On behalf of the local coordinators for the 2026 Southeastern Conference on Historic Sites Archaeology, we would like to welcome all attendees to Charleston, South Carolina. This year, our country celebrates its 250th anniversary as an independent nation with much fanfare and reminders of our complex and dynamic history. As fundamental tenets of preservation, archaeology, and even structures themselves are becoming ever-increasing targets for change, we gather again to rejoice in our community. This year, conference organizers chose what we feel is one of the best cities to discuss these issues: Charleston. Since its inception, Charleston has grappled with colonialism, enslavement, violence, heritage, and honor in an ever-expanding sense of globalization.

All presentations and poster sessions will be hosted by South Carolina State Parks at one of its newest properties, May Forest State Park, located on historic James Island. The Park offers a unique vantage point overlooking Charleston’s downtown peninsula and harbor, making it an ideal setting to discuss the complexities of the past and their impacts on today and the future. This area of James Island, where the Park is situated (at the end of Fort Johnson Road), is widely memorialized for its Civil War connections. However, that is only one of many memories this 23-acre tract, now occupied by May Forest State Park, holds. The parcel was formerly owned by the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady of Mercy, whose congregation dates back nearly two centuries in Charleston.

The group ran a school for free children of color in the 1840s, cared for both Union and Confederate wounded soldiers during the Civil War, founded the hospital that would evolve into the Roper St. Francis Healthcare system, and ran social service organizations that helped those facing poverty. The park is rich in history, dating back to the Archaic Stage, and maintains sweeping views of the Charleston skyline and harbor, offering a beautiful perspective of the city. To make the most of the view, on Friday evening, all attendees and guests are invited to participate in a Charleston specialty, the Lowcountry Boil. This year’s SECHSA meeting is going to be busy, featuring 15 papers and three posters on an interesting variety of topics. While it is a busy program, we hope you will have time to explore this beautiful and uniquely historical area of the Lowcountry. We have highlighted a few nearby attractions and dining options as a starting point for discovering some local James Island favorites.