Columbia Tourist Attractions

Columbia is not only the state capital but also the largest city in South Carolina. The Saluda River and the Broad River meet there. Columbia is home to more than 137,000 people. It serves as the state capital and principal cultural, economic, and educational hub of South Carolina.

Columbia is home to the University of South Carolina, Fort Jackson, and numerous multinational corporations. The State House, Congaree National Park, and the Five Points neighborhood are just a few of the city's many historical landmarks.

The South Carolina State House is the state's administrative center and where both houses of the South Carolina General Assembly are located.

The state capital of South Carolina is located in Columbia, and its governor and lieutenant governor both have offices there. Capitol Square, where the State House is located, is a historic area between Main and Assembly streets on Gervais Street.

Explore the neighborhoods of Five Points: In the heart of Columbia, you'll find the community and historic commercial district known as Five Points. Santee Avenue, Harden Street, and Devine Street converge at a five-way intersection to form the neighborhood's namesake.

This dynamic neighborhood has many places to eat, shop, and have fun. Some of the city's most recognizable landmarks can be found here, including The Arcade Mall and Confederate Monument Park.

Travel back in time by visiting the Columbia Museum of Art, which houses a collection of artworks spanning multiple centuries and cultures.

Below are some things to keep in mind as a tourist in Columbia, South Carolina:

Visit the Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Over 2,000 animals worldwide can be found at the Riverbanks Zoo, making it one of the largest zoos in the United States. More than 70 acres of gardens and trails await discovery at the Garden.

The State House Museum is a must-see for any history buff. Museum exhibits focus on South Carolina's past and can be found in the statehouse.

Come to Congaree National Park for an unforgettable adventure. The park protects one of North America's most extensive floodplain forests and many endangered plant and animal species.

Riverbanks Zoo and Garden

Address: 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Phone: +1 803-779-8717

The Riverbanks Zoo and Garden helps preserve South Carolina's unique flora, fauna, and several of the state's most important historical sites.

The Riverbanks property spans 170 acres and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1973 due to its significant historical significance, including the textile industry's development in South Carolina in the early 1800s and the American Civil War.

Visitors can now see relics from the Zoo and Garden's illustrious past at several locations throughout the grounds.

South Carolina State House

Address: 1100 Gervais Street, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Phone: +1 803-734-2430

The South Carolina State House in Columbia serves as the state's official seat of government. South Carolina's legislative branch and the executive offices of the state's chief executive and vice president are located here.

Between 1786 and 1790, the original State House was built. The architect was a young Irishman named James Hoban who settled in Charleston soon after the American Revolution.

President Washington hired Henry Laurens to design the White House after the latter received a recommendation from Laurens himself. In 1865, Columbia, including the Old State House, was burned to the ground.

Those traveling in large groups are encouraged to make reservations in advance. The tour company will send a parking information packet after making a reservation. School buses and vans can park on Sumter Street during the school year.

Near the State House, there are metered parking spaces for private vehicles. Call (803) 734-2430 to speak with a tour guide, or visit www.southcarolinastatehouse.com for more details.

Tours are available every half hour from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday, during the legislative session (January through May).

Tours do not run at noon or 12:30 pm during these months.

Tours are offered from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm every hour after the session (June through December). During these times, 12:30 pm tours are not available.

The State House will also be available for tours every Saturday beginning July 12, 2014, except the following Thanksgiving and Christmas Saturdays.

Tours may be taken at 10:30 am, 11:30 am, 1:30 pm and 2:30 pm.

Guests can use provided brochures to explore the State House at their own pace. From 10 am to 4 pm, the State House will be accessible to the public.

Visits on foot are highly encouraged.

If you're bringing a group of more than 10, please call them to make arrangements. If more than 50 people are in your tour group, you'll need to schedule multiple times.

The principles of stewardship and service form the bedrock of the National Park Service's work. These two ideas have always been at the heart of the South Carolina State Park Service.

Members of the South Carolina State Park Service protect and preserve the state's rich cultural and environmental heritage. The service they offer their clients is second to none.

South Carolina State Museum

Address: South Carolina State Museum, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Phone: +1 803-898-4921

The South Carolina State Museum provides entertaining, inspiring, and life-enriching learning environments through its cutting-edge collaborations, extensive collections, and engaging exhibitions and programs.

Columbia, South Carolina, is home to the South Carolina State Museum, the state's largest and most comprehensive museum. It is situated on the banks of the scenic Congaree River. The State Museum of South Carolina has been telling the state's story since its opening in 1988.

The State Museum aims to pay homage to the innovative nature of its location by providing residents and visitors with a comprehensive look at the state's history, culture, and future through its rich and diverse collections displayed through interactive and engaging exhibitions.

The State Museum offers a wide variety of exhibitions, educational programs (both in-person and via distance learning), and community events to entertain visitors of all ages.

Columbia Museum of Art

Address: 1515 Main Street, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Phone: +1 803-799-2810

The artwork displayed at the Columbia Museum of Art, from local and international artists, will surely strike up meaningful conversations.

It's no surprise that the Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina, draws a significant number of visitors each year. Many different types of artwork from different periods and cultures are displayed at the museum.

Visitors can get hands-on with art in several ways, thanks to the museum's interactive displays. Inspiration can be found at Columbia University's Museum of Art.

Explore each other and yourselves through the lens of global art here. The wide range of activities offered is meant to inspire communication, reflection, and originality.

University of South Carolina Visitor Center

Address: University of South Carolina Columbia, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Phone: +1 803-777-0169

We recommend that all University of South Carolina guests begin their time on our stunning campus at the Visitor Center. The Visitor Center, conveniently located in the center of campus, is a great place to learn more about USC and Columbia.

The staff is accommodating and knowledgeable and can provide information about the area and directions and answer any questions you may have.

In addition to selling a wide selection of USC gear, the Visitor Center is stocked with valuable items like maps and postcards.

Visitor Center is the first place you should go when you get to campus.

Wander the Waverly Historic District

Address: 1601 Richland Street Columbia, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Phone: +1 803-252-7742

An African-American woman who has been granted freedom builds a better future for herself and her descendants. A future U.S. president comes of age in the upheaval of the South in the years following World War II.

The elite social group of plantation owners is carefully cultivated. Architects' signature structures are public declarations of their creative genius. An innovator in the movement for social change plots a course.

As a result of their efforts and those of countless others, Columbia has evolved from its humble beginnings in 1786 as South Carolina's second state capital into a thriving modern southern city with a prominent role in politics, academia, industry, and leisure.

Columbia is a city whose complex past continues to shape its optimistic future. It is known today for its diversity, temperate climate, and affordable living.

Congaree National Park

Address: 100 National Park Road Hopkins, Columbia, South Carolina, USA

Phone: +1 803-776-4396

The National Park Service has maintained our national parks since 1916. They protect these unique spots and educate the over 318 million annual visitors with the help of volunteers and outside organizations.

They take great pride in the requests for assistance they receive from tribes, local governments, nonprofit organizations, businesses, and citizens for community revitalization, historical preservation, cultural celebration, and the development of close-to-home recreational opportunities for children and their families.