The first Historic Preservation Commission was established in which district and city?

• A. Charleston, South Carolina
• B. French Quarter, New Orleans
• C. Vieux Carre, New Orleans, Louisiana
• D. Old Town, San Diego

Answer: (C)

The first formal Historic Preservation Commission in the United States was created to protect the character of a historic district by regulating exterior changes and new construction, showing how early local governments used design review to preserve architectural heritage. This pioneering body was established in the Vieux Carré district of New Orleans, Louisiana, in 1936 as the Vieux Carré Commission. It set the model for how cities would manage alterations to historically significant areas long before broad national preservation laws existed. The district’s official name is Vieux Carré (French Quarter), and that precise designation is why this option is the correct one. The other choices refer to historic areas or cities with notable preservation efforts, but they do not reflect where the first formal commission was established.