The Best Friend of Charleston, America’s first passenger steam locomotive built entirely in the U.S., made its inaugural six-mile trip on Christmas Day 1830 along tracks laid by the South Carolina Canal & Rail Road Company. This event marked a pivotal moment in transportation history, with the locomotive reaching speeds up to 25 mph, astonishing crowds at the time.
Replica Location
A full-size replica stands at the Best Friend of Charleston Museum on 23 Ann Street, behind the Charleston Visitor Center in the historic district near the Charleston Museum. Another replica is displayed at the South Carolina State Museum in Columbia.
Fate of Original
The original operated for about six months before its boiler exploded on…..