We love looking back at old photos of South Carolina. Times may be ‘a-changing’ around here, but we can still admire and be proud of our past. Some of these spots are so recognizable they appear to have hardly changed at all. But take a closer look and you just may discover an entirely new view. On the other hand, some of them are completely different! Take a look below.
1. USC Williams-Brice Stadium, Columbia - 1950 or 1951
This historic photo was taken during a Billy Graham revival in 1950 or 1951. Note at the top of the photo you can see the old horse track that used to circle the fairgrounds. Amazing.
2. Table Rock State Park, Pickens - Date unknown
A colorfully illustrated image depicts a diving platform long gone from the landscape along the beach at Table Rock State Park. The giant landmark looms in the background of the photo just as it looks today.
3. The Cooper River Bridges, Charleston and Mt. Pleasant - 1967
Same river, but these bridges no longer exist... much to the delight of just about anyone who was ever tasked with driving over the smaller, skinner of the two. They were replaced in 2005 by the all new Ravenel Bridge, the third longest cable-stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere.
4. Myrtle Beach - January 1963
US 17-Business (Kings Highway) heading north around 64th Avenue North in Myrtle Beach - before all the development.
5. Duncan Park Stadium, Spartanburg - 1936
Once host to more than just baseball games, this ballpark has been a community gathering place for decades.
6. Farmers and Exchange Bank, East Bay Street in Charleston - 1958
For the most part, this photograph taken nearly 60 years ago depicts a mostly unchanged building on Charleston's highly traveled East Bay Street. It was constructed in 1853 with Moorish Revival features rarely seen in the United States
7. Falls Park on the Reedy, Greenville - 1973
Long before the park and surrounding area was developed, this treasured city park was nothing more than a waterfall dropping under a bridge. Today, it's a treasured recreational resource.
8. Coker Spring, Aiken - early 1970s
Aiken's beloved Coker Spring has served populations since prehistoric times. In the early 1970s it was excavated and restored. The structure surrounding the spring is said have been built in the 1800s. It's shown here in the 1970s just after excavation and just prior to restoration.
9. The intersection of Beltline Boulevard and Farrow Road in Columbia - March 1961
The busy intersection looks much less complicated 50+ years ago than the hot mess it is today.
10. McCormick Train Station, McCormick - date undetermined
Once a bit of an eyesore in the middle of town, McCormick's old train depot is so beautifully restored now it could be dropped right into Disney World and fit right in.
11. Troy, SC - 1961
The older covered bridge is getting replaced by the newer steel variety in this shot captured in 1961. But things change... Neither one of these bridges is in place on this rural road in near Troy in Greenville County today.
12. Myrtle Beach State Park - 1936
Wow. Think about your parents and their parents hanging out here in those bathing suits that covered so much in the 1930s.
13. Winnsboro - April 1962
It's amazing how much things change AND also stay the same.
14. Two Notch Road in Columbia - May 1966
Getting gas was so much easier when someone else pumped it for you! It was also probably much easier to fill the tank when it was 31.9 cents a gallon...
15. Poinsett Bridge, Landrum - 1955
Now surrounded by a beautiful 120-acre heritage preserve, the Poinsett Bridge shown here in 1955, has a mere marker to demonstrate its significance in South Carolina's transportation history. The bridge is the oldest remaining stone bridge in our state and was still open to vehicular traffic at the time this photo was taken.
Looking back, it is truly remarkable how things can change and stay the same. For more old photos from South Carolina take a look at these 21 rare images from the Great Depression .
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