Written by Kim
We set off on our 3+ week road trip and already made a change to our itinerary. Instead of stopping first in Augusta, GA we decided we should see our state capital. We packed up our Kia Seltos and set off on our adventure.
Located near the geographic center of South Carolina Columbia developed at the confluence of the Broad and Saluda rivers, which form the Congaree River. Established in 1786 as South Carolina’s first planned capital city, it has served as the seat of state government for more than two centuries and is home to the South Carolina State House.
We started with some delicious lunch at Kao Thai (pics for my foodie friends).
After lunch, we enjoyed a Voicemap self-guided walking tour to learn about the city. If you’ve followed our blog you know this is a favorite of ours. It’s an app where locals creating walking tours that are guided by your phones GPS. We’ve done several of them in US cities and abroad. They normally cost about $7 and are very informative. Our tour started at the Capital Building.
In 1786, after the Revolutionary war the state capital of SC was moved from Charleston to Columbia since it was more centrally located. Sadly SC was the first state to secede from the union prompting the Civil War. The Union Army under Sherman captured Columbia on February 17, 1865 During the American Civil War, much of the city was destroyed in the burning of Columbia in 1865 before being rebuilt during Reconstruction. The current state capital was finished in 1855. A fun fact – the capital building has 52 steps representing the number of years it took to build it. There are lots of monuments around the capital building.
The Palmetto tree was built in 1856; it is a cast iron and copper palmetto commemorating the Palmetto Regiment, South Carolina’s soldiers in the Mexican-American War.
African American monument shows history of African Americans. First in country on state grounds. Pre dates MLK monuments by 10 years
Gold stars around the building show civil war cannon strikes.
James F. Byrnes was a prominent SC politician. He served in all 3 branches of federal and state government. He was the SC governor and an advisor to both FDR and Truman.
Like every city in the south there were lots of churches.
Trinity episcopal church built 1845. Gothic architecture built like cross – survived burning of Columbia
First Presbyterian – Scottish influence similar to church in Charleston
There’s an entire district of the city named after America’s first federal architect, Robert Mills. In addition to the mansions in Columbia he also designed the Washington Monument & Treasury Building.
Robert Mills House or Ainsley Hall
Hampton Preston mansion built 1818 pre civil war
There is some quirky artwork around the city which was created by a local Columbia artist, Blue Sky.
Tunnel vision mural
We visited Richland County Public Library, named the 2001 National Library of the Year, serves area citizens through its main library and nine branches. The 3 story library is huge (242,000-square-foot) with a large book collection, meeting rooms, children’s section and computer center. There are live trees throughout the gorgeous building. What an amazing place
After walking more than 3 miles on our tour it was time for happy hour at Pearlz.
Well Friday, November 13 really turned out to be a great day for us but many others traveling had their challenges with the FAA ground stop which grounded all flights in US and the collision of the tanker and river cruise ship in New Orleans. God was with us again as we planned a road trip rather than a flight or cruise today.
Tomorrow we head to Columbus, GA. Until then…..
