09/01/2026
One hundred and forty years ago today, The Great Charleston Earthquake, estimated magnitude 7.3, changed the city forever.
Yet, Charleston's story wasn't defined by destruction; it was defined by rebuilding.
Nearly 10,000 cartloads of rubble were removed in the first week alone. Instead of abandoning the city's beautiful masonry buildings, Charleston looked for ways to save them.
"Most of the damaged houses in your city can again be drawn into shape and made as strong and reliable as ever... by placing heavy angle iron on the corners, and connecting rods with nuts on the end... These strong rods can remain hidden from sight by ornamental heads to cover them."
Today, we simply call them earthquake bolts.
Read more in our latest Charleston history blog post here: https://bit.ly/4xBtO9O
