Charleston was founded in the 1670s by English colonists and was named Charles Town in honor of King Charles II. The city remained base for trade, merchants, and landowners until the Civil War. The devastation of the Civil War, and the ruin of the Charleston’s hinterland, lost the city its regional dominance. Charleston also suffered from the earthquake in 1886, which caused any deaths and damaged the city’s infrastructure. At the beginning of the 20th century, the population of Charleston was over 55,000. The U.S. Naval Station in Charleston was founded in 1901. Starting in World War II, Charleston became a significant naval base. Charleston is known for its many historical landmarks, and it became a leader in the historic preservation movement from the 1920s to 1940s. The city council introduced the nation’s first landmark district zoning laws in 1931.

Here below are some historical photos of Charleston city from 1865 to 1930s.