Historic Charleston Foundation

IN PURSUIT OF ITS MISSION OF ADVOCACY, PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION, HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION HAS ACTIVELY ENGAGED THE COMMUNITY AND STAKEHOLDERS IN ISSUES OF LIVABILITY, SUSTAINABILITY, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, AND PROTECTION OF HISTORIC SETTLEMENT COMMUNITIES. THESE HAVE INCLUDED PHILIPS COMMUNITY AND HIGHWAY 41 CORRIDOR PROTECTION, THE LAUNCH OF THE COMMON CAUSE LOAN FUND AND THE NEXT PHASE OF THE ARMY CORP 3X3 SEAWALL, ET AL.

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 467 EASEMENT AND COVENANTS, WHICH PROTECT HISTORIC BUILDINGS IN THE CITY AND OUTLYING AREAS AS WELL AS 2083 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 ACTIVELY ADVOCATES AND CONTINUALLY MONITORS ISSUES OF PRESERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT ACROSS THE CITY OF CHARLESTON AND PROTECTS THE PUBLIC PROCESS. THE PRESERVATION DEPARTMENT MAKES SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS AND PROVIDES INPUT AT 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. SPECIAL PROJECTS INCLUDE RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES, NATIONAL REGISTER NOMINATIONS AND ASSISTING THE CITY WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF NEW PRESERVATION POLICIES. AS PART OF OUR OUTREACH TO PROTECT HISTORIC AFRICAN AMERICAN RESOURCES IN THE COMMUNITY, THE FOUNDATION TOOK A STAND TO PROTECT PROPERTY RIGHTS AND THE GULLAH GEECHEE CULTURE BY SUPPORTING AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE COUNTY'S PLAN TO WIDEN HIGHWAY 41 THROUGH THE HISTORIC PHILLIPS COMMUNITY, A 150 YEAR OLD AFRICAN AMERICAN SETTLEMENT COMMUNITY. WITH SUPPORT FROM THE FOUNDATION AND OTHER PARTNERS, IN 2021, THE PHILLIPS COMMUNITY WAS DESIGNATED A HISTORIC AREA ON THE NATIONAL HISTORIC REGISTER TO PROTECT THE AREA FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED TO WORK WITH LOCAL EDUCATORS TO INCORPORATE THE TANGLED ROOTS DOCUMENTARY FILMS INTO THE CURRICULUMS OF AREA SCHOOLS. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM EDUCATORS, THE FOUNDATION COMMISSIONED A PREQUEL TO THE FILM TO PRESENT A MORE COMPLETE BACKSTORY ABOUT THE GENERAL HISTORY OF JOHNS ISLAND LEADING UP TO THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. TANGLED ROOTS PROVIDES POWERFUL STORIES FROM CHARLESTON'S JOHN ISLAND COMMUNITY WHICH ARE INTIMATE, AND SOMETIMES PAINFUL, REFLECTIONS OF RURAL ECONOMIES AND SOCIAL INJUSTICE ON JOHNS ISLAND. IN 2021, THE FOUNDATION CONTINUED COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT IN THE ARMY CORP'S 3 X 3 STUDY FOR PERIMETER PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR THE PENINSULA. HCF HOSTED VIRTUAL DISCUSSIONS AND FORUMS TO DETAIL REPORTS ON THE NEXT PHASE OF THE STUDY FINDINGS AND NEXT STEPS IN FEASIBILITY AND DESIGN. HCF CONTINUES TO COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH CITY OF CHARLESTON AND ARMY CORPS TO PROVIDE THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF INVOLVEMENT AND EXPERTISE IN SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS SEA-LEVEL RISE AND TIDAL- AND STORM-RELATED FLOODING CONCERNS. 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. IN 2021, A VERNACULAR 1940S HOUSE IN THE HISTORIC MARYVILLE NEIGHBORHOOD, DONATED TO THE PALMETTO COMMUNITY LAND TRUST, USING HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION GRANT FUNDING FROM THE 1772 FOUNDATION, WAS FORMALLY HANDED OVER TO ITS NEW OWNER RESIDENTS AND IS NOW PART OF THE TRUST'S PERMANENT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PORTFOLIO. THE FOUNDATION FULLY APPLIED ITS RESOURCES TOWARDS DEFENDING THE PUBLIC PROCESS IN FILING A MOTION TO JOIN MEDIATION BETWEEN A DEVELOPER AND THE CITY OF CHARLESTON. HCF HAS CONSISTENTLY ADVOCATED TO THE BAR FOR DENIAL OF THIS PROJECT, CITING SIGNIFICANT, SPECIFIC CONCERNS WITH HEIGHT, SCALE, MASS AND ARCHITECTURAL DIRECTION. THE PROPOSAL HAS ALSO BEEN MET WITH OUTSPOKEN OPPOSITION FROM THE COMMUNITY-AT-LARGE AND HCF REMAINS A STAUNCH ADVOCATE FOR COMMON-SENSE DEVELOPMENT.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 2,329 BOOKS IN THE FOUNDATION'S LIBRARY AND 7,202 ITEMS FROM THE ARCHIVES, MAKING THE FOUNDATION'S ARCHIVES AND LIBRARY EVEN MORE ACCESSIBLE.

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. IN 2021, WITH ONGOING CONCERNS SURROUNDING COVID, THE FOUNDATION'S LONG RENOWNED ANNUAL SPRING FESTIVAL OF HOUSES AND GARDENS WAS MODIFIED BEGINNING IN MID-MARCH WITH VIRTUAL LUNCHEON LECTURES OUTDOOR HISTORY WALKS AND TRANSITIONING TO ON-SITE LUNCHEON LECTURES BEGINNING IN APRIL AND THROUGHOUT THE SUMMER. OUTDOOR TOURS OF PIAZZA AND GARDENS WERE HELD IN MAY AND MONTHLY GULLAH SPIRITUALS WERE AVAILABLE THROUGH NOVEMBER.DUE TO THE REDUCED TOURS AND EXPANDED TIME FRAME OF EVENTS, ONLY 3,576 VISITORS WERE ABLE TO ENJOY THE TOURS OF HISTORIC PROPERTIES, LUNCHEON LECTURES AND SPECIAL EVENTS.IN 2021, THE FOUNDATION PIVOTED AWAY FROM THE CHARLESTON ANTIQUES SHOW, TYPICALLY HELD IN THE SPRING TO A LATE FALL EVENT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHERN LIVING AND THE CHARLESTON VISITORS CENTER TO ENTICE VISITORS BACK TO CHARLESTON. THE ILLUMINATION CHARLESTON EVENT WAS A WEEKEND HIGHLIGHTING OUR HISTORIC AIKEN-RHETT MUSEUM WITH VIGNETTES DESIGNED BY WELL-KNOWN DESIGNERS FROM THE SOUTH-EAST AND PROVIDING AN INTERESTING JUXTAPOSITION BETWEEN DCOR AND THE PRESERVATION AS FOUND ROOMS IN THE MUSEUM. ALSO HIGHLIGHTING THE WEEKEND WERE DESIGN IN MIND TALKS FEATURING WELL-RESPECTED AND RECOGNIZED DESIGNERS, HIGHLIGHTING THE PRESERVATION ETHOS IN CONTEMPORARY DESIGN, INCLUDING REPURPOSE AND REUSE OF HISTORICALLY SIGNIFICANT BUILDINGS AND MATERIALS. OVER 3,300 PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY ENJOYED THE FESTIVITIES AND WERE ABLE TO SEE THE AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE IN A WHOLE NEW LIGHT. TAKING A SCIENTIFIC, HISTORIC, AND ARTISTIC LOOK AT LOCAL FOODWAYS, THE 2022/2023 ART AND ARCHITECTURE LECTURE SERIES RETURNED TO ITS ORIGINAL FORMAT FEATURING THREE SPEAKERS AND AN EXCURSION. UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA ARCHAEOLOGIST DR. KATHERINE MOORE SPOKE IN NOVEMBER ON HER CONTINUED ANALYTICAL ANALYSIS OF THE PLANT AND ANIMAL MATERIALS FOUND AT THE NATHANIEL RUSSELL KITCHEN HOUSE. IN DECEMBER, CHEF, HISTORIAN, AND AUTHOR MICHAEL TWITTY, SPOKE ON HIS BOOK THE COOKING GENE. IN JANUARY, THE GROUP WILL BE TRAVELLING TO LAVINGTON FARMS TO VISIT JIMMY HAGOOD, FOUNDER OF CHARLESTON'S FOOD FOR THE SOUTHERN SOUL. THE SERIES WILL CULMINATE WITH ARTIST JONATHAN GREEN DISCUSSING HIS INCORPORATION OF FOODWAYS WITHIN VARIOUS ASPECTS OF ART. THE FOUNDATION CONTINUES TO EMPHASIZE ITS CURRICULUM-BASED FIELD TRIP OPPORTUNITIES. UNFORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE LOGISTICAL AND BUDGETARY ISSUES CAUSED BY THE ONGOING PANDEMIC, STUDENT VISITATION FROM LOCAL AND REGIONAL SCHOOLS WAS SEVERELY OBSTRUCTED. WE ARE FOCUSING ON REIMAGINING OUR EDUCATIONAL CURRICULUM AND HAVE FIELD TRIPS ALREADY SCHEDULED FOR EARLY 2022.HCF LAID THE GROUNDWORK FOR A NEW DIGITAL PRESERVATION AND EDUCATION PROJECT TITLED "HARBORSIDE HISTORY" THIS VIDEO SERIES WILL BE ACCOMPANIED EACH MONTH BY A BLOG, AND BOTH WILL BE FEATURED ON HCF'S WEBSITE, ITS YOUTUBE, CHANNEL, AND MOST MAJOR SOCIAL MEDIA OUTLETS. THE START OF THIS DIGITAL INITIATIVE WILL LAUNCH IN JANUARY 2022 AND COINCIDE WITH HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION'S 75TH ANNIVERSARY.

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. IN 2021 WE HAD 71,349 VISITORS TOURING THE MUSEUM PROPERTIES WHICH OPENED THE YEAR ON A REDUCED SCHEDULE BUT BEGAN FULL OPERATIONS APRIL 1.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 IN 2021 WITH AN EXPLORATION BELOW THE SURFACE OF THE FLOOR, USING GROUND PENETRATING RADAR AND THEN AN EXCAVATION, UNCOVERING SEVERAL THOUSAND ARTIFACTS PERTAINING TO KITCHEN AND LAUNDRY ACTIVITIES. ALSO DISCOVERED WAS A DENSE CONCENTRATION OF BUTCHERED BEEF BONES AND A RARE INTACT FIRE INSURANCE MARKER, ISSUED BY THE IMPERIAL INSURANCE COMPANY IN LONDON, C. 1820. RELATED KITCHEN HOUSE WORK INCLUDED COMPLETED ARCHITECTURAL SURVEYS, MEASURED DRAWINGS AND PHOTOGRAPHY OF 12 PENINSULA URBAN OUTBUILDINGS TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RUSSELL HOUSE KITCHEN HOUSE IN A BROADER CONTEXT. THE FINAL REPORT INCLUDES RESEARCH AND DOCUMENTATION OF A UNIQUE ASPECT OF CHARLESTON'S HISTORIC LANDSCAPE SERVICE BUILDINGS, LAUNDRIES, KITCHENS AND ENSLAVED PEOPLE'S LIVING QUARTERS WHICH HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN LITTLE STUDIED. 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. A GRANT FROM THE SOUTH CAROLINA HISTORIC PRESERVATION OFFICE ALLOWED HCF TO EXECUTE A COMPLETE DIGITAL LASER SCAN OF THE AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE. THE SCANNER UTILIZED IN THIS WORK COLLECT MILLIONS OF MEASUREMENTS (EACH ACCURATE TO WITH THREE MILLIMETERS) OVER A THREE DAY PERIOD. THIS DATA WAS PUT INTO A SOFTWARE PROGRAM THAT ASSEMBLED A COMPREHENSIVE DIGITAL MODEL OF THE AIKEN-RHETT HOUSE, FROM WHICH ENGINEERING AND CONSTRUCTION EXPERTS WILL BE ABLE TO CONDUCT A CONDITIONS ANALYSIS.

RETAIL/LICENSED PRODUCTS - HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION BEGAN ITS LICENSED PRODUCTS PROGRAM IN 1972 AS AN INNOVATIVE WAY TO EXTEND THE FOUNDATION'S RESTORATION AND PRESERVATION EFFORTS BEYOND HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIORS TO CHARLESTON'S MATERIAL CULTURE AS WELL. THE PROGRAM STRIVES TO KEEP CHARLESTON DESIGNS ALIVE AND MAKE THOSE DESIGNS AVAILABLE TO A BROAD AUDIENCE. ITEMS SELECTED FOR INCLUSION ARE THOSE WHOSE ORIGINS ARE STEEPED IN CHARLESTON'S HISTORY, CULTURE, DECORATIVE ARTS AND ARCHITECTURE.THE LICENSED PRODUCTS OF HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION RANGE FROM FURNITURE, CHINA, MIRRORS, JEWELRY, PORCELAIN, DECORATIVE ACCESSORIES AND HISTORIC PAINT COLORS. MANY OF THE ORIGINAL OBJECTS, WHICH ARE REPRODUCED OR ARE USED FOR INSPIRATION, MAY BE SEEN IN THE HISTORIC MUSEUM HOUSE COLLECTIONS OF HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION AND OTHER MUSEUM COLLECTIONS IN CHARLESTON.THE SHOPS OF HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION SHOWCASES THE LICENSED PRODUCTS OF THE FOUNDATION AS WELL AS AN EXTENSIVE SELECTION OF BOOKS ON CHARLESTON HISTORY, ARCHITECTURE, GARDENS AND CULTURE. WITHIN THE SHOPS OF HISTORIC CHARLESTON FOUNDATION IS THE FRANCES R. EDMUNDS BOOKSTORE, PROVIDING THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE SELECTION OF BOOKS ON CHARLESTON AND LOWCOUNTRY HISTORY IN THE CITY. IN ADDITION, THE SHOPS INCLUDE A WIDE RANGE OF DECORATIVE ARTS AND GIFT ITEMS, INCLUDING CHINA, JEWELRY, FORMAL-, CASUAL- AND GARDEN FURNITURE; LAMPS; MIRRORS AND A PALETTE OF HISTORICAL PAINT COLORS INSPIRED BY RESIDENCES IN CHARLESTON'S OLD & HISTORIC DISTRICT, AS WELL AS THE RURAL LOWCOUNTRY SEA ISLANDS.THE MARKET SHOP OF HISTORIC CHARLESTON, WHICH OPENED IN THE SUMMER OF 2011, IS THE ANCHOR SHOP IN THE GREAT HALL OF THE HISTORIC CHARLESTON CITY MARKET. WITH DISPLAYS THAT DEMONSTRATE THE FOUNDATION'S MISSION AND A SELECTION OF THE ITEMS FOUND IN THE MAIN RETAIL LOCATION, THE SHOP ALLOWS THE FOUNDATION TO REACH A WIDER AUDIENCE WITH THE MILLIONS OF ANNUAL VISITORS WHO GO THROUGH THE MARKET EACH YEAR.