Historic Charleston..Then and Now

I was just looking through a collection of Civil War photographs that are located at the Library of Congress website. They had a collection of photos taken in Charleston, South Carolina right at the close of the war in April 1865. In looking through the pictures, a bell went off in my head...I had taken very similar pictures just last April, when we visited Charleston on vacation. So I began looking through both the historic and my modern photos, and found some that were taken at virtually the same location, creating an interesting then and now look at Charleston at the end of the Civil War in 1865, and 140 years later in 2005. Here are a few examples...

The old Market House was built in 1841. An enclosed market was located directly behind the building. It still is, and is a favorite with locals and tourists alike. 

This modern photo was taken from the exact same vantage point. And no...I hadn't seen the historic photo previously! The beautifully restored Market Hall has housed The Confederate Museum since 1898. 

This historic photo was taken looking north on Meeting Street with St. Michael's Church in the middle distance. St. Michael's was built in 1761, and George Washington worshiped here while visiting Charleston in 1791.

This modern view shows St. Michael's Church through the trees. The beautiful columned building in the foreground of both photographs is The South Carolina Society Hall, which was built in 1804, and has served as the Society's headquarters for over 200 years.

This historic photo is from the East Battery area at the southern tip of Charleston. A dismantled gun is in the foreground in the middle of the street.

This is a slightly different angle taken from the same corner. The yellow house with the curved fence is the same house in the foreground of the historic photo. The pink house is still directly behind it, and you can make out the tall white columns of the third house just past the pink one. 

Lake Powell, Arizona. 

St. Augustine, Florida is one of the oldest, most historic cities in America. This is St. George Street, a pedestrian street which cuts through the historic district. While it is an interesting street to stroll along, I find it way too touristy, lined with t-shirt and ice cream shops.

Almira, Washington is one of those towns that time forgot. 

This graceful bridge is the Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport, Oregon. It was built in 1936. 

I love finding little pieces of history like this. Back in the 1920's and 1930's most storefronts had the store name in tile at the front door. This well preserved example in located in the town of Snohomish, Washington.

City of Rocks State Park, New Mexico. 

Street sign on the Penha Building in Willemstad, Curacao. 

This is one of the many sidewalk cafes in Quebec City, Quebec. (Scanned print) 

This picturesque little canal is just off the High Street in Canterbury, England. 

Out for a stroll in Savannah, Georgia. 

As the locals would say..."The mountain is out." Mount Rainier National Park, Washington