Charleston Historic District
National Register Listing
Street Address:
Charleston, SC (Charleston County)
Alternate Name:
Charleston Old and Historic District
NRHP Nomination
Boundary Increase (1)
Boundary Increase (2)
Record Number:
S10817710004
Description and Narrative:
(Charleston Old and Historic District) Charleston played an important role in Colonial, Revolutionary, antebellum and Civil War America. The city was a major Colonial seaport, an active participant in the Revolution, a seat of rice and cotton culture and a leader of secession. Today much of the nation’s great social and architectural history can be visibly appreciated because of the great concentration of period buildings that still line the city streets. The historic district contains primarily residential buildings in addition to commercial, ecclesiastical, and government-related buildings. Several historic neighborhoods are included because of their concentrations of historically and architecturally valuable buildings. These neighborhoods possess the unique visual appeal of old Charleston, a picturesqueness created by the close proximity of buildings, in a wide variety of architectural styles. There is general harmony in terms of height, scale, proportion, materials, textures, colors, and characteristic forms, such as the side piazzas. All of the properties contribute to an expanded period of significance dating from 1700 to 1941. The great concentration of 18th and 19th century buildings give the district a flavor of an earlier America. The district contains many buildings of national historic and/or architectural significance. Built of brick, stucco, or clapboard, many of these properties are Charleston “single houses,” one room wide, with gable end to the street and tiered piazzas. Others are plantation style houses. Architectural styles include Georgian, Regency, Federal, Adamesque, Classical Revival, Greek Revival, Italianate, Gothic Revival, and Queen Anne, among others. The district also contains many outbuildings (stables, carriage houses, kitchen buildings), a majority of which have been altered extensively to accommodate modern needs. Listed in the National Register October 15, 1966; Designated a National Historic Landmark October 9, 1960; Boundary increases January 30, 1970; July 16, 1978; August 2, 1984; August 13, 1985; and March 27, 1986. Period of significance expansion (1900-1941) accepted October 6, 1988.
Period of Significance:
1700 – 1941;18th century;19th century
Level of Significance:
National
Area of Significance:
Architecture;Archeology: Historic - Aboriginal;Art;Education;Landscape Architecture;Literature;Politics/Government;Religion;Philosophy
National Register Determination:
National Historic Landmark
Date of Certification:
October 15 1966
Date of Boundary Increase:
January 30 1970
Date of Certification as a National Historic Landmark:
October 15 1966
