History of Charleston, SC’s holiday photos

Christmas parade from December 1967 | The South Carolina Historical Society

Charleston Christmas Parade from 1967 | Photo via the South Carolina Historical Society

Table of Contents

Ebenezer Scrooge here. All I have to say about 2020 is, “bah humbug.”

Just kidding, but we are going to have a visit from the Ghost of Christmas Past this morning — past pictures that is. Charleston has a few holiday photos worth a share to remember the good times of togetherness + the holidays of years long past.

Pictures hold a lot of memories, including everything from the good, the bad, and the down right holly jolly. Let’s see what Charleston looked like in previous years around the holidays.

Lowcountry Pictures

Naval Shipyard official 58690

Christmas Dinner, Shipfitter in 1943 | Photo via the Lowcountry Digital Library via the Charleston Naval Shipyard Photograph Collection, Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum

Beaufort 1956

Santa Claus in his sleigh during the Christmas parade in 1956 | Photo Courtesy of Beaufort County Library

Beaufort Mather School

Mather School float in the Christmas parade in 1956 | Photo Courtesy of Beaufort County Library

Christmas parade from December 1967 | The South Carolina Historical Society

Charleston Christmas Parade from 1967 | Photo via the South Carolina Historical Society

McLeodFamPapers_St.JamesEpisChurch_SCHS

St. James Episcopal Church Interior from 1976 | Photo via the Lowcountry Digital Library via the South Carolina Historical Society

1990 Jack in the Box

Jack in the Box light display – one of the very first light displays at the Holiday Festival of Lights at James Island County Park’s opening year in 1990. | Photo via Charleston County Parks

1996 Ice Rink-page-0 (1)

Temporary ice rink at James Island County Park during the Holiday Festival of Lights in 1996 | Photo via Charleston County Parks

1997 Ice Rink-page-0 (1)

Temporary ice rink at James Island County Park during the Holiday Festival of Lights in 1997 | Photo via Charleston County Parks

Marshmallows 2001

Guests enjoying the marshmallow roaster at James Island County Park during the Holiday Festival of Lights in 2001 | Photo via Charleston County Parks

Copper River Bridge Light DisplayFE8B76_1

Cooper River Bridge light display at the Holiday Festival of Lights while the Ravenel Bridge was under construction in 2003. | Photo via Charleston County Parks

Scenes around the state

Greenville UHM Wilson Collection - Downtown - Sears

Downtown Greenville during the holidays in 1948. | Photo via the Upcountry History Museum

GVL Christmas parade float from 1970 | Greenville County Library System

Christmas parade float in Greenville from 1970. | Photo via the Greenville County Library System

COLA main st. 1956

Christmas lights on Main Street from 1956 | Image via The State Newspaper Photograph Archive via Richland Library

COLA Santa helicopter

Santa Claus arrives on the rooftop of Sears by a helicopter in 1955. | Image from The State Newspaper Photograph Archive via Richland Library

Find more holiday scenes from our state’s capital in Columbia here + throwback photos from Greenville here.

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