Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #378376 in Books
• Published on: 2000-11-27
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

A lovely look at vintage Charleston...
Charleston: Alone Among the Cities, published by the South Carolina Historical Society, is a lovely book that looks back at vintage Charleston. The book is filled with photographs that are broken down into areas of the city including South of Broad, Downtown, the French Quarter, Ansonborough, Harleston Village, East Side, West Side and Charleston Neck. Most of them are taken in the late 1800's and early 1900's.

After the Civil War, Charlestonians found themselves strapped for cash. So when subsequent disasters hit including fires, hurricanes and the earthquake of 1886, they could only afford to repair rather than rebuild. Because of this, many of the old buildings are still around to enjoy today. The photographs in Alone Among the Cities include everything from churches, homes, business areas, parks, hospitals, schools, hotels and institutions. But it also provides a look at the darker side of Charleston including the Slave Market, slum houses and a segregated city. Some areas and buildings don't look much different than they do today. But tragically, more than a few of these beautiful landmarks have been lost or destroyed.

One section that I found really fascinating was about the little known South Carolina and West Indian Exposition of 1901-1902. Modeled after the popular Chicago Columbian Exposition of 1893, a magnificent Ivory City was erected on the site of what is now Hampton Park. Prior to reading Alone Among the Cities, I new nothing about this world fair. Sadly, nothing remains of the impressive but shoddily constructed buildings.

Although each photograph includes some history about the city, this book is by no means a comprehensive look at Charleston. Still, it's a fabulous book for those interested in Charleston-especially for a look at what went before. It's also a good book in that it doesn't lose sight of the fact that although Charleston is one of the most beautiful cities in America, she is not without some ugly history.