Charleston, South Carolina is a place where history and heritage are still very much a part of everyday life. Inside a city that seems untouched by the ravages of time and nature is a 300-year-old culture of Europeans and Africans that permeates the city's architecture, the visual arts, and its customs. For the past three centuries Charleston has survived wars, fires, earthquakes and hurricanes - and despite it all, retained both her beauty and her dignity.

Today Charleston stands as a model of historic preservation, restoration and artistic expression. The Old and Historic District, which traces its origins to the 1670s, contains some 3,000 historic buildings. This is no accident. Instead, it is the result of the ongoing and dedicated efforts of people working together to preserve Charleston's distinctive character.

While over 12,000 buildings in South Carolina have been placed on the National Register of Historic Places, fewer than 80 have been designated by the US Department of the Interior as National Historic Landmarks – the highest possible designation for a historic site. Charleston’s Old and Historic district is a National Historic Landmark, as are most of the individual member properties of the Charleston Heritage Federation. We recommend that you make a point of discovering all of them …they truly are “The Essential Charleston.”

The houses and museums listed here are conveniently located in Charleston's Old and Historic District. They are easily accessible on foot...more.

The two National Historic Landmark plantations on the Ashley River are just a short drive from the Old and Historic District. They interpret over 250 years of rural life in the Lowcountry...more.

This section features the tours, festivals and facilities of organizations that have played a critical role in researching, restoring and preserving historic Charleston...More.