Thanks to a few diligent folks and organizations in the Palmetto State, there’s a hearty historical digital archive of images documenting the history of our great state. We spent the better part of the afternoon combing through the files to discover some of the most amazing early photos taken in South Carolina. Take a look:
- Spartanburg, 1910. Overhead wires and cable cars line the streets of Spartanburg.
Facebook/Spartanburg County Public Libraries (Cofield Collection)
- Beaufort, 1862. A city street on the water’s edge with a small boat in the foreground.
Flickr/Snapshots of the Past
- Beaufort, 1862. Erecting a pontoon bridge across the Port Royal River.
Flickr/Snapshots of the Past
- Beaufort, 1862. Preparing cotton for the gin on James Joyner Smith’s plantation soon after being occupied by Union forces.
Wikimedia/Timothy H. O’Sullivan - Library of Congress/public domain
- Morris Island, 1863. An encampment on Morris Island during the Civil War.
Flickr/Snapshots of the Past
- Morris Island, 1863. An unidentified camp.
Flickr/Snapshots of the Past
- Morris Island, 1863. Men in uniform line the beach on both horseback and foot in this shot taken during the Civil War era.
Flickr/Snapshots of the Past
- Charleston, 1865. Flag raising ceremony at Fort Sumter.
Flickr/Snapshots of the Past
- Charleston, 1889. Earthquake damage, side view of what was then Roper Hospital.
USC/South Caroliniania Library Collections/ public domain
- Charleston, between 1880-1895. The Palace Shaving Saloon and an Auctioneer’s office at 38 and 40 Broad Street.
USC/South Caroliniania Library Collections/ George LaGrange Cook Collection / public domain
- Columbia, 1865. Ruins as seen from the State House.
Wikipedia/George N. Barnard (1819-1902), U.S. Army
- Columbia - The old market built after 1865 and razed in 1913.
Flickr/Richland Library (Security Federal Savings and Loan Association)
- Georgetown, date unknown. Front Street is alive with business.
Facebook/Georgetown County Digital Library
- Georgetown, 1900. A view from the water with a clearly visible clock tower.
Facebook/Georgetown County Digital Library
- Georgetown, 1900. A view of Screven Street with the old courthouse on the left.
Facebook/Georgetown County Digital Library
- The Cooper River, date unknown. A group of women and children take a ferry across the Cooper River to church in Berkeley County.
USC/South Caroliniania Library Collections/ Berkeley County Photograph Collection / public domain
- Greer, 1908. A postcard of early Trade Street, now East Poinsett.
Greenville County Library System/no known copyright restrictions
- Greenville, 1902. Main Street looking North from Court Street.
Greenville County Library System/no known copyright restrictions
What did you think about these photos? Who else would love to see the return of cable cars for public transportation? We’d love to hear your reactions to these shots. Does anything look familiar?
Facebook/Spartanburg County Public Libraries (Cofield Collection)
Flickr/Snapshots of the Past
Wikimedia/Timothy H. O’Sullivan - Library of Congress/public domain
USC/South Caroliniania Library Collections/ public domain
USC/South Caroliniania Library Collections/ George LaGrange Cook Collection / public domain
Wikipedia/George N. Barnard (1819-1902), U.S. Army
Flickr/Richland Library (Security Federal Savings and Loan Association)
Facebook/Georgetown County Digital Library
USC/South Caroliniania Library Collections/ Berkeley County Photograph Collection / public domain
Greenville County Library System/no known copyright restrictions
For more photos from the past, check out these 21 striking South Carolina photos taken during the Great Depression.
OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.
