Charleston, SC of Yesteryear: Take a Journey Back in Time – 35 Remarkable Images

Broad Street, Circa 1910

Broad Street, Circa 1910

With so much rich history and heritage, we often get swept away in distinguished past of Charleston.  The historic society, carriage tours, walking tours and preserved buildings continue to keep our past as alive as our ghosts.  Yet, sometimes a visual image paints a picture so much more vivid than even our own imaginations and the stories we share.

Take a step back in time with us and enjoy these visual images of Charleston past.  Some are haunting; some soothing, but all with provide you with a piece of the way life in Charleston used to be.

 

 

136 Church Street - Circa 1880

136 Church Street – Circa 1880

 

Flower Seller from 1939 - Photo by National Geographic

Flower Seller from 1939 – Photo by National Geographic

 

Two locals on a stoop in 1962

Two locals on a stoop in 1962

 

Tradd Street - Circa 1910

Tradd Street – Circa 1910

 

Joseph Aiken House - Circa 1880

Joseph Aiken House – Circa 1880

 

St. Michael's Church - Circa - 1910

St. Michael’s Church – Circa – 1910

 

Aftermath of 1938 Tornado hitting Charleston, SC

Aftermath of 1938 Tornado hitting Charleston, SC

 

Newspaper Article - Circa 1885

Newspaper Article – Circa 1885

 

Snow on The Battery in 1899

Snow on The Battery in 1899

 

Cumberland Street - Circa 1865

Cumberland Street – Circa 1865

 

Broad and Meeting Streets 1865

Broad and Meeting Streets 1865

 

City Market - 1939

City Market – 1939

 

W.T. Grant Building, Circa 1950s

W.T. Grant Building, Circa 1950s

Confederate Currency

Confederate Currency

 

Stoll's Alley - Circa 1880

Stoll’s Alley – Circa 1880

 

Berkeley County, 1939 - B.W. Muir Photographer

Berkeley County, 1939 – B.W. Muir Photographer

 

Jenkins Orphanage Band - North Charleston 1914

Jenkins Orphanage Band – North Charleston 1914

 

St. Michael's Church 1865

St. Michael’s Church 1865

 

56 Beaufain Street

56 Beaufain Street

 

Near Francis Marion National Park, 1939 - Photographer B.W. Muir

Near Francis Marion National Park, 1939 – Photographer B.W. Muir

 

Post Earthquake - Broad Street 1886

Post Earthquake – Broad Street 1886

 

Shrimp Peddler and cat - Circa 1930's

Shrimp Peddler and cat – Circa 1930’s

 

Mosquito Fleet, Charleston - 1940

Mosquito Fleet, Charleston – 1940

 

Soldier Portrait - Professional Photo

Soldier Portrait – Professional Photo

 

Spring 1861 - Confederate Soldiers

Spring 1861 – Confederate Soldiers

 

Courtenay School, 1926

Courtenay School, 1926

 

Portrait taken in 1917

Portrait taken in 1917

 

1906 Postcard

1906 Postcard

 

Portrait taken between 1947-1949

Portrait taken between 1947-1949

 

Philadelphia Street, 1866

Philadelphia Street, 1866

 

Early Battery Park

Early Battery Park

 

Cadets, 1891

Cadets, 1891

 

The Heyward-Washington House 1923

The Heyward-Washington House 1923

 

Tent City Charleston - 1886 - Post Earthquake

Tent City Charleston – 1886 – Post Earthquake

We hope you enjoyed this journey down memory lane.

 

 

 

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15 Comments

  • Carol Hoppmann says:

    The streets my father ,his father and his fathers father walked on ,went to school sent there children to school. And all the places that they worked , . i do not know what to say ,Its a great city that people love and care about. Charleston gets in your spirit and becomes a part of you . there,s a warm feeling about the city and places you see ,the old buildings cobble street . Offer a feeling of romance one enjoys just walking the streets at night .you can feel the city breath just like you feel your lovers breath. I could go on and on about the city that I love and that has loved me back.About the people that i grew up with who I know feels like I do. One walks the streets and takes on this warm loving feeling I do not know what it is It just is.Carol

  • Bill Carter says:

    Great! As a person who grew up in Charleston (live in Nashville now) it is wonderful to look pictures of where my grandfather (Patrick Carter) more than likely walked and visited as part o his life. Would you have any pictures of 220 and 224 Calhoun Street from the 1940- 50 tie frame.

    Thanks again Carol…Bill Carter

  • Betsy B DeVault says:

    I love seeing the old pictures of Charleston, as it brings back such wonderful memories of when we lived on Church st and St Michael’s Alley … just recall my sisters and I playing hide and seek, and all the friendly people … my uncle took pictures as he lived in Charleston from the late 30s until his death in 2002 … thanks for sharing

  • shirley peeples says:

    I remember the fish carts the shrimp carts & the veggie carts & the ice man delivering ice for the “ice box”. So many good memories being raised in Charleston. West End Dairy delivering milk & leaving it outside by the door. Kids playing kick the can & other games outside. We were always safe outside. Those were the “good ole days” gone forever. I still love my Charleston & always will.

    • Samantha Borgen says:

      I found a West End Dairy Milk Bottle in the Cooper River. Any idea how long West End Dairy operated?

      • John says:

        I did as well a couple years back. It is in great condition. Just got the barnacles off of it yesterday.

  • The Glossers says:

    Thanks for sharing, Celeste .

  • The Glossers says:

    Thanks for sharing.

  • Mabel Whitley says:

    I also grew up in Charleston. It was nothing to walk from San Souci Street, where we lived and also my Grandmother Maggie Atkins West Cooke- to the battery on a summer day. We would spend lots of time playing at Hampton Park, family picnics and also concerts at the gazebo in the park. . We would sometimes take in a baseball game and I would meet my girlfriends during the summer and take advantage of the clay courts for tennis at the Citadel- when their classes were not in session. Life was simpler then and wonderful memories for ever- it was nothing to walk all over the streets of Charleston- a city were one always felt safe- a time gone by.

  • Mabel Whitley says:

    My Grandfather, John Henry West worked on Grace Memorial Bridge- and he also died while working on the bridge.

  • Chiquetta Mitchell AMOS says:

    Charleston is always home to me raised in the down town historical section
    of city seeings old pictures just take you to the safe worry free era

  • Mary says:

    I was born in North Charleston, but grew up in the city of Charleston. Left There when I was about 15. I often wished I had never left, Charleston is such a beautiful city. I’ve been told that by many people I have met in my life time.

    Thanks for those pictures, some of the streets I remember. I loved going on field trips as a child, we used to do walking tours. I miss it there and I intend to go back real soon.

  • MARK MIDDLETON says:

    LINCOLN Theatre Cashier Charleston, Charleston, South Carolina, USA 1930 IS WHERE MY GRANDMOTHER WORKED AS A CASHIER HER NAME WAS BERNICE ELLIOTT

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