Industry and Commerce Tour

Industry and commerce in the area began with the Native American Indians. Mount Pleasant industry, mostly based on brickmaking, timber, and livestock, grew and changed over time. The invention of the tidal rice mill in Mount Pleasant revolutionized rice for the colonies. While rice was not a large industry in Mount Pleasant, these mills were sold to different colonies, many that can still be seen along the Georgia coast today. Shipyards on Hobcaw Creek were a major industry until 1831. Following the Charleston fire of 1838, brickmaking became a bustling industry. Many of the bricks in downtown Charleston were actually made in Mount Pleasant. The absence of the rail line limited industrial development but after World War II, Mount Pleasant saw a significant increase in development. It was during this time that shrimping centered at Shem Creek became a main industry. In the 1940s, African American women were shucking oysters, drying moss, growing flowers, making baskets, and selling these products around town. What had once been fields and farms, grew into new businesses and housing. As the population increased, service-oriented businesses, banks, restaurants, grocery stores, hotels, small to mid-size retail, technology, and research industry grew to meet the needs of the community.