by 
Federal award will support stabilization Middleton Place’s oldest and most significant surviving structures
CHARLESTON, S.C. October 6, 2026. Middleton Place Foundation has been awarded a $650,997 Save America’s Treasures grant from the Historic Preservation Fund, administered by the National Park Service, Department of the Interior, for the stabilization and preservation of the historic Chapel & Spring House at Middleton Place National Historic Landmark.
The highly competitive federal award requires a dollar-for-dollar non-federal match, which the Foundation is actively raising, bringing the total approved project to $1,301,994. The funding will support critical preservation work to address structural deterioration and help ensure the Chapel & Spring House can once again serve as a place for education, interpretation, and public engagement.
“This award is an extraordinary investment in the preservation of Middleton Place and in our responsibility to care for a place of national significance,” said Dana Hand Evans, President and CEO of Middleton Place Foundation. “The Chapel & Spring House connects nearly three centuries of history, from the colonial period and the founding of the nation to the lives of the enslaved and free people who worshiped here. This support allows us to preserve the structure while continuing to tell those interconnected stories with greater depth.”
The Spring House was constructed around 1741, making it the oldest surviving structure at Middleton Place. In 1850, Williams Middleton, grandson of Declaration of Independence signer Arthur Middleton, constructed the Chapel above it. Today, the building provides a rare setting in which visitors can explore the social, religious, and cultural forces that shaped the American experience.
The Chapel is believed to be the only publicly accessible plantation chapel remaining in its original location in South Carolina and one of only a small number nationwide that retain their historic setting. As a contributing resource within the Middleton Place National Historic Landmark, it is an important part of the site’s nationally significant history.
In recent years, movement in the walls and foundation has raised serious preservation and safety concerns, and the Chapel & Spring House is currently closed to visitors. The grant will support work to stabilize the structure, address drainage and water issues, repair historic masonry and finishes, and preserve the roof, windows, doors, and interior.
“This project is about much more than saving a building,” Evans said. “It is about preserving an authentic place where visitors can encounter the complicated and interconnected stories of American history.”
The award builds on several years of planning and study by the Middleton Place Foundation. Permitting and final approvals are expected to begin in 2027, followed by stabilization and preservation work through 2028. The Foundation plans to reopen the Chapel & Spring House to the public following completion of the project.
More than 100,000 people, including students and teachers, visit Middleton Place each year. Once reopened, the Chapel & Spring House will continue to support the Foundation’s educational and interpretive work for future generations.
ABOUT MIDDLETON PLACE FOUNDATION
Middleton Place Foundation preserves and shares the landscape, architecture, collections, and stories of Middleton Place, a National Historic Landmark, inspiring a deeper understanding of all who shaped this place and our nation. Through preservation, stewardship, research-driven interpretation, education, and public engagement, the Foundation connects people, place, and history and explores the complex foundations of the American experience. Middleton Place Foundation is working to advance Middleton Place as a nationally recognized leader in preservation, interpretation, and cultural landscape stewardship while ensuring this extraordinary place is preserved for future generations.
Photo credits: Provided by Middleton Place Foundation
Stay connected and subscribe to Charleston Daily.
