| | | | | | A Nonprofit Membership Organization Working for South Carolinians Since 1990.
| | | | | | Headlines + Happenings May 22, 2026 | | | | | | | | | |
South Carolina’s preservation community will gather at the State House on Thursday, July 30, 2026, as Gov. Henry McMaster, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, and Preservation South Carolina honor the recipients of the 2026 Historic Preservation Awards. The ceremony will take place from 3:30pm - 4:30pm at the South Carolina State House.
Now in its 31st year, the awards program recognizes outstanding accomplishments in the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of South Carolina’s architectural and cultural heritage. Preservation South Carolina is honored to co-sponsor this program alongside the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the Office of the Governor, recognizing the extraordinary preservation efforts taking place in communities across the state.
This year, 32 individuals will be recognized for their work on 13 projects throughout the state. Following the ceremony, guests are invited to attend a reception at the Taylor House, a 2025 Honor Award recipient, located at 1501 Senate Street.
Both the ceremony and reception are open to the public. Sponsorship opportunities are available for the reception. Information on sponsorship can be found here. | | | | | | | | | | - The South Carolina Historic Properties Record (SCHPR) has launched a newly updated website with faster search capabilities and enhanced features — including the ability to search within document text. View database here. .-The WeGOJA Foundation, in partnership with the Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, is hosting a Preservation Night School, an after-hours virtual series with tips on how to manage preservation projects. Learn more and register here.
- Efforts are gaining momentum to restore the Dawkins House in Union, South Carolina - an important site connected to the Civil War era and the broader history of the state. At Preservation South Carolina, we are proud to be a partner in this initiative to stabilize, rehabilitate, and prepare the house for its future role as a Corporate and Alumni Center on the campus of USC-Union. View the campaign and learn about ways to get involved here.
- The 9th Annual Slave Dwelling Project Conference is October 1–3, 2026 in North Charleston. The conference theme is "250 Years and Counting: Reckoning, Resilience, and Remembrance." More information can be found here.
- In April, the Historic Charleston Foundation honored extraordinary contributions in preserving Charleston’s irreplaceable historic built environment and cultural character with its Charter Day Awards. View recipients here.
- View the recipients of Historic Columbia's 2026 Preservation Awards, a program that recognizes the projects and people who have helped maintain and enhance Columbia's historical, architectural, and cultural heritage here.
-View recently published article by The Edgefield Advertiser on the Pottersville House, a Preservation South Carolina & Town of Edgefield project here.
- View recently added South Carolina sites, districts, and properties to the National Register of Historic Places here. | | | | Ellison Flour Mill, Fountain Inn | | South Carolina Abandoned Building Tax Credit Advocacy Update | We are pleased to share that S. 853, legislation concerning the Abandoned Building Tax Credit, passed the South Carolina General Assembly and has been signed by Governor Henry McMaster. | | | |
This important legislation provides needed clarification and protection for one of South Carolina’s most impactful redevelopment incentives. Its passage reflects a strong statewide effort involving preservation advocates, local governments, developers, community leaders, and stakeholders across South Carolina.
S. 853 clarifies legislative intent and strengthens the program by:
• Removing the income-producing requirement • Clarifying eligibility for state-owned buildings • Establishing local government certification of abandonment as the final authority • Prohibiting tax credits from being used as loan collateral
The Abandoned Building Tax Credit continues to play a critical role in encouraging investment in historic and vacant properties, supporting community revitalization, creating jobs, and preserving South Carolina’s built heritage.
Thank you to everyone who engaged in this advocacy effort! | | | | | | The Battle of Hanging Rock Trailhead | | Hanging Rock Battleground America's 11 Most Endangered Places List | This week the National Trust for Historic Preservation released its 39th annual list of America’s 11 Most Endangered Historic Places, and among the sites recognized is an important piece of South Carolina’s Revolutionary War history.
The Battle of Hanging Rock site in Heath Springs commemorates the August 6, 1780 battle in which Patriot militia forces led by Thomas Sumter, alongside many Catawba warriors, fought British and Loyalist troops commanded by John Cruger. | | | |
The battle occurred just months after the fall of Charleston and was part of a broader campaign to challenge British outposts across the South Carolina backcountry.
Today, visitors to Hanging Rock Battlefield can explore a 0.7-mile interpretive trail featuring eight stops that highlight the history and significance of the site. However, only a small portion of the original 600-acre battlefield has been preserved. Rapid population growth and ongoing development pressures threaten to fragment the battlefield’s remaining core acreage, underscoring the urgent need for additional land acquisition, park development, and long-term stewardship efforts.
A coalition led by the American Battlefield Trust — including the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust, South Carolina 250 Commission, South Carolina State Parks, and Friends of Hanging Rock — have been actively working to protect key portions of the battlefield and improve public access through enhanced signage, walking tours, and preservation initiatives.
Now in its 39th year, the National Trust’s Endangered Places Program continues to be one of the nation’s most effective tools for raising awareness about threatened historic resources. Since its inception, the initiative has helped galvanize public support for more than 350 historic sites across the country, with only a small number ultimately lost.
In recognition of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, this year’s list highlights eleven places that reflect the enduring principle that all people are created equal. For the first time, each featured site will also receive a one-time $25,000 grant from the National Trust to support ongoing preservation efforts.
View the full list and learn how you can help protect these endangered historic places, here. | | | | | | | | Following the awards ceremony, there will be a reception to honor the award recipients and celebrate preservation in our state. We are offering sponsorship opportunities to businesses and organizations for the RECEPTION. This includes a mention in our program for the ceremony under “reception sponsor”, sponsor nametags, and a table at the reception following the ceremony. | | | | For more information contact Joanna Rothell at Joanna@preservesc.org | (803) 729-7782 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Preservation South Carolina1109 Broad Street, 2H Camden, SC 29020803.729.7782 | | | | You are receiving this email as you signed up for our newsletters. Want to change how you receive these emails?
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