Mount Pleasant

When the first bridge, the Grace Memorial, was constructed in 1929, it opened up new opportunities for residents and visitors alike. Up to that point, Mount Pleasant had only been accessible from downtown by boat, or by car much further up the coast. The isolation and quiet was what attracted its first group of villagers to the area in the 1700s. The Old Village stands on what was once an old plantation: the original plantation home, Hibben House, was built in 1759. It remains a part of the historic district at 111 Hibben Street. In 1803, local James Hibben set out to organize the area into a more discernible village: the result was the beginning of Mount Pleasant's Old Village.

The Old Village was named to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1973; this designation covered the original thirty blocks spanning from the Charleston harbor, Shem Creek, Royal Avenue and McCants Drive. In 1979, locals came together to create their own historic association, which expanded the protected area to include an additional seven blocks. The Mount Pleasant Historical Association aims to "protect, preserve, and enhance architecture of the Old Village, and to encourage harmonious grown and development." These protections will ensure that the history and beauty of the Old Village last for generations to come.

Mount Pleasant Neighborhoods

Dating back to the 1800's, the Old Village served as a summer reprieve from the heat of downtown Charleston. Nearby Shem Creek provided cool breezes and a place for fishing, commerce and trade. Today, Shem Creek remains the historical epicenter for Mount Pleasant as well as a hub for waterfront dining and nightlife.