Local History
Visit Columbia. Discover our stories. A freed woman of color creates a new life for herself and later generations. A future U.S. president grows from boy to man in the turmoil of the post-war South. Planter aristocrats craft their social circle of privilege. An architect reveals his design genius through landmark buildings. A trailblazing activist charts a course for social justice.
From the actions of these citizens and countless others, Columbia grew from its modest beginnings in 1786 as South Carolina's second state capital to become a modern southern city known for its role in government, education, commerce and recreation. Today touted for its diversity, temperate climate, and affordability, Columbia is a city whose complex past continues to shape an optimistic future.
Remembering Columbia
Remembering Columbia, by Historic Columbia's Director of Preservation John Sherrer, is a visual road map that merges images with accounts of people, sites, and events pulled from historical newspapers, diaries, and ephemera. Building upon the efforts of previous generations, this account explores South Carolina’s capital city from its early years through the mid-20th century in ways previously underdeveloped or altogether unrepresented. The result is an intriguing detective story that will be enriching, surprising, and compelling to life-long residents, newcomers, and visitors alike.