Columbia, South Carolina

Planned from the Start!

Columbia has a cool founding story! In 1786, South Carolina needed a new capital that was more centrally located (the old capital Charleston was on the coast). So lawmakers PLANNED an entire new city from scratch! They chose a spot in the center of the state where the Saluda and Broad Rivers meet to form the Congaree River. The city was laid out in a perfect grid pattern with wide streets - Main Street is 150 feet wide!

Sherman's Fire!

Columbia has a dramatic Civil War story! In February 1865, Union General William T. Sherman's troops captured Columbia. That night, a MASSIVE fire swept through the city, destroying much of downtown! To this day, historians debate whether Sherman's troops started the fire or if it was an accident. Either way, the fire destroyed over 1,400 buildings! Today, you can still see some buildings that survived the fire!

Gamecock Fever!

Columbia is HOME to the University of South Carolina, and the city goes CRAZY for Gamecock football! The team plays at Williams-Brice Stadium, which holds over 77,000 screaming fans dressed in garnet and black! On game days, the ENTIRE city transforms - you'll see Gamecock flags everywhere, people tailgating, and "Go Gamecocks!" signs on every corner! The team's mascot is a gamecock (a fighting rooster), and their battle cry is "Go Cocks!"

The Unique State House!

South Carolina's State House is SPECIAL - it still has bronze stars marking where Union cannonballs hit the building during the Civil War! The building was under construction during the war, and you can still see the damage marks on the granite walls. Six bronze stars show where the shells hit. Inside, the State House is beautiful with marble floors, grand staircases, and historical exhibits!

Soda City Market!

Columbia's nickname is "Soda City!" Why? Because "Cola" sounds like "Soda!" Every Saturday morning, Main Street hosts the SODA CITY MARKET - one of the Southeast's best farmers markets! Over 150 vendors sell fresh produce, handmade crafts, food, art, and more! Thousands of people come to walk Main Street, listen to live music, eat delicious food, and support local farmers and artists!

Three Rivers City!

Columbia sits where THREE rivers meet! The Saluda and Broad Rivers come together to form the Congaree River. This made Columbia a perfect spot for a city - rivers meant transportation, water power for mills, and drinking water! Today, you can kayak, canoe, and explore the Congaree National Park - one of the last old-growth bottomland hardwood forests in America with GIANT trees!

Arts and Culture Hub!

Columbia has a THRIVING arts scene! The Vista is the arts and entertainment district with galleries, theaters, restaurants, and nightlife. The Columbia Museum of Art has amazing collections including Renaissance and Baroque art. Every spring, the city hosts ARTISTA VISTA - a huge outdoor arts festival with over 40,000 visitors celebrating creativity!

Hot, Hot, Hot!

Columbia gets HOT in the summer - it's one of the hottest cities in South Carolina! Summer temperatures often reach the 90s and even 100°F! That's why everyone loves Columbia's pools, rivers, and Lake Murray (just 20 minutes away) for cooling off! But the warm weather also means you can enjoy outdoor activities almost year-round, and winters are mild!

Fort Jackson!

Columbia is home to FORT JACKSON - one of the U.S. Army's largest and most active training centers! About 50% of all soldiers and 60% of all women in the Army do their Basic Combat Training here! The base brings thousands of military families to Columbia and is a huge part of the city's economy and community!

Music and Entertainment!

Columbia has a great live music scene! The city hosts amazing concerts at venues like the Colonial Life Arena and outdoor festivals in Finlay Park. Local bands play in the Vista and Five Points neighborhoods. Columbia is also known for its connection to famous musicians - James Brown (the "Godfather of Soul") lived in South Carolina and performed in Columbia many times!

Historic Libraries and Museums!

Columbia has AMAZING museums and historic sites! The South Carolina State Museum is one of the largest museums in the Southeast with four floors covering art, history, natural history, and science - plus a planetarium! The museum even has a replica of the CSS Hunley submarine! The Robert Mills House is a beautiful historic home you can tour!

Southern Food Heaven!

Columbia serves up DELICIOUS Southern food! You'll find amazing barbecue (South Carolina is famous for its mustard-based BBQ sauce - unique to SC!), shrimp and grits, fried chicken, collard greens, sweet tea, and peach cobbler! The city also has great international food thanks to the university bringing people from all over the world!

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