Things To Do
Camden Archives & Museum
1314 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020
803-425-6050
Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm and 1st and 3rd Sunday 1-5 pm
Admission Charged.
This 98-acre museum complex is the site of the original town of Camden. Camden is the oldest inland town in South Carolina, built in 1730 under the direction of King George II. The archive includes manuscripts, city records, books, pamphlets, photographs, maps, newspapers, and reference materials relating to the history of Camden, Kershaw County, and South Carolina in particular. Spend the day exploring the many historic buildings. The museum complex also has a shop, nature trail, and picnic area.
Columbia Museum of Art
Main Street at Hampton
Downtown Columbia
803-799-2810
Tue-Sat, 10am- 5pm; Sun 1- 5pm
Admission Charged except first Saturday of each month.
The Columbia Museum of Art is the largest fine art museum in South Carolina and has a world-class collection of American and European fine and decorative art that spans centuries. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Monet, Botticelli, Canaletto and Remington. Changing international exhibitions, concerts, gallery talks and family and children's programs are scheduled throughout the year. Other amenities include a museum shop, art library, teacher resource center, and education wing. The museum is conveniently located downtown near lodging, restaurants and public transportation.
Cayce Historic Museum
Cayce-West Columbia - Airport
1800 12th St., Cayce
803-739-5385
Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm; Sat & Sun: 2pm-5pm
Admission Charged
The Cayce Historic Museum chronicles the history of the first European settlement in the Midlands of South Carolina. The museum exhibits display periods of Colonial trade, agricultural development, and transportation from the 18th Century to present. Native American artifacts date back thousands of years.
Challenger Learning Center
Downtown Business District
2600-A Barhamvile Rd., Columbia
803-929-3951
8:30am-4:30pm
Admission Charged
Using high-technology space flight simulators, individuals have the opportunity to experience space flight and conduct hands-on experiments. While they're conducting simulated missions, they're also learning math, science technology, engineering, communications concepts, team work, and problem-solving skills.
Columbia Film Society/ Nickelodeon Theatre
Downtown Business District
937 Main Street, Columbia,
803-254-3433
Mon-Sat: Shows at 7:00 and 9:00pm; Sunday matinees at 3:00pm
Admission charged.
The Nickelodeon Theatre is an all-volunteer, non-profit arts organization whose aim is to stimulate discussion and enhance appreciation of media arts by making available a variety of cultural and artistic films and videos.
Columbia Fire Department
1800 Laurel St, Columbia
803-733-8350
Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm; weekends by appointment only. Admission Free
The front portion of the building is dedicated to preserving Columbia Fire Department memorabilia. The museum educates the public about the importance of the Columbia Fire Department and the professional men and women within its service. Museum attractions date back as far as the mid-1800's and include a 1929 American LaFrance fire engine and 1903 horse-drawn steamer, interactive exhibits, equipment from days gone by, pictures of the six fire chiefs that have served Columbia since the early 1900's and a photo history of firefighting in Columbia.
Congaree National Park
100 National Park Rd.
Hopkins, SC 29061
803-776-4996
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5:00pm
Admission Free
The Congaree National Park offers hiking, primitive camping, bird watching, picnicking, canoeing, kayaking, and nature study. A ranger is provided for all interpretive walks and canoe tours. The 22,000 acre National Park protects the largest intact tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest remaining in the United States. The park contains some of the tallest trees in Eastern North America with one of the highest canopies in the world, broad bio-diversity, and old-growth forest.
Fort Jackson Museum
Bldg 4442 Jackson Blvd., Fort Jackson, SC 29207-5100
803-751-7419
Tues-Fri: 10:00am-4:00pm; Sat: 1:00pm-4:00pm; Closed all Federal Holidays
Admission Free, visitors must show a picture ID, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
The museum was established in 1972 with an initial collection of 20 artifacts. The collection has grown to over 3,800 pieces of military weapons, uniforms, and vehicles from World War I to present. The museum uses an assortment of military weapons, uniforms and other equipment to illustrate how the American soldier has been trained to perform his duties in peacetime and war. Theses displays are supplemented by exhibitions that deal with special areas of interest, such as the installation's namesake (President Andrew Jackson), women who have served on post, and the major units that have trained at Fort Jackson since World War I. Several typical military vehicles and artillery pieces from World War I to the present are displayed outside the museum building, which is adjacent to a small picnic area.
Governor's Green
Downtown Business District
800 Richland St., Columbia, SC 29201
803-737-1710
Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10:00am, 10:30am, 11:00am (except holidays & event days)
Admission Free
The Governor's Green is a nine-acre complex consisting of the Governor's Mansion, built in 1855; the Lace House, built in 1854; and the Caldwell-Boylston House, built in 1830.
Historic Columbia House Museums
Downtown Business District
Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding Street, Columbia SC 29201
803-252-1770, ext.24
Tuesday - Saturday: 10am-4pm, last tour begins at 3pm; Sunday: 1-4pm, last tour begins at 4pm.
Admission Charged. Single admission (per person per house) or Combination Tickets (tours of all four house museums) are available. Purchase all tickets for the four house museums at the Robert Mills Welcome Center and Museum Shop.
Historic House Tours are offered every hour on the hour. Parking is available off Henderson Street between Blanding and Taylor Streets.
Historic Columbia was founded in 1961 by a group of preservationists determined to save the Ainsley Hall House, known today as the Robert Mills House. More than four decades later, Historic Columbia now manages four historic house museums and their associated artifacts.
Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens: This restored urban estate chronicles the early years of our new nation through the Civil War. Set with family furnishings and artifacts, the mansion depicts the years 1818 - 1868.
Robert Mills House & Park: Robert Mills was the first Federal architect in the United States. He designed some of the nation's most prominent buildings, including the Washington Monument. Built in 1823, the mansion displays decorative arts and local history of the early 19th century.
Woodrow Wilson Family Home: Woodrow Wilson, the nation's 28th president, spent part of his youth in Columbia. He and his family lived in this home built by his parents in 1872. The Tuscan-villa styled cottage is furnished with several Wilson family pieces, with the most famous being his birth bed.
Mann-Simons Cottage: Celia Mann, an enslaved Charlestonian midwife, purchased her freedom, walked to Columbia and acquired this circa-1850 cottage before the Civil War. The collections in the cottage reflect the entrepreneurial spirit of free blacks. An exhibition presents information on Celia Mann and her descendants, the restoration of the cottage and the archaeological excavation at the site.
Iceland-Irmo
1019 Broad Stone Road
Irmo, SC 29063
803-407-7737
Monday - Thursday, 3:00-5:30 PM; Monday & Thursday, 7:30-9:30 PM; Friday, 12:00-5:30 PM; Saturday & Sunday, 12:00-4:00 PM; Friday & Saturday, 7:30-10:00 PM
Admission Charged
Ice skating recreational & sports complex
Kensington Mansion
Columbia Southeast - Ft. Jackson
Located on Highway 601 approximately 6 miles south of Highway 378,
803-353-0456 (Information or Reservations)
Thurs, Fri, and Sat, 9:30am, 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm. Tours are available year round (except major holidays).
Admission Charged
Built in 1854 by Matthew R. Singleton, this estate reflects life that was typical of pre-war Southern aristocracy. After being abandoned and falling into disrepair in the early part of the century, Kensington Mansion is now on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been restored and refurbished under the guidance of the Sumter County Museum and Archives. When you go, be sure to notice the beautiful domed ceiling with ornamental plasterwork in the dining room.
Lexington County Museum
Lexington - St. Andrews - Irmo
231 Fox St., Lexington, SC 29072
803-359-8369
Mon: closed; Sat: 10am - 3:30pm; Sun: 1- 3:30pm; Tues- Fri: 10am - 3:30pm
Admission Charged
The Lexington Museum is a 7-acre property with 20 outside structures. The Lawrence Corley Log House was built by a Revolutionary War soldier in 1772 and rests on part of Corley's original land grant. The Heinrich house is a typical river house built in 1774. The Hazelius House is a four room cottage built before 1820. The Oak Grove Schoolhouse was built in 1820 and the John Fox house was built around 1832. The site also displays slave quarters, winter and summer dairy sheds, a smokehouse, a potato house, loom rooms, and a cotton gin house. Tours are conducted by costumed guides.
McKissick Museum
Downtown Business District
University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208
803-777-7251
Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm (open until 7pm on Thursday); Sun: 1-5:00pm
Admission Free
The McKissick Museum is a general University museum with galleries exhibiting displays in the natural sciences, arts, material culture, history, and permanent galleries on the gem and mineral collections.
Riverbanks Zoo & Garden
Riverbanks Main Entrance
500 Wildlife Parkway, just off I-126 at Greystone Blvd.
Riverbanks Garden Entrance
1300 Botanical Parkway, just off SC Highway 378 at I-20 and I-26
803-779-8717
Daily park hours: 9:00am-5:00pm. Extended summer weekend hours: 9am-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays (April - September). Riverbanks Zoo & Garden is open every day except for Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Special closings may be announced.
Riverbanks is home to more than 2,000 magnificent, fascinating and exotic animals, as well as 70 acres of scenic river views, spectacular valley overlooks, beautiful landscapes and significant historic landmarks. For 30 years, Riverbanks has provided individuals, families and groups with a common place to connect with and learn about the world's wildlife and wild places.
St. Peter's Catholic Church
Downtown Business District
1529 Assembly St Columbia, SC 29201
803-779-0036
Mass times: Sat 6pm; Sun 8:30am & 11am; 12:30pm & 6pm; Mon, Wed-Fri: 8am; Tues: 8:45am
Admission Free
St. Peter's Catholic Church dates from 1906 and replaces the original structure built in 1824 and later destroyed by the fire. The architect of the State House, John Niersee, is buried in the church's graveyard.
Sesquicentennial State Park
9564 Two Notch RD, Columbia
803-788-2706
Mon-Sun, 8am-6pm (extended from 7am to 9pm during Daylight Savings Time)
Admission Charged
This 1,419-acre park, situated in the middle of the sandhills region, features a beautiful 30-acre lake surrounded by trails and picnic areas. The park was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal Program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930's. The program was designed to provide employment during the Great Depression while addressing national needs in conservation and recreation. A number of buildings built by the CCC in the 1930's are still in use at this park. A two-story log house, dating back to the mid-1700's, was relocated to the park in 1969. It is believed to be the oldest building still standing in Richland County. The park's convenient location attracts both local residents and visitors.
SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame
Lexington - St. Andrews - Irmo
5400 Broad River Rd
Columbia, SC 29212
803-896-8199
Mon-Fri: 8:30am-5pm
Admission Free
The SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame offers exhibits on historical and contemporary aspects of law enforcement.
South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum
Downtown Business District
301 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC 29201
803-737-8095
Tuesday - Friday: 10am-5pm; Open 10am-5pm the first and third Saturday of each month
Admission Charged for 21 and older
The Confederate Relic Room & Museum is one of the best museums of its type. It was established in 1895 to honor South Carolina's Confederate veterans. There is an excellent presentation of uniforms, flags, naval artifacts, weapons, monies, personal possessions and a torch used by Sherman's army to burn Columbia. The collection annually attracts Civil War enthusiasts from all over the world.
South Carolina Governor's Mansion
Downtown Business District
800Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201
803-737-1710
Tues, Wed, Thurs: 10am, 10:30am, 11am (except holidays & event days)
Admission Free
The South Carolina Governor's Mansion became the official residence for state governors in 1868. Built in 1855 as a residence for officers of Arsenal Military Academy, the building was spared during the burning of Columbia in the War Between the States.
South Carolina State Museum
301 Gervais St
803-737-4921 or 803-898-4935
Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays 1 - 5 p.m. Closed: Mondays, New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Admission Charged
The old Columbia Duck Mill, a massive four story factory, was the first mill to use hydropower and electricity in America. The mill is now the home of the South Carolina State Museum which has four floors of exhibits about South Carolina. The first floor features Lipscomb Art Gallery and a great hands-on discovery area with lots of things to try out. The second level features the state's natural history and traveling exhibits. The third level focuses on science and technology while the fourth floor showcases the state's history.
Supreme Court of South Carolina
Downtown Business District
1231 Gervais St Columbia, SC 29201
803-734-1080
Open to the public weekdays, 8:30am-5:00pm
Admission Free
The Supreme Court of South Carolina provides guided 20 minute tours appropriate for 7th grade and above by appointment only. Visits without tour possible on short notice. Tour includes the large courtroom downstairs where the Seal of the Supreme Court is displayed, the smaller courtroom upstairs, and the library. The courtrooms are not shown when court is in session.
The State Farmers Market
Downtown Business District
Bluff Road Columbia, SC 29201
803-737-4664
Mon-Sat, 6 am - 9 pm
Admission Free
Fresh fruits and vegetables arrive daily at the largest produce market in the Southeast. Visitors and buyers welcome. Located across the street from the University of South Carolina's Williams-Brice Football Stadium.
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
Downtown Business District
1100 Sumter St Columbia, SC 29201
803-771-7300
Offers daily tours. Call the cathedral office for a tour schedule.
Office Hours: Mon-Fri, 8:30am-5:00pm
Admission Free
For nearly two centuries Trinity Cathedral has played a key role in the Episcopal Church in South Carolina and in the life of the City of Columbia. From its beginning in 1812 as a small mission outpost in the new state capital, it has grown to a thriving parish with more than 3,200 baptized members.
Tunnelvision
Downtown Business District
Taylor and Marion Streets Columbia, SC 29201
"Tunnelvision" is an unbelievably realistic mural painted in 1975 by artist Blue Sky on the wall of the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank. It portrays a highway disappearing through a mountain tunnel and is so life-like that viewers are tempted to drive in. AgFirst Farm Credit Bank commissioned Blue Sky to design a sculpture to commemorate the 25th anniversary of "Tunnelvision." The sculpture, "Busted Plug Plaza," is located on the Taylor side of the bank's property. A second mural, Light at the end of the Tunnel, is located at Hampton and Bull Streets. The mural represents the world on the other side of the tunnel in "Tunnelvision."
US Army Adjutant General Corps Museum (Fort Jackson)
Columbia Southeast - Ft. Jackson
Bldg. 4392, Strom Thurmon Blvd Fort Jackson, SC 29207
803-751-1747
Mon.-Fri: 8am-4:30pm; Exhibit Gallery: Wed and Thurs, 10am-4pm. Open by appointment on Mon., Tues, and Fri.
Admission Free
The U.S Army Adjutant General's (AG) Corp Museum is available to the public for research on the history of the Army AG Corps and general information on the history of the US Army. The US Army Adjutant General's (AG) Corp Museum is one of over 60 Army museums located across the country and around the world. The museum was established in 1996 to preserve, study, interpret the material culture and tell the story of the AG Corps from 1775 to present. The Museum is located in Building 4392, on the corner of Strom Thurmond Boulevard and McGruder Street, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The Museum is open to the general public, however, visitors must show I.D, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
US Army Chaplain Museum
Columbia Northeast - Ft. Jackson
US Army Chaplain School 10100 Lee Road Ft. Jackson, SC 29207
Tuesday - Thursday 1-4:30 and by appointment, closed Federal Holidays and weekends
Admission Free
Established in 1957, this specialized and extensive collection of artifacts and archival material chronicles the men and women who have aided and served the Army both spiritually and militarily. Exhibits span from the establishment of the Chaplain Corps in 1775 to a piece of the destroyed Pentagon wall from 9/11.
US Army Finance Corps Museum (Fort Jackson)
Columbia Southeast - Ft. Jackson
Building 4392 Strom Thurmond Blvd Fort Jackson, SC 29207
803-751-3771
Wed & Thurs: 10am-4pm (closed 1pm-2pm)
The Museum is open to the public, however, visitors must show I.D, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.
Admission Free
The US Finance Corps Museum traces the 221-year history of the Finance Corps, one of the Army's oldest branches. Exhibits cover military pay and how it affects military life from the American Revolution to the present.
USC Horseshoe
Downtown Business District
900 Block of Sumter St Columbia, SC 29201
803-777-0169
The USC Horseshoe is the original campus of the University of S.C. chartered in 1801. A stroll along the Horseshoe offers a delightful view of early 19th century architecture. The buildings have been restored to their antebellum appearance and are used as living quarters, classrooms, and faculty offices.
USC Melton Memorial Observatory
USC Department of Physics & Astronomy Columbia, SC 29201
803-777-4180
Open every clear Monday night to the public. From May to September: 9:30 - 11:30 pm. From October to April: 8:30 - 10:30 pm.
Admission Free
With an on-campus location, Melton Memorial Observatory offers views of many of the night sky's wonders that are accessible both to the local residents and to students.
USC Visitor Center
Downtown Business District
937 Assembly St. Columbia, SC 29208
803-777-0169
Mon-Fri: 8:30am - 5pm; Sat: 9:30am - 12:30pm
Admission Free
The USC Visitors Center is a great place to learn about University events, programs, and services. Friendly, knowledgeable staff is always on hand to assist you. When you arrive on campus, make the Visitor Center, the official "front door" of the University, your first stop on the campus. The Visitor Center provides tours, exhibits, and displays to showcase the University.
