Built 1827 Designated NHL November 7, 1973 Opened 1827 Added to NRHP 29 July 1969 | NRHP Reference # 69000161 Designated NHLDCP October 9, 1960 Area 1,214 m² | |
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Architectural style Greek Revival architecture Similar Hibernian Hall, Powder Magazine, Heyward‑Washington House, Huguenot Church, Exchange and Provost | ||
The Fireproof Building, also known as the County Records Building, is located at 100 Meeting Street, Charleston, South Carolina. Built in 1827, it was the most completely fire-resistant building in America and it is believed to be the oldest fire-resistant building in America today. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1973.
Description and history
The Fireproof Building is set in central Charleston, at the northwest corner of Washington Square. It is a two-story masonry structure, set on a tall stone foundation with an arcade of round-arch openings and built out brick that has been stuccoed to resemble stone. The building is in the Palladian style, with Doric porticoes north and south, and achieves a sophisticated appearance with clean and crisp lines, and relatively little ornamentation. Inside, the building has an oval stair hall lit by a cupola. The stone stairs are cantilevered through three stories.
The building was designed by Robert Mills and constructed by John G. Spidle in 1827. Mills, the nation's first domestically-trained architect, was an early advocate of buildings designed to include fire-resistant materials. It was originally used to house offices and records 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.