Classical American Homes Preservation Trust

Discoveries

Established by Richard Hampton Jenrette in 1993, Classical American Homes Preservation Trust maintains four early-nineteenth-century sites and their remarkable collections of historic fine and decorative arts. The Trust is devoted to advancing American architecture, decorative arts, landscapes, and historic preservation. To enact this mission, we use cutting-edge research, collaborate with academic partners, and develop digital resources to educate emerging professionals, craftspeople, students, and lifelong learners.

Architecture

Houses are at the center of our organization. Mr. Jenrette’s affection for his houses is evident in his writings, his care in furnishing and decorating them, and his decision to endow them in perpetuity. They are beautiful objects deserving of sustained study and admiration.

Historic Preservation

Our buildings deserve the highest standard of care. Our preservation efforts include extensive research with a commitment to engaging the finest professionals and tradespeople, and a determination to leave our buildings in the best possible condition for the next generation.

Historic Landscapes

Care for our sites extends to their settings. Our living landscapes provide both the backdrop for our buildings as well as important information about their histories. Their care begins with research into historic documents, maps, and the archaeological remains on all properties.

Collections

Our collection speaks to Mr. Jenrette's abiding passion to collect antiques and fine art. His efforts to acquire original objects that belonged in the houses provides a rare opportunity to study a collection in the very context for which it was commissioned and used.

Education

Each site and object in CAHPT's portfolio is an invaluable teaching vehicle for American history. Through preservation advocacy, academic partnerships, digital education, and public programs, CAHPT purposefully shares our work in “doing history” to educate the public and the next generation of preservation professionals and craftspeople.

Featured Articles

Recent Articles

August 17th, 2023

Searching for hidden things Ayr Mount

Author: Joseph Beatty, PhD; CAHPT Director of Digital Experience On the week of July 24, 2023, Classical American Homes Preservation Trust hosted two days of…

February 3rd, 2023

Sally Bland Clarke Manning: A wife’s first impression of Millford

Author: Grant Quertermous, CAHPT Curator & Director of Collections “Married, At Warner Hall, Va., on Wednesday, 26th April, by the Rev. Charles Mann, Hon. John…

January 30th, 2023

Benjamin Prosky Appointed President of Classical American Homes Preservation Trust

Former Executive Director of the Center for Architecture and AIA–New York will assume role April 3, 2023

January 19th, 2023

In Memory of Jane Mack Gould

In Memory of Jane Mack Gould

September 29th, 2022

King Charles III’s 1990 Visit to Roper House

Author: Grant Quertermous, CAHPT Curator & Director of Collections While many historic houses in the United States can make the claim that George Washington slept…

June 15th, 2022

“the trees, are made the most of as ornaments to the grounds”: Understanding John L. Manning’s 1855 Landscape Improvements at Millford

Author: Grant Quertermous, CAHPT Curator & Director of Collections Newly uncovered documentary evidence indicates that John Laurence Manning undertook a large-scale landscaping project at Millford…

May 24th, 2022

“The Merry Widow of Roper House”: Mary Coachman Allston

Author: Grant Quertermous, CAHPT Curator & Director of Collections “Burglary—The residence of Mrs. Mary C. Alston, situate on East Bay-street opposite the Battery, was forcibly…

April 20th, 2022

Investigating Millford’s “Garden” and “Gun” Buildings

Author: Jeff Klee, Architectural Historian One of the lingering questions about Millford is the date of the so-called garden and gun buildings, the small one-story…

April 20th, 2022

Discovered Photo Album Illuminates Millford’s Architectural Evolution

By: Gabriel Cristofari, 2021 Almuni of the Clemson-College of Charleston Graduate Program in Historic Preservation “The significance of the photo album is creating a database…

March 8th, 2022

The Historic Houses of Richard H. Jenrette, Part II: The Interiors and Furnishings

Author: Grant Quertermous, CAHPT Curator and Director of Collections  Part I of this series examined the sixteen historic houses owned by CAHPT’s founder Richard H.…