A building saved from demolition by Representative Mendel Rivers

Construction on the U.S. Custom House in Charleston began in 1853 under the direction of architect White. Because of construction costs and concerns over the possible secession of South Carolina, Congress paused the work in 1859. During the ensuing Civil War, the building was damaged by shelling. Funds were only appropriated during this period to protect the construction from rain. Work eventually resumed in 1870 and was completed in 1879 at a total cost of about US$2,806,000.

Architect Ammi Burnham Young was selected to produce a design that incorporated features of four competitive entries. The final plans called for a two-story, cross-shaped building with an elevated, rusticated basement. The west and east arms were to have Roman porticoes supported by Corinthian limestone columns. While the original design included a high dome, it was replaced in 1876 with skylights covering a two-story, square cortile or inside patio. The building features marble-faced walls, fluted Corinthian columns, and an entablature with a dentiled cornice.

By the 1960s, the Custom House was used by a number of federal agencies and faced the threat of demolition. Local preservationists worked with Representative Mendel Rivers to save the building. In 1964, "UNITED STATES CUSTOM HOUSE" was engraved in the frieze above the west portico, and over US$212,000 was spent on restoration in 1968. The building was placed on the National Register of Historic Places on October 9, 1974.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons