The massive 70-acre concrete slab that comprises present-day Union Pier might, at first glance, seem like a blank slate, but it has a rich, storied past. Historical maps, newspapers, photographs, and other archival resources reveal that the wharves that existed within the Union Pier property footprint served as an anchor for Charleston’s domestic and international trade and manufacturing industries, and had an undeniable impact on Charleston’s cultural and economic development. Union Pier is far more than meets the eye. 

Charleston’s waterfront landscape has changed drastically since the city’s founding in 1670. The downtown peninsula, once home to a network of inlets, creeks, and marshland, was slowly filled to expand buildable land area along the Charleston Harbor and Cooper and Ashley Rivers.

The Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) is seeking one paid intern for summer 2021 (up to 30 hours per week for 10 weeks from Wednesday, June 2 – Friday, August 6) to work in support of the PSC’s ongoing research and mapping initiative, the Charleston Justice Journey (CJJ). Through the CJJ, the PSC seeks to […]

Since 1953, the Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) has celebrated the very best of preservation in Charleston and the Lowcountry through the Carolopolis Award program. After nearly 70 years and more than 1,400 awards given, the Carolopolis Award has become as much a part of the fabric of the city as the buildings and structures it honors. This year’s award winners […]

In the wake of the recent killings of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd, our national focus has rightly turned to the deep-seated racism that continues to plague our nation. As institutions and organizations take stock of the past and the present and begin to focus on creating a better future, our work in […]

While you’re stuck at home, we would like to share with you some of our favorite places in Charleston. Join the Preservation Society every week, as we share a virtual hard hat tour through some of Charleston’s most fascinating buildings. The three-story Neoclassical building at 88 Broad Street is believed to have been constructed as a residence between […]