Columbia, SC
Capital of South Carolina
Known as “Soda City”
Overview
Columbia is the capital city of South Carolina, located in the Southeast region of the United States. Founded in 1786, the city has grown to a population of approximately 136,632 residents within a state of 5,118,425 people. As the seat of South Carolina's state government, Columbia serves as the political and administrative center of the state.
The city is home to the South Carolina State House, a Neoclassical / Italian Renaissance Revival structure that has been a landmark since its completion in 1907. Designed by John Rudolph Niernsee (original); Frank Milburn and Charles Coker Wilson (completion), the capitol building stands as a testament to the state's history and governance, attracting visitors from across the country and around the world.
Columbia has served as the capital of South Carolina since 1786. Before Columbia, the state's capital was located in Charleston.
South Carolina State House
The South Carolina State House in Columbia took over 50 years to complete, from 1851 to 1907, with construction interrupted by the Civil War. The building still bears bronze star markers on its western and southwestern facades indicating where Sherman's artillery struck during the 1865 bombardment of Columbia. The granite exterior and iron dome make it one of the most historically significant capitols in the South.
Italianate design by John Rudolph Niernsee
Notable Features
- Bronze stars marking where Union artillery struck during the Civil War
- Took over 50 years to complete (1851-1907)
- Native blue granite exterior
- Monuments and memorials on the extensive grounds
- Iron dome with copper covering
- Grand lobby with marble floors and decorative columns
Media Gallery
Original footage coming soon! User-submitted photos welcome.
Fun Facts & Trivia
- ★Bronze stars on the South Carolina State House mark the spots where Union artillery shells struck the building during General Sherman's bombardment of Columbia in 1865.
- ★Construction took over 50 years, making it one of the longest capitol construction projects in U.S. history.
- ★South Carolina was the first state to secede from the Union in December 1860, and the State House was at the center of secession politics.
- ★Columbia was chosen as the capital in 1786 as a compromise between the Lowcountry (Charleston) and the Upcountry.
- ★The original architect, John Rudolph Niernsee, died during construction, and the building was not completed until decades later.
- ★The surrounding grounds contain over 30 monuments and memorials, including statues of notable South Carolinians.