Standard Oil Company Headquarters
National Register Listing
Street Address:
1600 Meeting St., Charleston, SC (Charleston County)
NRHP Nomination Form
Record Number:
S10817710187
Description and Narrative:
The Standard Oil Company Headquarters building and its associated ancillary buildings, constructed in 1926, are significant in industry and architecture. The Standard Oil Company Headquarters building housed the office personnel of the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey that oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Charleston Refinery. The refinery was important to local industrial development. The refinery produced gasoline, kerosene, asphalt, and other petroleum products. Many of these products were directly associated with the development of infrastructure within South Carolina, and especially within the Charleston peninsula. When these buildings were constructed in 1926, the Charleston Refinery was touted to have "inspire[d] [confidence] in others contemplating the establishment of industry here" and over the next 30 years industrial growth on the neck exploded. Additionally, the architectural character and details of the Headquarters building, rather than being drawn from a standard industrial design template, recall the Charleston single house through the addition of the multi-level piazzas. The piazzas make the design of the building unique when compared with other Standard Oil Company Headquarters buildings throughout the country. Associated with this building, and located directly to the east, are two contributing ancillary buildings, believed to be a garage/vehicle repair shop, and a laboratory and asphalt sales building. Listed in the National Register February 3, 2015.
Period of Significance:
1926
Level of Significance:
Local
Area of Significance:
Architecture;Industry
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
2015-02-03
Date of Boundary Increase:
No Boundary Increase
Location:
Charleston County
