National Register of Historic Places

Cigar Factory

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
Listed
November 25, 1980
Type
Building
Period
Industrial
Ref No.
80003658

About this property

The Cigar Factory is a historic industrial building at 701 East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina. It was constructed in 1881 and opened in 1882 as the Cotton Mill of Charleston. In 1912, it was purchased by the American Cigar Company who converted it into a cigar factory that was the largest private employer in Charleston during the 1930s. In the 1940s, it was the location of the 1945–1946 Charleston Cigar Factory strike where the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" emerged. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2024. A $30 million redevelopment of the structure began in 2014. By 2017, the factory was mostly leased. Current businesses in the building include restaurants, salons, an event venue, and an ophthalmologist's office.

Location

Charleston, Charleston County, South Carolina
32.79785, -79.93314

Categories

INDUSTRYARCHITECTURE
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Nearby Historic Sites

Tennent, Josiah Smith, House
Industrial
0.1 mi
Presqui'ile
Industrial
0.2 mi
Aiken, Gov. William, House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Jackson Street Freedman's Cottages
Industrial
0.5 mi
Read Building
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Siege of Charleston Apr-May 1780
1780Revolutionary War
1.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Cigar Factory listed on the National Register?

Cigar Factory was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Cigar Factory?

Cigar Factory is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Cigar Factory?

The period of significance for Cigar Factory is recorded as the industrial era.

Can I research the history near Cigar Factory?

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