Coming Street Cemetery

Coming Street Cemetery is a Jewish burial ground in Charleston containing about 600 grave and memorial stone markers in marble and brownstone, surrounded by a stuccoed brick wall. The grounds date from the colonial period and hold burials that continued through the late 1800s.

The cemetery was established in 1762 and ranks among the oldest Jewish burial sites in the southern United States. It remained active until 1887, documenting more than a century of Jewish presence in Charleston.

Hebrew inscriptions on the gravestones show how early Jewish settlers were buried here and played important roles in Charleston's commerce and religious life. The cemetery grounds reflect the values and practices of a community that preserved its traditions across generations.

The cemetery is not freely accessible and visits must be arranged in advance through the Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim Synagogue. Guided tours are offered that provide insight into the history and gravestones.

A wall division on the cemetery grounds shows a physical separation caused by religious disagreements within the Beth Elohim congregation in the 1800s. This visible split tells a story of internal conflicts that divided the Jewish community.

Location: South Carolina

Inception: 1762

GPS coordinates: 32.78972,-79.94278

Latest update: December 14, 2025 14:24