South Carolina: Mosquito Beach Historic District

Quick Facts

Location:

James Island, South Carolina

Designation:

National Register of Historic Places

Mosquito Beach Historic District is located on the South side of Sol Legare Island in Charleston, South Carolina. The historic district affectionately gained its name during the mid-1950s, due to insects collecting near the tidal creek. Mosquito Beach Historic District was originally part of an island plantation owned by Solomon Legare during the antebellum period (1797-1878). Sol Legare Island parallels the coastline of Folly Beach, and stretches approximately 2.5 miles. The island split into farming lots after the Civil War, with Black farmers serving as prominent buyers. Residency of Black farmers transformed the former island plantation into a freedmen settlement. Until the first decades of the twentieth century, Mosquito Beach was mostly undeveloped land. The farmlands extended from King Flats Creek to Holland Island Creek. The “strip” portion of the beach occupied three Black-owned farming lots prior to the 1920’s. Nelson Left, Edward Green, and John Lafayette were the lot’s owners and represented hundreds of other Black farming families in the area.

Between 1920 and 1940, Mosquito Beach became a thriving tourist destination. Despite Jim Crow segregation, African Americans found ways to enjoy their leisure time. Mosquito Beach became one of six Black beaches in Charleston. Black residents were barred from visiting nearby Folly Beach, which was considered “whites-only.” In July 1963, eight young African American men “waded-in” the waters of Folly Beach. After exiting the waters, those eight young men were chased down the street by a white mob. The Folly Beach wade‐in was part of a larger movement of protests by the Black community in Charleston. There were a number of direct action campaigns, which included silent marches throughout the downtown area, sit‐ins in the city’s commercial districts and other wade‐ins at municipal swimming facilities.

The passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 presented African Americans with legal backing to challenge de jure segregation. However, white Charlestonians chose to directly, and at times, violently, oppose it. One week after the signing, a group of Black men from Mosquito Beach visited Folly Beach and were "surrounded immediately by a group of several hundred white persons," who followed the men to the water’s edge before police escorted them back to their cars. Russel Roper, of Mosquito Beach, recalled being harassed by whites spewing abusive language and aggressive behavior. One of Roper’s friends suffered a blow to the face by someone in the white mob. Upon Roper and friends returning to Mosquito Beach, they found their vehicle gas tanks had all been filled with sand.

In the early 1970’s, many of the Charleston Beaches started to desegregate. While there were numerous business and attractions in operation, this ultimately lessened the usual throngs of Black visitors to Mosquito Beach. In an attempt to increase business, locals Donald and Frances Roper built a juke joint and dance club. However, the gradual integration of Charleston’s beaches had a profound impact on the beach. Despite the changing of times, Mosquito Beach has remained a pillar of Black innovation and excellence. 

The Mosquito Beach Historic District became part of the the African American Civil Rights Network June 2021.

The African American Civil Rights Network recognizes the civil rights movement in the United States and the sacrifices made by those who fought against discrimination and segregation. Created by the African American Civil Rights Act of 2017, and coordinated by the National Park Service, the Network tells the stories of the people, places, and events of the U.S. civil rights movement through a collection of public and private elements.