Fireproof Building
Encyclopedia
The Fireproof Building, also known as County Records Building, is located at 100 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina
. It was designed by Robert Mills
and constructed by John G. Spindle. It was completed by 1827. At that time, it was the most completely fireproof building in America and it is believed to be the oldest fireproof building in America today. The building is in the Palladian style, with Doric
porticoes north and south. Inside, the building has an oval stair hall lit by a cupola. The stone stairs are cantilevered through three stories.
Mills was an early advocate of buildings designed to include fireproof materials. A fire destroyed much of the upper floor of the Fireproof Building that he designed, but the county records on the first floor were protected due to his fireproofing measures.
After 1865, it was used for Charleston County
offices. Today, the building is the home of the South Carolina Historical Society
.
The Fireproof Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1969, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1973.
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. It was designed by Robert Mills
Robert Mills (architect)
Robert Mills , most famously known for designing the Washington Monument, is sometimes called the first native born American to become a professional architect, though Charles Bulfinch perhaps has a clearer claim to this honor...
and constructed by John G. Spindle. It was completed by 1827. At that time, it was the most completely fireproof building in America and it is believed to be the oldest fireproof building in America today. The building is in the Palladian style, with Doric
Doric order
The Doric order was one of the three orders or organizational systems of ancient Greek or classical architecture; the other two canonical orders were the Ionic and the Corinthian.-History:...
porticoes north and south. Inside, the building has an oval stair hall lit by a cupola. The stone stairs are cantilevered through three stories.
Mills was an early advocate of buildings designed to include fireproof materials. A fire destroyed much of the upper floor of the Fireproof Building that he designed, but the county records on the first floor were protected due to his fireproofing measures.
After 1865, it was used for Charleston County
Charleston County, South Carolina
Charleston County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. According to a 2005 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, its population was 330,368. Its county seat is Charleston. It is the third-most populous county in the state . Charleston County was created in 1901 by an act of the South...
offices. Today, the building is the home of the South Carolina Historical Society
South Carolina Historical Society
The South Carolina Historical Society is a private, non-profit organization founded in 1855 to preserve South Carolina's rich historical legacy...
.
The Fireproof Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1969, and further was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1973.
External links
- Fireproof Building, Charleston County (100 Meeting St., Charleston), including 7 photos, at South Carolina Department of Archives and History
- County Records Building: 27 b&w photos, 1 color photo, 7 drawings, 5 data pages, and supplemental material, at Historic American Building Survey
- Historic Charleston's Religious and Community Buildings, a National Park Service Discover Our Shared Heritage Travel Itinerary
- Robert P. Stockton, Information for Guides of Historic Charleston, South Carolina 350 (1985).