This is the first building that I ever fell in love with–the Louis deSaussure House in Charleston, South Carolina. I was about 8 or 9-years old and had gone down to visit my aunt, who–knowing my love of history–took me to Charleston for the first time. As we went along the Battery, I saw this house and was struck by it. I had never seen anything like it before and thought it was so beautiful with its cast-iron balconies and columned piazzas (as that is what they’re called in Charleston). I still go to Charleston regularly. I took this pic in 1999, but I know it was still yellow until about 2010 as I’d look for it every time I visited. It was repainted around this time to a pale gray.

Some structures have an emotional appeal that can’t quite be explained. You don’t have to be an architectural expert to know when a structure speaks to you. Although wonderful structures like this one are what drew me to historic preservation, if there’s anything I’ve taken away from my professors and readings is that it is so much more than that. It’s landscapes and culture and materials and heritage and community and so much more. It is fundamental to who we were and who we are now.

I figure I have a lot of thoughts and things I’ll come across as I learn more about historic preservation. Definitely more than what can be said in 140 characters, so I started this blog. I’m in my first semester of my first year of my Master’s program in historic preservation. It’s pretty exciting and interesting and I’m hoping that you all will find it interesting too! Cut me a little slack though…I’m still learning so I don’t have a handle on my terms and such yet. I will though. In the meantime, let’s do this!