Name/Title
375 Meeting Street (South Carolina Railroad Complex/Visitor Reception and Transportation Center)Entry/Object ID
MEETING.375.1Scope and Content
Bounded by Meeting, John, King, and Mary Streets, the buildings associated with the South Carolina Railroad Complex were constructed between 1849 and 1853. Most of these structures were built by the Camden line of the South Carolina Railroad in the mid-19th century. The complex stretches from the depot (the shell of which survives at 37 John Street), along the rail line, through various warehouse complexes, to the carpentry shops several blocks northward at the city line. Other surviving associated structures include the William Aiken House at 456 King Street; the Gas Engine Building constructed in 1858 (now 81 Mary Street, used as offices for the Chamber of Commerce); the Dean's Warehouse (375 Meeting Street, now in use as the Charleston Visitor Center); and the Martschinck Warehouse, surviving as a structural frame and covering the visitor transportation mall. Charleston was at the center of an ambitious scheme developed in the 1820s to link the port with the cotton transport of the Savannah River and perhaps farther west. With 133 miles of track between Charleston and Hamburgh (now Aiken), South Carolina, the city had the distinction of the longest railroad operation in the world at that time. Later a second line was developed in Camden, South Carolina. Various problems in the antebellum years, such as rising operating costs and its inefficiency as a passenger stations, spelled change in just a few short years, and the complex shifted to warehouses for freight.
The construction of the Visitor and Reception Center was a component of the central city revitalization effort. As mentioned above, three of the SC Railroad complex buildings were restored as the actual visitors center, a covered bus shed, and the Charleston Trident Chamber of Commerce headquarters. The remaining two buildings were bought by the city, slated for future development. The Visitor Center opened in May 1991.
Four files contain correspondence and other documentation relating to the planning, design, and opening of the Visitor Center and also about the dispute and design concerns articulated by SHPO; newspaper articles; historical research related to the South Carolina Railroad Complex including National Register nomination forms. Correspondence is primarily to and from Historic Charleston Foundation, City of Charleston, SC Department of Archives and History, and Preservation Society.
Three files arranged by date range: 1973-1980; 1981-May 1988; June 1988-1991. Fourth file containing newspaper articles, historical research information, VRTC brochure outlining goals, tourism management and transportation concepts, benefits, and processes/resources (Dalton Morgan & Partners).Collection
Historic Charleston Foundation Property RecordsAcquisition
Accession
MEETING.375.Source or Donor
375 Meeting Street (SC Railroad Complex/Visitor Reception and Transportation Center)Acquisition Method
Collected by StaffLexicon
Search Terms
Meeting Street, Visitor Reception and Transportation Center (VRTC), Historic buildings--South Carolina--Charleston, South Carolina Railroad, Visitors' centers--South Carolina--Charleston, Railroad facilities--South Carolina--Charleston, Southern Railway CompanyArchive Details
Archive Size/Extent
4 File FoldersArchive Notes
Associated Material: See Lowcountry Digital Library for SCRR records.
Finding Aids: Index to Property Files
Level of Description: FolderLocation
Location
Shelf
Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentDate
February 7, 2023Location
Container
PF Box 75Shelf
Prop File Shelves, Property File ShelvesRoom
Margaretta P. Childs ArchivesBuilding
Missroon HouseCategory
PermanentRelationships
Related Entries
Notes
MEETING.375.2, MEETING.375.3Related Publications
Notes
Buildings of Charleston (see Abstract), pg. 405-406Created By
admin@catalogit.appCreate Date
September 22, 2010Updated By
admin@catalogit.appUpdate Date
February 17, 2023