Charleston Museum protects Sanctuary with $15 million easement
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The Charleston Museum will permanently protect the 724-acre Dill Sanctuary on James Island, South Carolina, after securing over $15 million in easement value.
In April 2026, the Charleston County Council approved $3 million from its Greenbelt program to contribute to a conservation easement. The museum is providing the majority of the easement’s value, and expects additional funding from state and federal grants to cover the remaining costs.
This decision follows a conservation effort that gained momentum in late 2025, aiming to prevent development while allowing the museum to continue managing the land as a wildlife refuge. The Dill family originally gifted the property to the museum in 1985, with initial restrictions on its use that have since expired. The Dill Sanctuary holds significant historical and archaeological value, with evidence of Native American activity dating back 8,000 years, four Civil War batteries, and two African American cemeteries.
It also provides important habitat for wildlife, including threatened wood storks, and features a 6-acre wildlife pond. While the sanctuary won’t become a public park, the museum plans to continue offering limited access through school visits and special events, and to improve ecological land management.
