Fireproof Building facts for kids
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Fireproof Building
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U.S. National Historic Landmark District
Contributing Property |
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Fireproof Building
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | 100 Meeting St., Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Built | 1822–1827 |
| Architect | Robert Mills |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| Part of | Charleston Historic District (ID66000964) |
| NRHP reference No. | 69000161 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 29, 1969 |
| Designated NHL | November 7, 1973 |
| Designated NHLDCP | October 9, 1960 |
The Fireproof Building is a very special place in Charleston, South Carolina. It's located at 100 Meeting Street, right next to Washington Square. This building was finished in 1827. At that time, it was the most fire-resistant building in all of America! Today, it's still thought to be the oldest building in the country designed to resist fire.
After a big update, the building reopened in 2018. It is now home to the South Carolina Historical Society Museum.
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A Building Designed to Resist Fire
The Fireproof Building is a two-story building made of strong materials. It sits on a tall stone base with cool, rounded archways. The outside looks like stone, but it's actually brick covered in stucco.
This building was designed in the Greek Revival style. This means it looks like ancient Greek temples, with clean lines and not too many decorations. It has special Doric porches on both the north and south sides.
Inside, there's an amazing oval staircase. It seems to float through three floors! Light comes in from a dome-shaped window at the top, called a cupola.
Why Was It Built?
The Fireproof Building was made to hold important papers and offices for Charleston County. It was built in 1827 by a contractor named John G. Spidle. The design came from Robert Mills. He was America's first architect trained right here in the country. Robert Mills was a big fan of making buildings that could stand up to fire.
A Landmark of History
Because of its unique design and history, the Fireproof Building is very important. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1969. This list includes places that are important to American history. In 1973, it was named a National Historic Landmark. This is an even higher honor for historical sites.
The Building Today
Today, the Fireproof Building is home to the South Carolina Historical Society. This group works to preserve the history of South Carolina.
In 2016 and 2017, the building got a huge makeover. The goal was to make it modern and safe. They wanted a secure, climate-controlled place to keep old documents. They also wanted space for events and a modern museum. In the summer of 2018, the Historical Society opened the building as a museum. It teaches visitors about the history of South Carolina and the Fireproof Building itself.
