West Point Rice Mill, Historic rice mill in Charleston, United States
West Point Rice Mill is a four-story brick building running roughly 140 feet along the Ashley River with walls laid in Flemish bond pattern. The structure displays the practical, blocky style typical of 19th century industrial buildings, with its mass and form designed simply for the work it held inside.
The mill was built in 1861 to replace a facility destroyed by fire, then processed Carolina Gold rice until 1920. This period marked Charleston's peak as North America's leading rice producer before the industry declined in the region.
The structure stands as a reminder of when Charleston was defined by its role in the rice trade and the labor that sustained the city's prosperity. The brick complex represents an important chapter in how the community built its wealth and shaped its waterfront character.
The building sits at Lockwood Drive next to Charleston's City Marina and is easy to reach from the waterfront area. After renovations in the 1990s, the interior now holds offices and restaurants, so you can explore the exterior and surroundings, but the inside serves commercial tenants rather than public exhibition space.
When Union Army troops occupied Charleston in 1865, the mill shifted from processing rice to serving as a food distribution point for the city. This sudden change reveals how buildings adapted their purpose during wartime to meet immediate community needs.
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