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The purpose of the South Carolina Picture Project is to celebrate the beauty of the Palmetto State while preserving some of its vanishing landscapes.

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Charleston Harbor

SC PICTURE PROJECT 1 Comment

SC Picture Project / Charleston County / Charleston Harbor

While Charleston may be best known for its stunning historic architecture, a vital and equally captivating asset of the Holy City is its spectacular harbor. Formed by the confluence of the Cooper River and Ashley River, Charleston’s harbor attracted early settlers to relocate from present-day Charles Towne Landing to White Point Garden, then known as Oyster Point, in 1680. The colony declared the harbor the colony’s port of entry in 1682.

Charleston Harbor Sunset
Jim Miller of Mount Pleasant, 2018 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The harbor is where the Civil War began, with militia at Fort Johnson firing the war’s first shot onto Union-occupied Fort Sumter at the harbor’s entrance. On May 13, 1862 Robert Smalls, as a slave, commandeered the Confederate transport ship, The Planter, out of the harbor, disguised as the boat’s captain. His family and other slaves aboard the ship sailed out of the harbor to their freedom. Smalls later served five terms in the United States Congress.

Charleston Harbor Blue
Ben Saunders of Mount Pleasant, 2020 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The harbor, with a natural depth of 12 feet, is also where the Confederate submarine, the CSS H.L. Hunley, successfully attacked the USS Housatonic on the night of February 17, 1864. The Hunley was the first submarine to sink an enemy ship. The crew of the Hunley sank after the attack, killing all eight crewmen. The Hunley was discovered on the floor of the harbor in 1995. The vessel was recovered on August 8, 2000 and is now on display at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center in North Charleston.

Charleston Harbor Panorama
Kevin Ruck of Greenville © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Prior to the Civil War, the Rivers and Harbors Act of 1852 permitted dredging the channels of the harbor to a depth of 17 feet. However, the war interrupted the project, which was not completed until 1895. While the resulting jetties that now flank the entrance to the harbor allow for the entrance of large ships, they have been blamed for the continued erosion of nearby Folly Beach. Today the harbor has been dredged to a depth of 45 feet. A plan to further deepen the harbor’s channels to 52 feet to allow the entrance of post-Panamax ships began in 2015 by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

Shrimp Boat in Charleston Harbor

Jim Epper of Charleston, 2014 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

 

The Charleston harbor is vital to the economy of South Carolina with the State Ports Authority operating five public terminals. It is one of the most productive ports in the country, and shipping remains one of South Carolina’s top industries. The harbor is also a popular recreational site, with marinas, yacht clubs, cruise ships, the South Carolina Aquarium, and the annual Charleston Maritime Festival all making their home on Charleston’s waters. The Gloria, a visiting tall ship from Colombia, is seen departing the harbor during the 2016 festival in the below photo.

Tall Ship Gloria

Kathie Lee of Hollywood, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

 

Other gems – both natural and manmade – give life to the harbor, such as Castle Pinckney and Crab Bank Seabird Sanctuary. With forts and sand banks, barges and sailboats, history and business, and people and wildlife, the beating heart of Charleston can be found within the living waters of its harbor.

Charleston Harbor Container Ship

Nancy Garvin of Goose Creek, 2016 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

 

Plan Your Trip: Charleston Harbor

Where is Charleston Harbor located?
Address: Wharfside Street, Charleston, SC 29401
GPS Coordinates: 32.788177,-79.921368
What else should I see?
SC Aquarium 0.5 mile
United States Custom House 0.9 mile
St. Johannes Lutheran Church 1 mile
St. Stephen's Episcopal Church 1 mile
Show me more like this!
  • Charleston Historic Sites
  • See other South Carolina Civil War
  • See other South Carolina Military
  • See other South Carolina Rivers
    Charleston Harbor Map

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    Comments

    1. Richard Guay says

      April 23, 2017 at 11:06 AM

      Wow..what a beautiful ship! I was on board La Liberdad but El Gloria is more beautiful, and elegantly rigged. Congratulations, and happy sailing.

      Reply

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    Recent Posts

    • H.L. Hunley
    • Strand Theater
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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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