Dorchester Heritage Center

The Dorchester Heritage Center has made exemplary contributions  to the advancement of historic preservation. Their commitment to preservation and innovative preservation practices exemplifies preservation service and is worthy of recognition. The DHC was created from the Dorchester County Historical Society, which was established in 2004. The primary mission of the Historical Society was the preservation of the Koger Murray Carroll House on Old Wire Road.

From this initial challenge, a much greater mission was born. They created a subsidiary called the Dorchester County Archives and History Center that is dedicated to the collecting and providing access to the papers and artifacts important in Dorchester County's history and culture.Finding a home for the Center was an early obstacle. They overcame this with the help of Dorchester County Council who made part of the former County Courthouse in St. George available in May 2014. For the next three years, volunteers worked tirelessly to transform the space that held County land records, clerk of court, treasurer, auditor, and probate judge into the archives and museum.

During this time, the Center accessioned 192,000 documents and objects and prepared exhibits for the new museum. The new space opened to the public in January 2017 with a traveling exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution called "The Way We Worked". This was the debut for the exhibit and stands as a testament to the professionalism with which the Center has approached their mission.

The impact on the community was immediate. Every fifth-grade student in Dorchester County, and some from Colleton County visited the Center in the early months of 2017. Many more visitors, both adults and children, came to see the exhibit and to learn about the Center and the important role that they play in preserving and exploring the region's history.