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Gadsden's Wharf is a
wharf
A wharf, quay (, also ), staith, or staithe is a structure on the shore of a harbour or on the bank of a river or canal where ships may dock to load and unload cargo or passengers. Such a structure includes one or more berths ( mooring locati ...
located in Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina, the county seat of Charleston County, and the principal city in the Charleston–North Charleston metropolitan area. The city lies just south of the geographical midpoint o ...
. It was the first destination for an estimated 100,000 enslaved Africans during the peak of the international slave trade. Some researchers have estimated that 40% of the enslaved Africans in the United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country Continental United States, primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., ...
landed at Gadsden's Wharf. At one point, the wharf was the largest in America. The wharf is now home to the South Carolina Aquarium
__NOTOC__
The South Carolina Aquarium, located in Charleston, South Carolina, opened on May 19, 2000, on the historic Charleston Harbor in the former location of the Anson Borough Homes, a public housing project that was closed over soil contami ...
, Fort Sumter, and the International African American Museum which will open in 2023.Construction of the wharf and importation of enslaved people
Christopher Gadsden
Christopher Gadsden (February 16, 1724 – August 28, 1805) was an American politician who was the principal leader of the South Carolina Patriot movement during the American Revolution. He was a delegate to the Continental Congress, a brigadie ...
began constructing the Wharf in the late 1760s. In the years following, Gadsden expanded it, repaired it, and updated it until the break out of the American Revolution. In March of 1787, the South Carolina General Assembly prohibited slave importation for three years. In 1800, the Assembly extended the ban until 1803. Between 1803 and 1805, approximately 80 ships brought in over 14,000 people. In 1806, the first newspaper ads featuring enslaved Africans for sale at Gadsden’s Wharf appeared. Later the same year, on February 17, 1806, the city of Charleston passed an ordinance that all vessels carrying enslaved peoples had to land at Gadsden’s Wharf.
On January 1, 1808, Congress’ ban on slave imports took effect and Gadsden’s Wharf was put to other uses, though enslavers continued to trade in human beings until the 1860s.
Site of the International African American Museum
Long time mayor of Charleston, Joe Riley, first mentioned plans for a museum dedicated to the history of African Americans in Charleston. Nearly 20 years later, an October groundbreaking ceremony was celebrated after reaching their $100 million campaign goal. Early advocates for the museum also include CongressmenJim Clyburn
James Enos Clyburn (born July 21, 1940) is an American politician and retired educator serving as a Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina. He has served as House Majority Whip since 2019. He is a two-time m ...
, and now retired College of Charleston professor of history. Retired College of Charleston professor Bernard Powers was named the interim CEO of the International African American Museum.
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