INTERNATIONAL
LONGSHOREMEN'S HALL
1142 and 1152 Morrison Drive
The work of a longshoreman is one of hard physical labor loading, unloading and organizing heavy cargo from ships around the world. Those in this field, primarily African Americans, trace their history as a collective group in Charleston back to 1869 with the Longshoremen Protective Union Association.
By 1875 and with a membership of 800, the LPUA staged several successful strikes to increase wages. The News and Courier described it as “the most powerful organization of the colored laboring class in South Carolina.” The devastating earthquake of Aug. 31, 1886, and the Sea Island Hurricane of 1893, among other local disasters, disrupted longshoremen's work; Charleston's LPUA charter was not renewed in 1900.
By 1936, a new union was created in South Carolina with the expansion of the International Longshoremen's Assocation, which moved its headquarters from New York to Charleston. The ILA grew to become a political and economic force in the state and beyond.
Nevertheless, racial discrimination continued through the 20th century, and unionization did not protect ILA members when longshoremen's work was often divided along racial lines. On the Charleston waterfront, African American longshoremen of the ILA 1422 managed the cargo and ships, while white men of the ILA 1771 more often held administrative roles as clerks and checkers.
The ILA Local 1422 Hall, constructed in 2002, was planned as a gathering place for Charleston’s African American community and has served as a meeting and event space for multiple organizations beyond the ILA.
The hall was designed by Charleston native Harvey Gant, who was the son of a longshoreman, as well as one of the Burke High School students who staged the Kress lunch counter sit-in 1960. Gant went on to become the first African American to enroll at Clemson University and became the first Black mayor of Charlotte, N.C. His design was inspired by the ships on which the longshoremen worked, with windows resembling portholes and a tower similar to a ship's smokestack or lighthouse. The hall is considered to be his most iconic work in Charleston.
A new headquarters for ILA 1422 opened in North Charleston in 2020. Shortly thereafter, a proposal was made to demolish the former ILA Hall and replace it with a large-scale condo/retail development.
The Preservation Society of Charleston joined many residents to oppose the demolition, citing "the significance of its association to the local legacy of union workers, civil rights activism, and the notable architectural career and civic impact of Harvey Gantt. Further, the Preservation Society believes this building presents the quality and scale that should set the tone for the Upper Peninsula as it continues to develop. While not yet technically considered historic due to its relatively young age, the building possesses clear architectural and cultural value that should be considered worthy of preservation."
In March, 2022, the City of Charleston’s Board of Architectural Review unanimously denied the building proposed for the site due to its incompatibility with Charleston’s urban character. The property was sold in 2025 to Morrison OZB LLC for $24.5 million.
Today, the ILA boasts one of the largest private pension funds in the state. Benefits such as competitive pay and health insurance have opened doors of opportunity Charleston's African American dockworkers. It also continues to actively engages in local politics and social justice initiatives.
