TO ACQUIRE PROPERTIES TO ENSURE THE AFFORDABILITY IS HELP IN PERPETUITY. IN 2019, THE FIRST HOUSE IN THE PCLT PORTFOLIO WAS ACQUIRED IN THE HISTORIC MARYVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD OF CHARLESTON. ADDITIONAL PROPERTIES ARE IN VARIOUS NEGOTIATION STAGES. ANOTHER ISSUE AFFECTING RESIDENTIAL QUALITY OF LIFE IS TOURISM. WITH CHARLESTON CONSISTENTLY RANKED AS AMERICA'S TOP TRAVEL DESTINATION, MILLIONS OF RESIDENTS ARE VISITING CREATING ISSUE WITH MOBILITY AND ACCESS. IN OCTOBER, THE FOUNDATION SPONSORED A SUSTAINABLE TOURISM FORUM FEATURING THE CREATOR OF THE I AMSTERDAM SUSTAINABLE TOURISM CAMPAIGN AND LOCAL LEADERS IN THE HOSPITALITY INDUSTRY. THE FOUNDATION IS NOW WORKING WITH THE CHARLESTON AREA CONVENTION AND VISITORS BUREAU ON SUSTAINABLE TOURISM INITIATIVES FOR CHARLESTON.THE FOUNDATION APPLIED ITS RESOURCES TOWARDS VIGOROUSLY DEFENDING THE PUBLIC PROCESS, HELPING TO DEFEAT A PROPOSED ORDINANCE THAT WOULD HAVE UNNECESSARILY POLITICIZED THE PLANNING PROCESS. ADDITIONALLY, THE FOUNDATION REPRESENTED CHARLESTON WHEN ARGUMENTS WERE MADE BEFORE THE SC SUPREME COURT REGARDING THE "LEGAL STANDING" OF PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS IN AN APPEAL OF THE NEW UNION PIER CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL. ONE OF THE MANY WAYS HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION SEEKS TO PROTECT CHARLESTON'S ARCHITECTURAL, HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL INTEGRITY IS THROUGH SCHOLARLY RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION. THE MARGARETTA CHILDS ARCHIVES INCLUDE HISTORIC BUILDING DOCUMENTATION, PHOTOS, DRAWINGS, AND OTHER MATERIALS THAT ARE USEFUL TO THOSE RESEARCHING HISTORIC CHARLESTON. THE ONLINE CATALOGUE CONTAINS RECORDS FOR 2,307 BOOKS IN THE FOUNDATION'S LIBRARY AND 7,259 ITEMS FROM THE ARCHIVES, MAKING THE FOUNDATION'S ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE. HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION ALSO IS AN ADVOCATE FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND HAS SPONSORED INVESTIGATIONS AT ITS OWN MUSEUM HOUSES AS WELL AS PLANTATIONS AND OTHER HISTORIC SITES IN AND AROUND CHARLESTON. ARCHAEOLOGICAL DIGS HELP TO ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT CHARLESTON'S HISTORY THAT THE DOCUMENTARY RECORDS ALONE CANNOT PROVIDE. IN 2019, HCF WORKED WITH A HOTEL DEVELOPER WHO VOLUNTARILY AGREED TO CONDUCT AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATION AT THE SITE (THE CITY OF CHARLESTON DOES NOT HAVE AN ARCHAEOLOGY ORDINANCE) TO UNCOVER A SECTION OF THE CHARLES TOWNE FORTIFICATION.

PUBLIC PROGRAMS - AS PART OF HCF'S MISSION TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE BENEFITS OF HISTORIC PRESERVATION, THE FOUNDATION PROVIDES TWO SPRING EVENTS WHICH ALLOW VISITORS TO LEARN ABOUT AND VISIT THE CITY'S FINEST HISTORIC PRIVATE HOUSES AND GARDENS, AS WELL AS STUDY AND/OR PURCHASE SOME OF THE NATION'S MOST IMPRESSIVE ANTIQUES. THE CHARLESTON ANTIQUES SHOW TAKES PLACE DURING THE FIRST WEEKEND OF THE FOUNDATION'S LONG RENOWNED ANNUAL SPRING FESTIVAL OF HOUSES AND GARDENS, WHICH RUNS MID-MARCH TO MID-APRIL. THE SPRING FESTIVAL IS AN AWARD-WINNING SERIES OF HERITAGE TOURS AND EDUCATIONAL SESSIONS, WHICH IN 2019 PROVIDED A RARE OPPORTUNITY FOR 15,326 VISITORS TO ENJOY BEHIND-THE-SCENES PEEKS AT SOME OF THE MOST MAGNIFICENT PRIVATE INTERIORS AND GARDENS IN ORDER TO LEARN MORE ABOUT CHARLESTON'S OLD AND HISTORIC DISTRICT, AN AREA CELEBRATED FOR ITS HISTORY AND ARCHITECTURE DATING FROM THE 18TH CENTURY. THE FESTIVAL COORDINATES THE EFFORTS OF NEARLY 150 HOMEOWNERS WHO HAVE GRANTED HCF THE PRIVILEGE OF SHARING THEIR PROPERTIES, AND MORE THAN 650 COMMUNITY VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THESE TOURS POSSIBLE. PROCEEDS FROM THE FESTIVAL SUPPORT PRESERVATION PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT CHARLESTON AND ITS HISTORIC ENVIRONS.ESTABLISHED IN 2004, THE CHARLESTON ANTIQUES SHOW HAS QUICKLY BECOME A PREMIER DESTINATION FOR SEASONED COLLECTORS AS WELL AS THOSE WHO ENJOY SEEING AND LEARNING ABOUT THE DECORATIVE ARTS. AROUND 30 NATIONALLY RENOWNED DEALERS FEATURE A DIVERSE RANGE OF ANTIQUES FROM THE 17TH TO MID-CENTURY MODERN INCLUDING AMERICAN, ASIAN AND EUROPEAN FURNITURE, SILVER AND PORCELAIN, TEXTILES, CERAMICS, VINTAGE JEWELRY AND CLOTHING AND GARDEN FURNITURE. MORE THAN 2,389 VISITORS IN 2019 ENJOYED LEARNING ABOUT ANTIQUES AND COLLECTING THROUGH EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS AND EXCLUSIVE BEHIND-THE-SCENE-TOURS WITH EXPERTS. THE FOUNDATION OFFERS A LECTURE SERIES CALLED HISTORY MATTERS, WHICH OFFERS DONORS THE CHANCE TO ENGAGE REGULARLY IN UNIQUE EDUCATIONAL EVENTS. IN 2019 LECTURE TOPICS INCLUDED A HISTORY OF THE JEWISH POPULATION IN CHARLESTON; HOW TO CONDUCT AN ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEW AND THE IMPORTANCE OF CAPTURING ORAL HISTORIES; A LECTURE OF GENERAL NATHANAEL GREENE IN SOUTH CAROLINA; AND A DISCUSSION OF CHARLESTON'S "LOST" HISTORY. THE ART AND ARCHITECTURE LECTURE SERIES 2019 INCLUDED A DAY ON THE ASHLEY RIVER, AND TALKS ON THE DOCUMENTATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS WHOSE DIVERSE MUSICAL TRADITIONS FORMED THE ROOTS OF THE BLUES; EDGEFIELD POTTERY WITH A FIELD TRIP TO EXAMINE EXTANT AND ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXAMPLES OF THE ART FORM; THE UNTOLD STORY OF JOHN "QUASH" WILLIAMS WHO WAS A SKILLED AFRICAN AMERICAN CRAFTSMAN WHO WORKED ON CHARLESTON'S HISTORIC PINCKNEY MANSION; AND A HISTORY OF JEWELRY IN AMERICA. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO GROW ITS CURRICULUM-BASED FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES, TARGETING 2 8TH GRADES IN UNDERPERFORMING SCHOOLS. IN 2019, 2,893 SCHOOL CHILDREN VISITED THE HOUSE MUSEUMS ON FIELD TRIPS.

MUSEUMS - HCF FULFILLS ITS EDUCATIONAL MISSION THROUGH THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS COLLECTIONS AND TWO OUTSTANDING MUSEUM HOUSES: THE NATHANIEL RUSSELL HOUSE, C. 1808, AT 51 MEETING STREET, ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST SIGNIFICANT NEOCLASSICAL FEDERAL TOWNHOUSES; AND THE AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE, C. 1820, AT 48 ELIZABETH STREET, WHERE VISITORS CAN STEP BACK IN TIME TO EXPERIENCE LIFE IN ANTEBELLUM CHARLESTON. MORE THAN 85,700 VISITORS TOURED THE MUSEUM PROPERTIES IN 2019.HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION PURCHASED THE NATHANIEL RUSSELL HOUSE, C. 1808, A NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK, IN 1955. VISITORS CONTINUE TO ADMIRE THE GRAND FEDERAL-STYLE TOWNHOUSE OF PROMINENT MERCHANT, NATHANIEL RUSSELL. COMPLETED IN 1808 WHEN RUSSELL WAS 70 YEARS OLD, THE LAVISHLY ORNAMENTED HOUSE SERVES AS A TESTAMENT TO THE GREAT WEALTH HE ACCUMULATED OVER HIS DISTINGUISHED LIFETIME. THEN AS NOW, THE RUSSELL HOUSE IS CONSIDERED TO BE AMONG THE FINEST DWELLINGS IN CHARLESTON. THE HOUSE ALSO STANDS IN CONTRAST TO OTHER CONTEMPORARY CHARLESTON RESIDENCES WITH A UNIQUE GEOMETRIC FLOOR PLAN AND FINE ARCHITECTURAL DETAILING. THE INTERIOR BOASTS A SPACIOUS RECEPTION ROOM WITH INTRICATE GLAZED DOORS, AN ELEGANT FREE-FLYING STAIRCASE, AND ELABORATE TROMPE-L'OEIL DECORATION FROM THE FIRST TO THE THIRD FLOORS. PAINSTAKINGLY RESTORED TO ITS 1808 APPEARANCE, THE RUSSELL HOUSE ALSO SERVES AS THE IDEAL EXHIBITION SPACE FOR HCF'S OUTSTANDING COLLECTION OF FINE AND DECORATIVE ARTS. IN A COMMITMENT TO TELL THE STORIES OF EVERYONE WHO LIVED AND LABORED ON THE PROPERTIES OF THE FOUNDATION'S TWO HOUSE MUSEUMS, HCF WORKED WITH MUSEUM HACK AND CUSEUM TO DEVELOP A NEW WEB-BASED AUDIO GUIDE, WHICH ALSO IS AVAILABLE AS A FREE APP. THE NEW HOUSE MUSEUM GUIDES INTERPRET THE HISTORIES OF THE HOUSES, ARCHITECTURE AND MUSEUM OBJECTS AND DISCUSS THE LIVES AND HISTORIES OF THE WHITE FAMILIES WHO OWNED THE PROPERTIES AS WELL AS THOSE ENSLAVED AT THE PROPERTIES. THE AUDIO GUIDE IS SUPPLEMENTED BY COMMENTARY FROM LOCAL EXPERTS RANGING FROM A DISCUSSION OF THE HARSH REALITIES OF SLAVE LIFE TO ENTERTAINING IN ANTE-BELLUM DAYS TO COLONIAL PAINT TECHNIQUES. THE APP ALSO FEATURES A WALKING GUIDE OF CHARLESTON WITH OVER 300 POINTS OF INTEREST AND 30 AUDIO STOPS. OFTEN MARGINALIZED HISTORY, SUCH AS THE IMPORTANT ROLE THE GIMKE SISTERS PLAYED IN THE ABOLITIONIST MOVEMENT AND THE ROLE OF THE FREEDMAN'S COTTAGE IN POST-CIVIL WAR CHARLESTON ARE INCLUDED, ALONG WITH INTERPRETATION OF THE MORE WELL-KNOWN HISTORIC AREA SITES.THE WORK ON THE NATHANIEL RUSSELL KITCHEN HOUSE CONTINUED WITH THE REMOVAL OF ADDITIONAL SECTIONS OF 20TH CENTURY FABRIC, WHICH WAS COVERING THE ORIGINAL 1808 WALLS. AS SECTIONS OF SHEETROCK WERE REMOVED, SMALL TREASURE TROVES OF ARTIFACTS WERE EXAMINED, AND THUS FAR HUNDREDS OF ARTIFACTS RANGING FROM DINING UTENSILS TO MATTRESS TICKING TO FRAGMENTS OF NEWSPAPER AND A READING PRIMER HAVE BEEN UNCOVERED. AT THIS POINT, FOUNDATION STAFF KNOW MORE ABOUT THE DAILY LIVES OF THE ENSLAVED THAN THEY DO ABOUT THE WHITE FAMILIES OWNING THE RUSSELL HOUSE. A SUCCESSFUL FUNDRAISER TO UNDERWRITE THE COST OF ALL THE 20TH CENTURY MATERIAL WILL LEAD TO FURTHER FORENSIC INVESTIGATION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE KITCHEN HOUSE IN SUBSEQUENT YEARS.ALSO OPERATED AS A MUSEUM HOUSE IS THE AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE, C. 1820, BUILT BY JOHN ROBINSON AND GREATLY EXPANDED BY GOVERNOR AND MRS. WILLIAM AIKEN JR. IN THE 1830S. THE PROPERTY, WHICH REMAINED IN THE FAMILY UNTIL 1975, HAS SURVIVED AS A UNIQUE TIME CAPSULE, VIRTUALLY UNALTERED SINCE 1858. ORIGINAL DEPENDENCIES INCLUDE THE KITCHEN, SLAVES' QUARTERS, STABLE, COACH HOUSE AND PRIVIES. TOGETHER WITH THE MAIN HOUSE THESE STRUCTURES COMBINE TO FORM A RARE AND UNIQUE 19TH CENTURY URBAN COMPLEX. THE BUILDINGS AND THE ARTIFACTS WITHIN THEM POIGNANTLY ILLUSTRATE THE CONNECTIONS AMONG ALL MEMBERS OF THE HOUSEHOLD, THOSE WHO LIVED IN THE MAIN HOUSE AS WELL AS THOSE WHO LIVED AND WORKED AS ENSLAVED AFRICAN-AMERICANS ON THE PROPERTY. HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION HAS ADOPTED A UNIQUE APPROACH TO ITS STEWARDSHIP OF THE HOUSE. THANKS IN GREAT PART TO A PRESTIGIOUS SAVE AMERICA'S TREASURES GRANT, HCF HAS RESTORED AND THUS PROTECTED THE BUILDING'S EXTERIOR TO ITS 1858-1860 APPEARANCE. THE PRESERVATION PLAN FOR THE ORIGINAL HISTORIC INTERIOR IS STABILIZATION AND CONSERVATION. THIS RARE APPROACH ENABLES THE INTERPRETATION OF THE HOUSE'S CONTINUED HABITATION AND ITS CHANGES OVER TIME AS NEW TECHNOLOGIES, SUCH AS GAS LIGHTING AND ELECTRICITY WERE ADOPTED. THE PERIOD FINISHES, SUCH AS ORIGINAL 19TH CENTURY WALLPAPERS, ALONE MAKE THE AIKEN-RHETT SITE ONE OF THE NATION'S MOST IMPORTANT HOUSE MUSEUMS, AND THE INTACT DECORATIVE LAYERS HELP US BETTER UNDERSTAND NINETEENTH-CENTURY CONCEPTIONS OF REFINEMENT, PATTERNS OF CONSUMPTION AND DECORATIVE PREFERENCES IN THE CAROLINA LOWCOUNTRY.UNLIKE THE MAJORITY OF OTHER HISTORIC HOUSE MUSEUMS, ALL OBJECTS IN THE HOUSE ARE ORIGINAL TO THE HOUSE. MANY OF THE OBJECTS CURRENTLY ON DISPLAY IN THE AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE WERE PURCHASED BY GOV. AIKEN AND HIS WIFE, HARRIET LOWNDES AIKEN. DURING THEIR RESIDENCY, THE HOUSE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL DECORATIVE PERIODS AS THE COUPLE KEPT CURRENT WITH THE LATEST FASHIONS. WHILE THE MAJORITY OF THE FURNISHINGS IN THE HOUSE WERE IN THE PLAIN GRECIAN STYLE, GOTHIC-INSPIRED AND ROCOCO REVIVAL OBJECTS WERE ACQUIRED AND ADDED TO THEIR COLLECTION OVER TIME. LINKING THE INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR, IT IS NO COINCIDENCE THAT THESE ITEMS CLOSELY RELATE TO THE GOTHIC ELEMENTS FOUND IN THE OUTBUILDINGS.

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