Charleston Come Hell Or High Water

This text captures the indomitable spirit of one of America's oldest and best-preserved cities. The collection of 168 black and white photographs depicts Charleston from the advent of photography in the 1840s through the late 20th century.

2020 George C. Rogers Jr. Award Finalist, best book of South Carolina history A study of Charleston's topographic evolution, its history of flooding, and efforts to keep residents dry and safe The signs are there: our coastal cities are increasingly susceptible to flooding as the climate changes. Charleston, South Carolina, is no exception, and is one of the American cities most vulnerable to rising sea levels. Lowcountry at High Tide is the first book to deal with the topographic evolution of Charleston, its history of flooding from the seventeenth century to the present, and the efforts made to keep its populace high and dry, as well as safe and healthy. For centuries residents have made many attempts, both public and private, to manipulate the landscape of the low-lying peninsula on which Charleston sits, surrounded by wetlands, to maximize drainage, and thus buildable land and to facilitate sanitation. Christina Butler uses three hundred years of archival records to show not only the alterations to the landscape past and present, but also the impact those efforts have had on the residents at various socio-economic levels throughout its history. Wide-ranging and thorough, Lowcountry at High Tide goes beyond the documentation of reclamation and filling and offers a look into the life and the history of Charleston and how its people have been affected by its unique environment, as well as examining the responses of the city over time to the needs of the populace. Butler considers interdisciplinary topics from engineering to public health, infrastructure to class struggle, and urban planning to civic responsibility in a study that is not only invaluable to the people of Charleston, but for any coastal city grappling with environmental change. Illustrated with historical maps, plats, and photographs and organized chronologically and thematically within chapters, Lowcountry at High Tide offers a unique look at how Charleston has kept—and may continue to keep—the ocean at bay.

Stories based upon traditional South Carolina local history and legends fill the pages of this haunting collection. Talented wordsmith Jim Aisle, known as the Lowcountry Liar, spins tales of the supernatural, the weird, the mysterious, and the humorous. These titillating tales are recorded and relayed to the gentle reader by his friend Brian Wanamaker McCr�ight, who tosses in a few of his own yarns to round out this clever collection. Each story begins with a folksy introduction from both the Lowcountry Liar and McCr�ight as they ramble about the region and ends with notes about provenance and fascinating facts. The tales have a life of their own and will resonate with all who have listened in rapt attention around a campfire surrounded by darkness. Included are ghostly legends from the great Late Unpleasantness, more often referred to as the Civil War, with such intriguing titles as "The Silverware Civil War" and the "Cross of St. George." Spooky twists abound in "Love Stinks" and "Mother's Milk." Even the most endearing of timeless tales, such as the popular "The Little White Dog of White Point Garden," are told in the Lowcountry vernacular and will become a favorite of every reader.

Discover the fascinating history and legacy of working equines in Charleston, South Carolina. Featuring thorough research, absorbing storytelling, and captivating photographs, Charleston Horse Power takes readers back to an equine-dominated city of the past, in which horses and mules pervaded all aspects of urban life. Author, scholar, and preservationist Christina Rae Butler describes carriage types and equines roles (both privately owned animals and those in the city's streets, fire, and police department herds), animal power in industrial settings, regulations for animals and their drivers, horse-racing culture, and Charleston's equine lifestyles and architecture. Butler profiles the people who made their living with horses and mules—from drivers, grooms, and carriage makers, to farriers, veterinarians, and trainers. Charleston Horse Power is a richly illustrated and comprehensive examination of the social and cultural history and legacy of Charleston's equine economy. Urban historians, historic preservationists, general readers, and Charleston visitors interested in discovering a vital aspect of the city's past and present will enjoy and appreciate this impressive work.

In early 20th-century Charleston, Laura Bragg was called a woman ahead of her time, a fresh drink of water in a cultural desert, but never a proper Southern lady. This biography tells the story of the woman who changed the cultural face of Charleston and the nation's approach to museum education.