1948 Map of Charleston

About this map

The dense urban grid of Charleston is captured here during its mid-century industrial height, framed by the expansive waters of the Ashley River and the Cooper River. The northern neck of the peninsula shows heavy maritime and defense infrastructure, dominated by the Navy Yard and the U S Naval Reservation, while the historic city core terminates at the Battery. Harbor defenses including Fort Sumter, Castle Pinckney, and Fort Johnson guard the seaward approaches. Inland, the map reveals a series of distance-named settlements such as Sixmile House and Fourmile House, tracing the historical progression of travel north from the city. Significant burial grounds including Magnolia Cem and St Lawrence Cem occupy large tracts near the marshlands of Shipyard Creek, providing essential records for genealogical research in this coastal South Carolina hub.