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2608 Cypress Street

Former French Consulate

First located at 1924 Main Street, as seen here in C. Drie's 1872 Birdseye Map of Columbia, this cottage was once the French Consulate to the Confederacy. According to eyewitnesses, the building, under a French flag, was the only structure on Main Street spared during the Burning of Columbia in February 1865. Sixty years later, the house was given to Frederick G. Swaffield, Jr., who moved it to 1301 Barnwell Street. When the city rezoned that area for commercial use, the house was moved to this site in 1977 and rehabilitated.

  • 2608 Cypress Street

    2608 Cypress Street, 2018. Historic Columbia collection

  • sanborn

    Image courtesy the Library of Congress

34.0022499, -81.006135

NTHP Preservation Award Winner
Historic Columbia

© 2026 Historic Columbia

Administrative Offices
1601 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Tours
All historic house and garden tours start at the Welcome Center at Robert Mills.
1616 Blanding Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Questions? Call (803) 252-7742.

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