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ArchSite/GIS


The South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) makes information about cultural resources and/or historic properties available to consultants and government agencies through ArchSite, the National Register files, and the South Carolina Statewide Inventory of Historic Properties. Consultants and agency representatives should search all three sources of information for compliance-related projects. The Consultant's Guide to Survey and National Register Files (PDF) provides an overview of the information included in the SHPO files and a step-by-step checklist for searching for properties that are listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.

ArchSite is an online Geographic Information System (GIS) that enables researchers to quickly determine if a cultural resources survey has been performed and/or if any cultural resources and/or historic properties are recorded within a specific project area. The following data layers are currently available on ArchSite:

  • National Register properties 
  • Archaeological sites
  • Buildings and structures that are eligible for the National Register (surveyed after 1990) 
  • Areas surveyed for cultural resources (primarily since November 1998) 
  • County-wide historic architectural survey data for 13 counties 
  • Civil War earthworks thematic survey data

Important: Archaeological site information is managed and maintained by the South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology (SCIAA). The SCIAA website contains information on how to access ArchSite, their archaeological site files, and how to make an appointment.

ArchSite (http://archsite.cas.sc.edu/ArchSite/) includes three applications that have been designed for specific users: Public View, Subscription View, and Site Editor View.

  1. Public viewers will have access to National Register listings, historic property survey information, and non-locational archaeology information. Access to the Public View is provided at no cost to interested persons and does not require a signed license agreement. ArchSite users can create their own username and password for access to the Public Viewer by completing the Create a New User Account online form.
  2. Subscriber viewers will have access to all of the state's cultural resource digital files including restricted National Register listings and archaeological site locations. The Subscriber View will be available to cultural resource professionals, environmental consultants, and planners. 
  3. The Site Editor view, which allows users to create and record archaeological site information, will be available to professional archaeologists only.
Cultural resource professionals may access the Subscriber View free of charge during normal business hours by using the workstations at the Archives and History Center or at SCIAA and Site Editor View access at SCIAA only.

ArchSite can be accessed at a computer workstation in the Research Room at the Archives and History Center (Hours: 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday-Saturday). Subscriber View access in the Research Room is password protected in order to restrict access to sensitive information. All organizations requesting Subscriber or Site Editor View access must sign a License Agreement and complete the Subscription Request Form, which are accessible on the ArchSite homepage. The organization also needs to submit a resume, CV or position description for each person requesting Subscriber View access or complete the Editor Access Request Form for users requesting Editor View access. All license agreements and access forms must be submitted to Carmen Beard, ArchSite Administrator, SCIAA, prior to receiving authorization to use the ArchSite application. Any user agreements for access to the former Cultural Resources Information System (CRIS) are null and void.
Once the appropriate paperwork has been approved, consultants and planners should call ahead to arrange an appointment for use of the ArchSite workstation in the Research Room. Appointments should be made with Chuck Cantley, GIS Coordinator, a few days in advance. Email: ccantley@scdah.state.sc.us or Phone: (803) 896-6181. If Chuck is out of the office please contact Deborah Jackson, Email: jackson@scdah.state.sc.us or Phone: (803) 896-6178.

All questions, concerns, and submittals regarding ArchSite should be directed to Carmen Beard at SCIAA. Email: cbeard@sc.edu or Phone: (803) 777-8170.

Additional information regarding accessing ArchSite can be found at http://archsite.cas.sc.edu/sciaainfo/subscription_overview.htm.

Additional Cultural Resource Information:

The National Register files are available through the Research Room at the Archives and History Center. National Register information is also available online, in addition to historic contexts and other historical background studies and information about African American historic properties.

The South Carolina Inventory of Historic Properties includes information on over 40,000 historic buildings, structures, sites, objects, and landscapes. The inventory is a continually evolving record of South Carolina’s architectural and historic resources. The Finding Aid for the Statewide Survey of Historic Properties is available through the Research Room at the Archives and History Center and provides information for each county regarding survey records in our collections. The Finding Aid can also be searched online.

The Archaeology section of our website includes historic contexts that have been developed in consultation with our office and selected archaeological reports.