In 1670 a group of English colonists sailed into Charleston Harbor. They settled five miles upstream. In 1680 the colonists moved the settlement to the peninsula and named it Charles Town. Bounded on three sides by water, it was an excellent site for trade as well as providing natural protection from Indians, Pirates and Spanish. By 1704, Charles Town was surrounded by fortified walls complete with a drawbridge making it one of the few walled cities in North America. By the mid 18^th century, Charleston was the wealthiest and forth largest city in colonial America. The American Revolution was a powerful factor in the city’s development. In 1780 the British captured Charleston and imprisoned its leading citizens.

S945 - Morris Island Lighthouse, Turn of the Century

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The three-year occupation took a heavy toll on the city. After the war, Charleston rebuilt and prospered once again. The cotton gin and improved rice cultivation boosted the economy. Charleston entered the gracious antebellum period and many fine homes were built as the city grew. It wasn’t long however, before the winds of rebellion were once again stirring in Charleston. The controversy over nullification, states rights and slavery led Charlestonians to vote for secession. On April 12, 1861, the first shots of the War Between the States were fired by Confederate forces onto Federally occupied Fort Sumter. By 1863 Federal troops began a bombardment and siege of Charleston that lasted 576 days

More Photographs of Old Charleston below. Click on photograph title for larger image.

S715 - St.Michaels Church, Turn of the Century

. At the end of the war the city was nearly destroyed. Recovery from the war was slow due to scarcity of capital, heavy taxes and political troubles. Hurricanes in 1885, 1893 & 1911 and a large earthquake in 1886 slowed progress in rebuilding. In the 1890’s a considerable part of the city was still in ruins.

S932 - Gunboat approaching Ft. Sumter, 1880's

More Photographs of Old Charleston below. Click on photograph title for larger image.

The establishment of the Naval Yard at Charleston in 1901 was the beginning of the city’s modern era, although sustained economic recovery did not take place until World War II. Preservation became a way of life and in 1931 Charleston adopted the first historic district zoning ordinance in America. Few cities linger in the imagination, as does Charleston with its diverse architectural treasures.

More Photographs of Old Charleston below. Click on photograph title for larger image.

S804 - Battleship in Dry Dock, Navy Yard

S45 - Bird's Eye View of the Harbor, Turn of the Century

S96 - 2 Meeting Street, Turn of the Century

     S123 - King Street, Turn of the Century

 S129 - The East Battery, Turn of the Century

S146 - West Point Rice Mill, Turn of the Century

     S147 - King Street, Turn of the Century