Columbia Things to Do Tips by doug48 Top 5 Page for this destination

strom thurmond statue

located on the grounds of the south carolina state house is the strom thurmond statue. strom thurmond (1902-2003) was a south carolina governor and u.s. senator. thurmond served in the u.s. senate from 1954 to 2003 and retired when he reached 100 years in age. in 1948 thurmond ran for president on the states rights democratic party ticket which had a segregationist platform. in 1925 thurman had an affair with his parent's black maid carrie butler who gave birth to essie may washington. thurmond financially supported his daughter until his death in 2003. after thurmond's death washington wrote "dear senator : a memoir by the daughter of strom thurmond". strom thurmond was married to jean crouch from 1926 until her death in 1960. in 1965 thurmond married former miss south carolina winner nancy moore when she was only 22 years old. they were married until thurmond's death in 2003. strom thurmond is a very interesting character in u.s. history.

Address: main street.

Directions: downtown.

Website: http://www.scstatehouse.net/

hampton-preston house

the hampton-preston house was built by ainsley hall in 1818. it was bought by wade hampton in 1823. later wade hampton became a famous confederate civil war general and south carolina statesman. this house was the headquarters of union general j.a. logan during the occupation of columbia in 1865. later the hampton-preston house became a college for women.

Address: 1615 blanding street

Directions: downtown columbia, histortic district

Other Contact: http://www.civilwartraveler.com/

Website: http://historiccolumbia.org/

mills house

the robert mills house was built in 1823 for the wealthy merchant ainsley hall. robert mills was a famous columbia architect who designed the washington monument in washington D.C. in 1831 the home was sold to the presbyterian theological society of columbia. joseph wilson, the father of president woodrow wilson was a minister there between 1872 and 1874.

Address: 1616 blanding street

Directions: down town columbia, historic district

Website: http://historiccolumbia.org/

university of south carolina

the university of south carolina is a very nice place to visit for those interested in antebellum architecture and history. the usc campus has an excellent collection of greek revival, low country plantation style, and neo classical buildings. for more examples of usc campus architecture see my usc travelogue.

Address: 816 bull street.

Directions: downtown.

Phone: 803-777-7700

Website: http://www.sc.edu/

mc kissic museum

the mc kissick museum is located on the "horseshoe" on the campus of the university of south carolina. the beginnings of the mc kissick collection dates back to 1823 when the university purchased the mineral collection of naturalist thomas cooper. by the 20 th century the museums collections had expanded to include fine, folk, and decorative arts. the museum also hosts traveling art exhibitions. for admission and times see the attached web site.

Address: 816 bull street.

Directions: university of south carolina campus, downtown.

Phone: 803-777-7251

Website: http://www.cas.sc.edu/mcks/

koger center

the koger center for the arts is the cultural hub of columbia. the koger center hosts the USC dance company, the USC symphony and the South Carolina symphony. the world renown violist frank killian is a frequent performer at the koger center. check out the koger center website for schedule of events.

Address: 1051 greene street

Directions: downtown columbia

Other Contact: http://koger.sc.edu/

Phone: 803-777-7500

Website: http://www.scphilharmonic.com/

confederate relic room

the south carolina confederate relic room and military museum is an interesting place to visit when in columbia. the relic room houses an interesting collection of confederate flags, uniforms, and weapons from the civil war. the museum also hosts traveling exhibitions from museums from around the world.

Address: 301 gervais street

Directions: downtown columbia

Other Contact: http://www.civilwartraveler.com/

Website: http://www.state.sc.us/crr

general wade hampton statue

located on the grounds of the south carolina state house is a statue of wade hampton. hampton was a celebrated confederate civil war general. wade hampton became south carolina's first governor after reconstruction. hampton served as governor from 1876 to 1879 and was considered "the savior of south carolina" for leading the state out of the hardship and terror of the reconstruction decade. hampton became south carolina's united states senator in 1879.

Address: main street

Directions: downtown columbia

Other Contact: www.columbiasouthcarolina.com

Website: http://www.scstatehouse.net

south carolina confederate memorial

the south carolina confederate memorial is located on the grounds of the state house in downtown columbia. this memorial has a standing soldier motif which is common in the south.

Address: main street.

Directions: downtown.

Website: http://www.scstatehouse.net/

columbia museum of art

the columbia museum of art is located on main street in downtown columbia. the museum hosts traveling exhibitions of modern art and photography. see the attached web site for current exhibitions and times.

Address: 515 main street.

Directions: downtown.

Phone: 803-799-2810

Website: http://www.columbiamuseum.org/