Preservation South Carolina

11/03/2026

Historic preservation is about more than protecting old buildings—it’s about preserving the places, stories, and communities that define South Carolina.

In a recent article, Brian Turner of the Preservation Society of Charleston highlights proposed changes to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and their potential impact on historic places across our state.

As discussions surrounding federal permitting reform continue, understanding the importance of Section 106 and its role in protecting our shared heritage is more important than ever.

Read more: “The quiet rewrite of America’s signature preservation law could harm SC’s historic places” by Brian Turner.

The president of the Preservation Society of Charleston writes about proposed changes to federal preservation law and how they would affect South Carolina.

10/29/2026

Celebrating the 2026 Governor's Award recipient, Moby Marks!

This month, we had the pleasure of celebrating Moby Marks and this well-deserved award with a small gathering of former students and colleagues in Charleston.

For more than four decades, Moby Marks has dedicated his life to preserving South Carolina’s historic places and inspiring the next generation of preservationists. Through his exceptional craftsmanship, passion for historic preservation, and commitment to teaching, he has left a lasting legacy on South Carolina’s architectural heritage and the many students and colleagues fortunate enough to learn from him.

Please join us in congratulating Moby Marks on this award!

10/27/2026

Join Preservation South Carolina for our Membership Meeting at The Mill at Fountain Inn—a beautifully restored 1940 flour mill now home to a brewery, food hall, and event space.

📅 Friday, November 6, 2026
🕞 3:30–4:30/5:00 PM
📍 100 Ellison Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644

Hear what we’re working on across the state, get updates on current projects, and connect with fellow preservation supporters over food and drinks in this award-winning historic space. The Mill received a 2025 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award—and its developer, Bryan Beal, is also leading the redevelopment of the historic Edgefield Hotel.

Come for the b**r and pizza. Stay for the preservation.
Please RSVP to Joanna Rothell at [email protected]

10/23/2026

Congratulations to Preservation South Carolina board member Timika Wilson on receiving the 2026 McMeekin Award from SC Humanities!

A retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, Timika has dedicated herself to preserving Black history, promoting education, and bringing communities together through the humanities.

From leading the first-ever SC Humanities Festival in Union County to her work with the Union County Community Remembrance Project, she continues to make a meaningful impact across the state.

We’re proud to celebrate Timika and her commitment to preserving history, uplifting communities, and sharing the stories that shape us all!

10/21/2026

We’re pleased to share that Taveau Church has received a $28,530 grant from the National Park Service African American Civil Rights program!

While restoration of the historic church moves forward, this grant will support research into Taveau’s African American history, the collection of oral histories, and an update to its National Register nomination. This work will help document the stories and experiences of the congregation and community alongside the preservation of the building.

We’re deeply grateful to our partners for their continued support, and especially to Brittany Lavelle Tulla for her past research and ongoing work to uncover, document, and preserve Taveau’s history. Together, restoration and research will help safeguard the building, stories, traditions, and people that have shaped this important place.

Congratulations to South Carolina’s other grant recipients: Drayton Hall Preservation Trust in Charleston, Brookland Center for Community Economic Change in West Columbia, the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor in Beaufort, and Penn Center, Inc. on St. Helena Island.

10/19/2026

Join Us for Preservation South Carolina’s Membership Meeting!

Come spend an afternoon with us at The Mill at Fountain Inn on Friday, November 6! 🏛️

📅 Friday, November 6, 2026
🕞 3:30–4:30/5:00 PM
📍 The Mill at Fountain Inn
100 Ellison Street, Fountain Inn, SC 29644

Originally constructed in 1940, the Ellison Flour Mill served as an important part of Fountain Inn’s agricultural and industrial economy for decades. Operating into the 1970s, the mill eventually sat vacant before being thoughtfully rehabilitated and reopened as The Mill at Fountain Inn in 2024. Today, its historic buildings house a brewery, food hall, and event space, demonstrating how historic preservation can breathe new life into a community. The project received a 2025 South Carolina Historic Preservation Honor Award.

The Mill’s developer, Bryan Beal of Innovative Hospitality & Development, is also leading the redevelopment of the historic Edgefield Hotel, another exciting project bringing new life to a significant South Carolina landmark.

Join us to hear what Preservation South Carolina has been working on across the state, learn about our ongoing preservation projects, and connect with fellow preservation supporters over food and beverages at this remarkable historic site!

We look forward to celebrating historic preservation with you!

Please RSVP by emailing Joanna Rothell at [email protected]

10/14/2026

Our latest e-newsletter dropped TODAY!

Check out our latest e-newsletter and see what we’ve been up to - from the Dawkins House to Taveau Church, there's plenty to catch up on!

https://zc.vg/cgVgQ?m=0

And don’t forget to check out the Edgefield Hotel Legacy Collection silent auction, running through October 31! Support the preservation of this historic landmark while having the opportunity to name a guest room.

🔗 https://www.32auctions.com/TheEdgefieldHotel

10/14/2026

Preservation SC Easement Highlight: Curtiss-Wright Hangar | Columbia, SC ✈️

Constructed in 1929 at Jim Hamilton–L.B. Owens Airport, the Curtiss-Wright Hangar is an important landmark in South Carolina’s aviation history. The airport’s 1930 opening celebration attracted an estimated 15,000–20,000 spectators, and the site later welcomed notable visitors, including aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart and President Franklin D. Roosevelt.

Today, the historic hangar has been thoughtfully rehabilitated and adapted for use as Hunter-Gatherer Brewery, preserving its distinctive architectural character while giving the building a renewed purpose.

Preservation easements play a vital role in protecting South Carolina’s historic places, helping ensure that their architectural character and historical significance are preserved!

10/08/2026

Dawkins House Receives Timken Foundation Grant!

Preservation South Carolina is pleased to announce that the Dawkins House in Union has received a grant from the Timken Foundation in support of the ongoing preservation of this remarkable historic landmark.

The Dawkins House holds a unique place in South Carolina history. From February 16 to April 9, 1865, it served as the state’s provisional capitol during a pivotal period in our state’s history.

Today, Preservation South Carolina is working alongside the University of South Carolina Union and community partners to stabilize and restore the Dawkins House for its future use as a Corporate and Alumni Center—ensuring this important place remains a part of Union’s future for generations to come.

The Timken Foundation’s generous support will help advance this important preservation effort and bring us one step closer to ensuring the Dawkins House can continue to serve as a place for education, community engagement, and connection to South Carolina’s history.

We are incredibly grateful to the Timken Foundation for investing in the future of the Dawkins House.

10/06/2026

ACTION ALERT: Help Protect Historic Places

Major changes to the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) and Section 106 process are currently being considered in Congress and by the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP).

Just before Congress recessed for October, a bipartisan group of Senators introduced the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act of 2026 (S. 5653). The legislation includes significant changes to the NHPA that could weaken the Section 106 process by:

• Limiting consultation with State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices
• Narrowing what qualifies as an “undertaking” subject to review
• Imposing rigid deadlines on the consultation process
• Narrowing what constitutes an adverse effect to historic properties

At the same time, a bipartisan congressional letter is circulating in both the House and Senate urging ACHP Vice Chairman Travis Voyles to reconsider the proposed rewrite of the Section 106 regulations. The letter emphasizes the importance of maintaining the collaborative consultation process that has been at the heart of Section 106 for decades.

Why does this matter? Section 106 helps ensure that historic buildings, archaeological sites, cultural landscapes, and other historic places are considered when federally funded, licensed, or permitted projects are planned.

REACH OUT TO YOUR REPRESENTATIVES: If you have a personal contact in your U.S. Representative or Senator’s office, we encourage you to reach out to them directly. You can also take action in just a few minutes using the links below:

👉 Urge your Representative to sign the bipartisan letter:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/advocacy-alert-urge-your-rep-to-sign-on-to-bipartisan-letter-opposing-harmful-section-106-proposal?delivery_id=168850506

👉 Join the National Coalition to Protect Section 106:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1a93Qn46N7yEQIp12JvjVxOAAKGMeG4wLQgJIdY8S7P8/viewform?edit_requested=true&edit_requested=true

👉 Take action through the National Trust for Historic Preservation:

https://support.savingplaces.org/page/100753/action/1?ea.tracking.id=Website

Want to see what Section 106 looks like in practice? Check out our latest e-newsletter, which features examples of Section 106 projects right here in SOUTH CAROLINA and highlights why this process matters to our state’s historic resources. 🏛️

Please take a few minutes to make your voice heard and help protect Section 106.

PICTURED: Fish Dam Ford Battlefield, Chester County: