Historic Markers
More than 170 historic markers placed since 1959
Since 1959, the Preservation Society’s Historic Markers Program has offered the general public opportunity to learn about Charleston’s significant buildings, structures, and objects, as well as outstanding events and people involved in local, state, and/or national history.
The Historic Markers program is one of the PSC’s longest-standing initiatives that has evolved and grown since its inception in the 1950s. Some of our markers are even historic themselves by federal standards (50 years old or older)! Educating the community about Charleston’s history has always been at the core of our work, but now more than ever, our focus is telling the stories of the people behind the buildings and their important contributions.
The PSC’s Historic Markers program is one of the tools in our toolkit for contributing to a fuller narrative of Charleston’s history. PSC’s searchable database is the latest tool to learn about the 170+ markers that have been erected across Charleston since the program’s inception. We invite you to explore this resource and share your ideas for new marker locations throughout the Lowcountry.
The Preservation Society invites you to apply for an historic marker for your property. Working with Preservation Society staff, you will assist with the compilation of historic research and draft of the marker text. We encourage local residents to participate in this preservation program that provides continuous education of Charleston’s history and architecture.
For more information on the Historic Markers Program, please contact Laurel Fay, Manager of Preservation & Research, at 843.722.4630 ext. 127 or email [email protected]
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
- Markers must be associated with at least one of the following:
- A historic place that is at least 50 years old
- Significant events that occurred at least 50 years ago
- Significant persons who died at least 50 years ago
- Broad patterns of local, state, and/or national history
- The property in question must retain a high degree of historic integrity
- The Historic Marker application form must be submitted with the property owner’s signature
APPLICATION PROCESS
- Complete the application form attached and submit via email to Laurel Fay, Manager of Preservation & Research, at [email protected], or by mail/in-person to the Preservation Society of Charleston, 147 King Street Charleston, SC 29401. Property owner consent is required to submit an application.
- Upon approval of the application, the applicant may independently draft and submit a draft text for PSC Staff review, or request that the PSC contract a consultant to draft the marker text. The marker text should be 200-300 words and follow the suggested format attached.
- Applicants are responsible for providing in-text citations (footnotes) and submitting all source materials to PSC for review to verify the accuracy of information provided. See the attached a list of recommended research resources. If no historical information is available, the applicant may contract a research consultant to compile property research independently. Consultant fees vary and are paid in addition to the marker price. PSC Staff can provide contact information for potential consultants upon request.
- PSC Staff will edit the proposed text collaboratively with the applicant and property owner to organizational standards.
- The PSC will order the marker with dimensions customized to fit the desired exterior space (legible from the public right-of-way) and schedule installation.
- The price of a Historic Marker is $2,000, which is paid in two installments: half upon commission and half prior to installation. Historic marker fees may be waived at the discretion of the PSC. If economic hardship is a factor, the applicant should include a written explanation with the application form.
- The timeline for a PSC historic marker varies on a case-by-case basis, but is generally approximately 3-4 months from the submission of a draft text to installation of the historic marker.
