“P” is for Preservation Society of Charleston. Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston is the oldest community-based historic preservation organization in the United States. Originally called the Society for the Preservation of Old Dwellings, it was founded by Susan Pringle Frost and other individuals who were concerned about the future of the Joseph Manigault House. In 1931 the Society was instrumental in persuading the Charleston City Council to pass the nation's first historic district zoning law, which established a board of architectural review and designated a 138 acre “Old and Historic District.” The district has expanded to include more than 4,800 historic structures. In 1957 the organization changed its name to the Preservation Society of Charleston, reflecting its expanded mission to protect not only dwellings but all sites and structures of historic significance or aesthetic value.
P” is for Preservation Society of Charleston
