Online Exhibits > Civil War Photographs by George Barnard

RUINS OF THE NORTHWESTERN RAILROAD DEPOT
Charleston SC
1865

One building that had survived the 1861 fire was the Northeastern Railroad Depot. The Confederates stored a large quantity of gunpowder there prior to abandoning the city. On February 18, 1865, children playing with a candle ignited the powder, and over 150 people died in the explosion. Fires started by the rain of flaming debris destroyed more buildings.