“What if a river could tell stories?” it might whisper, as you stand here on the banks of the Cooper River. This isn’t just any river. The Cooper River is a tidal river in South Carolina. It is full of history and life.
The cities of Mt. Pleasant, Charleston, and Goose Creek embrace its shores. The Cooper River is short and wide. The East Branch joins it first. Farther downstream, the tidal Wando River merges with it. Almost immediately, it joins the Ashley River. Together they form the Charleston Harbor.
The Cooper River was named for Anthony Ashley Cooper. He was the 1st Earl of Shaftesbury. More importantly, he was a chief Lord Proprietor of the Carolina Colony. Charleston was founded on the Ashley River’s bank in 1670. It later moved across to its current peninsular location.
The Cooper River has long been a commercial waterway. The Santee Canal connected the West Branch to the Santee River in the late 18th century. Today, the Cooper River basin is unified with the Santee River system. This happened due to artificial rerouting.
Rice and indigo plantations once thrived here. These plantations included Lewisfield and Mulberry. Mepkin is now Mepkin Abbey. It is a Trappist monastery. These sites are part of the Cooper River Historic District.
Daniel Island and Drum Island lie adjacent to the Cooper River. Cargo terminals and a paper mill line the shore. The former Charleston Naval Base also sits here. Patriot’s Point naval and maritime museum is at the river’s mouth. The USS Yorktown is berthed there. It is a World War II aircraft carrier.
Goose Creek flows into the Cooper River. It was the site of a U.S. Navy submarine base. This base handled nuclear weapons for fleet ballistic submarines.
Ferries once were the only way across the Cooper River. In 1929, the John P. Grace Memorial Bridge opened. It was followed by the Silas N. Pearman Bridge in 1966. The Don Holt Bridge was completed in 1992.
The cable-stayed Arthur Ravenel, Jr. Bridge opened in 2005. It replaced the older bridges. Today, the Ravenel and Holt bridges carry all motor vehicle traffic. A popular 10k run crosses the bridge each spring. It is known as the Cooper River Bridge Run.
The Cooper River has seen centuries of change. It has supported commerce and conflict. It has shaped the landscape. It has also shaped the lives of those around it. As you stand here, remember the stories. Remember the people who have lived by this river. They have left their mark on its waters. The Cooper River continues to flow. It connects the past to the present.