Clemson Historic Preservation in Charleston

Curious about a future in historic preservation? Spend the summer with us in Charleston and discover what the field has to offer.

Sign up through the link in our bio!

Last weekend, recent graduates Jackson Dent, Thompson Teasdale, and Samantha Threlkeld traveled alongside rising second-year students Jayne Flynn and Ashley Dever to Walla Walla, Washington, for the annual Vernacular Architecture Forum Conference!

The group explored neighboring communities, rural landscapes, and historic sites through two full-day tours while connecting with fellow preservationists, architects, and researchers from around the country. They also had the opportunity to present their research from projects completed during the past academic year.

We’re proud to see our students and graduates representing our program by sharing their work and contributing to important conversations about the built environment.

Swipe through to see highlights from their time in Walla Walla!

Congratulations to the Master of Science in Historic Preservation Class of 2026!
🎓🧡🐅

We are also proud to recognize this year’s award recipients:

The Kelly B. Bulak Award was created in memory of Kelly Bulak, a talented and dedicated preservationist, and an incredible person we lost in 2021. Kelly’s love of travel, architecture, and art fueled her passion for preservation, and we are fortunate that she found her way to our program. In addition to producing top-notch work, Kelly’s enthusiasm and optimism were unmatched. Her energy often buoyed her cohort when projects and deadlines became daunting. She also demonstrated a deep commitment to making historic preservation a field that contributes meaningfully to inclusive, sustainable communities. This award, sponsored by the Historic Charleston Foundation, was awarded this year to Jackson Dent, who embodies Kelly’s remarkable spirit.

The Outstanding Thesis Award, generously sponsored by the Preservation Society of Charleston, highlights the intellectual rigor and original scholarship that define our program. This year’s award went to Samantha Threlkeld for her thesis: “Rainbow Row: Tourism, Color, and the Making of a Civic Icon, 1930s – 1960s”.

👏 Join us in celebrating the MSHP Class of 2026

This past Friday, MSHP students attended the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Conference in Columbia. Second-year students presented their thesis research, and attendees had the opportunity to connect with and learn from program alumni!