Historic Richmond Foundation was chartered in July 1956 by individuals interested in saving the neighborhood around historic St. John’s Church on Church Hill. The founders hoped to re-create the former quiet residential neighborhood by buying houses and encouraging others to buy, restore and live in them. The effort was considered part of the contemporary plans for the revival of downtown. Since then, HRF has been responsible for saving approximately 319 structures important to Richmond’s history, including Old City Hall and, more recently, the Superior Warehouse building located in Shockoe Bottom. The Foundation holds protective easements on many of these properties, insuring their preservation in perpetuity. HRF has also published four books on Richmond architecture and hosted countless fundraising events for preservation.