South Carolina Historical Society

The South Carolina Historical Society is housed in the historic Fireproof Building, located at 100 Meeting Street in Charleston, South Carolina. Native South Carolinian Robert Mills was the first professionally trained architect born in America, federal architect under President Andrew Jackson, and designer of many important buildings in Washington, D.C., including the Washington Monument. Mills designed the Fireproof Building in 1822 as a state office building with secure storage for local public records; it is the first fireproof structure in the nation built specifically to protect documents. The building is in the Palladian style with Doric porticoes facing north and south. Inside is a three-story, oval stairhall lit by a cupola with cantilevered stone stairs. The Fireproof Building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1973. Major renovations to the interior and exterior of the structure were completed in 2002.