Fireproof Building

Front: Constructed 1822-26, the County Records Building, known as the Fireproof Building, was designed by Charleston-born architect Robert Mills. Mills eliminated combustible materials from the design. Stone steps, flagstone flooring, and brownstone sills were used in place of wood. The brick vaulting on the interior carried the weight of the upper floors and eliminated the need for joists. The roof was clad in copper and all window sashes and frames were iron. Reverse: Massive brownstone columns with roughcast stucco adorn the matching porticos on the north and south elevations. These porticos place this building within the Greek Revival style and it was the first public building in the city designed in that form. Home to the S.C. Historical Society since 1943, the Fireproof Building was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1969 and was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1973.