Travel back in time to a place in South Carolina's history when there were fewer people and even fewer automobiles on our highways. In many ways life was much simpler back then. Thank goodness our roads have expanded and grown in efforts to keep up with the population explosion that's occurred in The Palmetto State in the last century. It must be a daunting, never-ending task to keep up with it all.

These 21 rare photos provide a glimpse into the past and a keen look at how the state has managed to update South Carolina's roads and bridges over the last century. We even tucked in a few shots of ferrys that used to haul people over waterways before all the bridges were built. Take a look.

1. Converse, SC

A car crosses an old truss bridge with a wooden surface in this photo taken in Spartanburg County in January 1953.

2. St George, SC

It's a busy day on US 15 (Parlar Street) in St George. This photo was taken in June 1953.

3. Greenwood, SC

Greenwood's busy Main Street in May 1953. I love the iconic "Bank of Greenwood" sign in the top left of this photo and all the old cars diagonally parked on the right side of the shot.

4. Laurens County, SC

I would so totally cross this bridge today. Would you? It was located on S.C. 252 crossing Rabon Creek in Laurens County.

5. Denmark, SC

Main Street (U.S. 78) in Denmark looks slightly different today than it did in this photo taken in January 1953!

6. Chester County, SC

Wooden slats line the floor of a bridge this school bus is crossing in 1952. Workers are building a bridge replacement in the foreground of this shot. This photo was taken on S.C. 901 in Chester County, crossing Rocky Creek.

7. Olanta, SC

U.S. 301 in Olanta in February 1953.

8. Mountain View, SC

The lookout from S.C. 107 in Mountain View has long been a favorite spot to gawk at the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains. This photo was taken in August of 1952.

9. Columbia, SC

A work crew toils in the summer heat to widen Columbia's Assembly Street. This photo was taken in July 1952.

10. (north of) Greenwood, SC

This shot shows a beautiful smooth highway just north of Greenwood. The photo was taken on U.S. 378 in 1951.

11. Savannah River Bridge from U.S. 17

Recognize this place? Things sure change. This shot was taken on U.S. 17 at the Georgia border crossing of the Savannah River, on the South Carolina side.

12. Anderson, SC

In January 1951, this bridge crossed the Seneca River in Anderson. Today, this area is all under water.

13. Georgetown County, SC

Two automobiles cross on the South Island Ferry, from Georgetown County in 1950.

14. Enoree, SC

A partially covered wooden bridge crosses the Enoree River on SC 118. This photo was taken in 1950.

15. Mount Pleasant, SC

Do you recognize this section of Coleman Boulevard from this photo taken in January 1959? You might if it included the giant parking garage that's here now.

16. Van Wyck, SC

Before convenient bridges were constructed, ferries served as the main way to get your vehicle across a body of water. Here, Ashe's Ferry carries a truck from one riverbank to another while another vehicle approaches the chute on the far side, waiting for his turn on the ferry. Taken in Lancaster County in 1950.

17. Clover, SC

A truck travels over a picturesque bridge near Clover, on U.S. 321. Photo taken in 1953. Here's this spot today.

18. Pickens County, SC

Rt. 288 in Pickens County looked like this in 1950. Today, she's still beautiful, just paved.

19. Columbia, SC

The Gervais Street bridge is shown here in 1949. Notice the solid lines on the surface? Do you notice many other differences?

20. Columbia, SC

Here's that same bridge (Gervais Street in Columbia) under construction in 1929.

21. Charleston, SC

Wow. This was Charleston's busy Highway 61 in 1940.

In March of 1917 South Carolina passed the State Highway Act, thereby establishing the South Carolina Highway Commission. The agency is celebrating 100 years this year. Our hats are off to the folks who take the pothole complaints, who fix roads, build roads and watchdog the safety of our bridges. Thanks for all you do.

If you want to see more rare photos from the past, The SCDOT Facebook page is celebrating the agency's Centennial by posting a nostalgic photo every day in 2017.

For more rare photos from South Carolina's past, check out these 21 photos taken in South Carolina during the Great Depresssion, or this video footage from the 1930s.