Tidal creeks are an integral part of coastal South Carolina ecosystems. These creeks usually reach from upland areas and increase in size until they join rivers, sounds, or harbors that ultimately connect to the ocean. In addition to providing food and refuge for fish, shrimp, and crabs, tidal creeks also protect adjacent lands from flooding.

There are many scenic creeks in Mount Pleasant, including beautiful Alston Creek pictured below.

SCIWAY thanks Cathy Hunnicutt of Mount Pleasant for sharing these pictures. Cathy and her husband Ed specialize in Charleston area real estate and offer many listings near or on tidal creeks like Toomer and Alston Creeks.

The park brings together history, recreation, tourism, and nature in one place. Along with this statue, you will find a large pier with a tackle and gift shop, a playground, an open-air sweetgrass basket pavilion, and lots of open green space.

As you approach the 1250-foot long pier, the war memorial pictured above is to the right. The names of dozens of local war veterans who were killed in action are displayed alongside the sculpture.

The war sculpture is of a grieving woman holding a folded American flag in one arm, and resting her other arm on a combat helmet and rifle. Famous sculptor Raymond Kaskey, who is known for creating the National World War II Memorial in Washington DC, created this sculpture especially for the Mt Pleasant Memorial Park. He designed this sculpture to represent the “contradictory emotions of loss and hope.”

The plantation has a long and interesting history, which became accessible to the public in 1956 when the McRae family bought it and began giving tours. Many festivals and events are held here throughout the year, and some of the most popular are weddings, Halloween Fright Night, Plantation Christmas, the Taste of Charleston festival, and the world’s largest oyster roast in January!

Special thanks to Cathy Hunnicutt of Daniel Island, who took this picture in October 2009.

After World War II, the Yorktown was decommissioned and underwent an extensive modernization. Her new angled deck made it easier to operate jet aircraft, and she was recommissioned in the early 1950s as an anti-submarine attack carrier. She served again in the Pacific during the Vietnam War, earning five battle stars. One of her final missions was the recovery of the Apollo 8 crew in 1968 after its mission to the moon. The Yorktown was permanently decommissioned in 1970.

The ship is famous for more than just her war time missions. The Academy Award-winning movie The Fighting Lady was filmed aboard the Yorktown, as was the movie Tora! Tora! Tora!, which recreated the attack on Pearl Harbor.

The Yorktown is listed in the National Register and is one of Charleston‘s most popular attractions.

Also, you can visit Patriots Point’s official website for more information.

The banks of Shem Creek were originally inhabited by Sewee Indians. Its name is thought to derive from the Native American word Shemee. Variations of this word include Shamee, Shembee, and Shimhee. The creek begins near present-day Bowman Road, where several small tributaries meet to form its head, and continues to wind through Mount Pleasant’s Old Village before eventually emptying into the Charleston harbor.

Shem Creek has a long history as a working creek, beginning in the 1740s when Peter Villepontoux operated a lime kiln on its banks. Several notable businessmen, including Andrew Hibben, also established successful ferries on the creek during this time. Although ferries have since given way to bridges and charter boats, Shem Creek remains one of the most popular channels in the area.

Several mills and factories were stationed on the creek during the 1800s, but commerce came to a halt during the Civil War as the mills were either destroyed or abandoned. It wasn’t until the turn of the century that the seafood industry began to take shape. By the mid-1940s, shrimping had grown into one of the most important industries in the area and several seafood companies, including the Mount Pleasant Seafood Company, had already been established on Shem Creek.

Today Shem Creek is a favorite watering hole, where tourists and locals alike go to enjoy everything the Lowcountry has to offer.

Do you have more to add about the history of Shem Creek? Please let us know!

Readers Sound Off!

Charleston resident Elizabeth Gurley says, “Here in Charleston, we jump at every opportunity to take advantage of our coastal locale. Whether you’re cruising Shem Creek, or setting sail down the Intracoastal Waterway, the scenery leaves nothing to be desired. Whether you denote the changing of the seasons by the turning of the marsh grass, or appreciate the deep-seated tradition of local shrimping, there is something for everyone to enjoy and be grateful for from this Lowcountry vantage point.”

Boone Hall is located just a few miles north of Charleston in the town of Mount Pleasant.

This photo was taken by Julie G. Rowe, a professional photographer who used to work at Boone Hall. Julie has a keen eye for capturing great shots on film. You can discover more of her photos at Julie G. Rowe Photography.

View more pictures of renowned South Carolina trees.

Chuck Morris got the idea for this painting while puttering around in a jon boat on Shem Creek near the Old Village in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. The scene as captured from the water line shows the magnitude of the boats as they rest against the dock.

Learn more about South Carolina shrimp.

To see more of Chuck’s paintings, please visit Chuck Morris Art.

Its predecessors, the historic Grace bridge and the Pearman bridge, were a beloved part of the Charleston skyline for almost 80 years. Over time, however, they became obsolete and unsafe for travelers. Charleston politician Arthur Ravenel spearheaded the campaign for a new bridge to be constructed over the Cooper River, replacing the old bridges.

The new bridge provides more than traffic relief to residents – it also has a bike and pedestrian lane, and the world famous Cooper River Bridge Run is held here every year.

Grace and Pearman Bridges – A Brief History

The Grace Memorial Bridge was known fondly (and also somewhat fearfully) by locals as the “Old Bridge.” Its two narrow lanes (10 feet each with no curbs or median) opened for traffic on August 8, 1929, as a toll bridge costing 50 cents per trip. This toll was used to pay for the bridge’s $6 million price tag; it was owned and operated by a private company named Cooper River Bridge, Inc. The president of this company, Charleston native John P. Grace, later served as its namesake.

Prior to 1929, people needing to travel between Charleston and Mount Pleasant did so by private boat or ferry. The bridge actually crosses two bodies of water – the Cooper River and Town Creek. In all, its length measures 2.71 miles; it is 15 feet higher than the Brooklyn Bridge in New York. At the time of its construction, it was the largest bridge of its kind in the world.

27 years later, in 1946, the state of South Carolina purchased the bridge and eliminated its toll. As it happened, a 10,000-ton freighter named “Nicaragua Victory” rammed into the bridge that same year. It ripped out a 240-foot section, causing Elmer Lawson and his family to fall into the water below.

Another bridge was built in 1966 alongside the Grace Bridge, and it was named for then Highway Director Silas N. Pearman. Most people, of course, knew it simply as the “New Bridge.”

Photos, Videos, and Webcams

• Driving over the Old Cooper River Bridge – Silent Video
• Demolition of Old Cooper River Bridge – Video
• Dismantling the Old Cooper River Bridges – Photos from beginning to end
• SCDOT Photo Gallery
• Ravenel Bridgecams
• Ravenel Bridge Grand Opening

Design of Authur Ravenel Jr Bridge

• Parsons Brinckerhoff – PDF – Project Plan
• Drilled shaft construction of new bridge
• Structure type of new bridge

Replacement of the Cooper River Bridges

• Cooper River Bridge Celebration – PDF – Speech by John P Grace at the opening of the first bridge in 1929
• Contract awarded to Palmetto Bridge Constructors
• Project Overview
• Constructor: Skanska