page_title: United States Custom House (Charleston, South Carolina)
section_title: Later history
hierarchical_section_title: United States Custom House (Charleston, South Carolina) / Later history
caption_attribution_description: English: U. S. Custom House, Charleston, S. C. exterior 1991
context_page_description: The U.S. Custom House or U.S. Customhouse is the custom house in Charleston, South Carolina. Construction began in 1852, but was interrupted in 1859 due to costs and the possibility of South Carolina's secession from the Union. After the Civil War, construction was restarted in 1870 and completed in 1879. The building was placed on the National Register of Historical Places on October 9, 1974. It is also a contributing property of the Charleston Historic District.
context_section_description: It is possible that the north and south portico were enclosed to increase office space in repairs after the 1886 Charleston earthquake.
  In 1906, a heating system replaced the use of stoves and coal grates. In 1910, plumbing and electrical lighting were installed.
  By the 1960s, the Custom House was used by a number of federal agencies. Threatened with demolition, local preservationists with the help of Representative Mendel Rivers worked to save the building.
  In 1964, "UNITED STATES CUSTOM HOUSE" was engraved in the frieze above the west portico. In 1968, over US$212,000 was spent on restoration.
caption: U. S. Custom House, Charleston, S. C. exterior 1991
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