Charleston Firsts

In the late 1690s, the first rice planted in America was grown in the vicinity of Charleston.

In 1707, America's first recognized woman artist, Henrietta Johnson, began painting portraits in Charleston.

In 1732, the South's first newspaper, the South Carolina Gazette, was established in Charleston.

In 1733, America's first prescription drug store was established in Charleston.

In 1735, the Dock Street Theatre, the first building in America constructed for theatrical productions, was opened. The first opera in America was performed there that same year.

In 1736, the first insurance company in America, The Friendly Society for Mutual Insurance of Houses, was formed. (It was bankrupted by the great fire of 1740, which destroyed more than 300 buildings.)

In 1737, the first scientific observations about the weather were recorded by Dr. John Lining.

In 1739, Mrs. Elizabeth became the country's first woman newspaper editor and publisher when she took over the operation of the South Carolina Gazette upon the death of her husband.

In the 1740's, a young girl named Eliza Lucas developed the first commercial crop of indigo on her father's plantation.

Oldest formal gardens in the U.S. were at Middleton Place, established 1740.

In 1748, Charleston shipped America's first export cotton (seven bags) to England.

In 1773, the Charleston Chamber of Commerce was the first City Chamber of Commerce in the country.

Also, in 1773, the Charleston Museum Society was the first Museum Society organized in America, and the Library Society of Charleston was the South's first library.

In 1775, the first time an American flag replayed the British Union Jack was in Charleston.

In 1785, the College of Charleston was the first municipal institution for higher learning chartered in the United States.

In 1826, the first attempt at fireproof construction was the Fireproof Building. Its designer, Charlestonian Robert Mills, was also responsible for the design of the U.S. Treasury Building and the Washington Monument.

In 1830, the first steam locomotive ever to operate with passengers and freight, "The Best Friend," traveled from Charleston to Bamberg, SC. The rail line between the two towns was the world's longest.

In 1851, the first artificial ice was made by John Gorrie.

In 1863, the first use of a submarine in warfare was "Hunley's Boat", by the Confederates in Charleston Harbor.

In 1890, the first book jackets in America were made by Isaac Hammond.


South Carolina Facts

First state to secede from the Union.

First commercial tea farm in the U.S. was in Summerville, and the only commercial tea farm in the U.S. today is in the area, American Classic Tea.

Longest living Senator and the only man elected on a write-in vote is Strom Thurmond.

South Carolina produces more peaches per capita than any other state in the U.S.

Motto: "Dum Spiro Spero" While I breathe, I hope.

Bird: Carolina Wren

Nickname: "Palmetto State"

Tree: Palmetto Tree

Flower: Yellow Jessamine

Stone: Blue Granite

Gem: Amethyst

Songs: "Carolina" and "South Carolina on My Mind"

Animal: White Tailed Deer

Fish: Striped Bass

State Fruit: Peach

Beverage: Milk

Dance: The Shag