Cigar Factory

Cigar Factory
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
U.S. National Historic Landmark
Cigar Factory
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Location	701 East Bay St., Charleston, South Carolina
Coordinates	32°47′51″N79°56′5″W / 32.79750°N 79.93472°W / 32.79750; -79.93472
Built	1882
Architect	A. D. Lockwood & Company
Architectural style	Victorian commercial
NRHP reference No.	80003658 (NRHP nomination) 100011360 (NHL designation)
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	November 25, 1980
Designated NHL	December 13, 2024

The Cigar Factory is a historic industrial building at 701 East Bay Street in Charleston, South Carolina. It was constructed in 1881 and opened in 1882 as the Cotton Mill of Charleston. ^{[1] [2]} In 1912, it was purchased by the American Cigar Company who converted it into a cigar factory that was the largest private employer in Charleston during the 1930s. ^[3] In the 1940s, it was the location of the 1945–1946 Charleston Cigar Factory strike where the civil rights anthem "We Shall Overcome" emerged. ^[4] The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 2024.

The Cotton Mill of Charleston opened in late 1882.

A $30 million redevelopment of the structure began in 2014. By 2017, the factory was mostly leased. ^[5] Current businesses in the building include restaurants, salons, an event venue, and an ophthalmologist's office. ^{[6] [7]}

References

1. "The Charleston Steam Cotton Mill Now in Operation". Charleston News & Courier. December 29, 1882. p. A1.
2. "The New Cotton Mill". Charleston News & Courier. December 6, 1881. p. 4 (col. 1). Retrieved December 3, 2012.
3. Hill, David (October 4, 1983). "Tobacco Factory Has Long History". Charleston News & Courier. pp. B4. Retrieved October 12, 2013.^{[ dead link ]}
4. Peterson, Bo (September 21, 2003). "Civil rights anthem rose to prominence in Charleston strike". The Post & Courier. pp. B1. Retrieved March 8, 2014.^{[ dead link ]}
5. McDermott, John (March 22, 2017). "Charleston's landmark Cigar Factory is refinanced". Post and Courier. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
6. "Directory". Cigar Factory. Archived from the original on September 22, 2019. Retrieved August 5, 2020.
7. "Contact Retina Consultants of Charleston | Leading Retina Specialists". www.retinacharleston.com. September 27, 2011. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved February 16, 2022.