United States Customs House at Charleston, South Carolina, c. 1879
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Overlooking Bay Street and the harbor, construction of the Customs House in Charleston began in 1853, but progress was slow as the land it was built upon was in essence a swamp, and required extensive work just to lay a foundation, which was completed in 1855. But then came the Civil War and construction was halted until 1870, and in fact, the incomplete structure was damaged by shelling during the war.
The cruciform shaped building, built on a Roman Corinthian concept, is monumental in scale, stretch 259 feet on its east-west axis and 152 feet on its north-south. Marble is liberally used through, including office fireplaces. Today the building remains as it was intended, a U.S. Customs House. The United State Custom House is located at 200 East Bay St., at the foot of Market St. It is not open to the public.
