CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) — The Charleston Naval Base officially closed after nearly a century of service two decades ago, ending an era that shaped the Lowcountry’s economy and military history.
Having opened in 1901 on the Cooper River, the base built and repaired hundreds of Navy ships and submarines, supported two world wars, the Cold War and conflicts in Korea and Vietnam.
At its peak, it employed tens of thousands of service members and civilians. For decades, it was South Carolina’s largest civilian employer and a major driver of the Lowcountry economy…