Fireproof Building

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Fireproof Building
Fireproof Building
Location 100 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina
Coordinates 32°46′36″N 79°55′55″W / 32.77667°N 79.93194°W / 32.77667; -79.93194Coordinates: 32°46′36″N 79°55′55″W / 32.77667°N 79.93194°W / 32.77667; -79.93194
Built 1827
Architect Robert Mills
Architectural style Greek Revival
Governing body Local (South Carolina Historical Society)
NRHP Reference # 69000161
Significant dates
Added to NRHP July 29, 1969[1]
Designated NHL November 7, 1973[2]

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 fire-resistant building in America and it is believed to be the oldest fire-resistant building in America today.[3] 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 fire-resistant 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.[4]

The Fireproof Building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1969,[1] and further was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.[2][5]

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Fireproof Building". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Retrieved 2008-03-21. 
  3. "Fireproof Building, Charleston County (100 Meeting St., Charleston)". National Register Properties in South Carolina listing. South Carolina Department of Archives and History. Retrieved 2008-03-21. 
  4. Edgar, Walter, ed. The South Carolina Encyclopedia, University of South Carolina Press, 2006, p. 325, ISBN 1-57003-598-9
  5. Tray Stephenson and Bernard Kearse (April 20, 1973). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: The Fireproof Building PDF (32 KB). National Park Service  and Accompanying one photo, exterior, from 1971 PDF (32 KB)

External links

External links

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