CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) – The U.S. Navy took possession of the land that would eventually become the Charleston Naval Base on Aug. 12, 1901.
The land for what was originally called the Navy Yard was located on the west bank of the Cooper River, just north of where it meets the Ashley River. Construction started quickly on the buildings and dry dock, which would be the largest on the East Coast.
By 1910, work began on vessels of the naval fleet. At first, the yard focused just on repairs, but it would eventually be home to new construction for dredges, cutters, gunboats, submarine chasers, tugs, barges, and even steamboats…