Welcome to Richland County, South Carolina Genealogy and History

Historical Markers of Richland County, SC

NUMBER	LOCATION	INSCRIPTION
1	Trinity Episcopal Church Sumter Street	Parish organized 1812. Original church dedicated 1814, present church 1846. In the churchyard lie buried the three Wade Hamptons; Thomas Cooper, Educator; Henry Timrod, Poet; W. C. Preston, US Senator; Five Governors of SC: three Mannings, Hampton, and Thompson; soldiers of the Revolutionary and later American Wars, including Colonel Peter Horry, Generals Ellison Capers, John S. Preston, and States Rights Gist.
2	Site of Parade Ground Green and Pickens Street	During Federal Military Occupation of South Carolina 1865-1877, this square was part of the parade ground used by United States Troops. The barracks were located on this and adjacent squares.
3	Commissioners’ Oak Green and Main Street.	In April 1786 Alexander Gillon, Henry Pendleton, Richard Will, Richard Hampton, Thomas Taylor, Commissioners appointed to lay out Columbia, are said to have met under and oak which grew near here. According to tradition the first court and jury in Richland County also met here.
4	Chestnut Cottage Hampton Street	Temporary wartime home of Gen. And Mrs. James Chestnut. Here they entertained Jefferson Davis, President, C. S. A., and his staff, October 5, 1864. President Davis addressed the citizens of Columbia from the front steps of this cottage.
5	Original Site of Winthrop College Henderson between Taylor and Blanding Streets.	In 1886, chiefly through the efforts of D. B. Johnson, first superintendent of Columbia public schools, Winthrop Training School, later Winthrop College, was started here in a small brick building which had been the chapel of Columbia Theological Seminary. In 1936 this building was moved to the campus of Winthrop College, Rock Hill, SC.
6	Former Site of Columbia Theological Seminary Blanding near Pickens Streets	Founded 1828 by Presbyterian Synod of South Carolina and Georgia. Located here 1831. Moved to Decatur, Georgia 1925. Woodrow Wilson’s father and uncle were among faculty members. Central building, erected 1823, was designed by Robert Mills as home for Ainsley Hall (1783-1823), Columbia merchant.
7	Hampton-Preston House Blanding Street at Pickens	Built about 1818 by Ainsley Hall. Purchased 1823 by Wade Hampton, I. Inherited by his daughter, Mrs. John S. Preston, 1863. Headquarters of Union Gen. J. A. Logan 1865; residence of Gov. F. J. Moses 1782-74; Ursuline Covent 1887-91; College for Women 1890-1915; Chicora College for Women 1915-30. The gardens. Developed during Hampton-Preston ownership, were adorned with work of Hiram Powers, sculptor.
8	Site of Columbia Male Academy Pickens at Richland Street.	Trustees appointed by Legislature in 1792 were incorporated 17995 and served as trustees for male and female academies. School located here 1827 on land given by Gov. John Taylor. Though publicly endowed, the school was conducted as a private academy until 1883 when it was merged with the public school system. Hugh S. Thompson, Governor of SS 1882-86 was principal of male academy 1865-80
9	Ebenezer Lutheran Church Richland and Sumter Street	First Lutheran congregation in Columbia. Church dedicated in this square in 1830 was burned by Union Troops in 1865. It was rebuilt in 1870, partly though aid of Northern Lutherans, and used for Sunday School after the present building was completed in 1931.
10	Old State Fair Grounds Elmwood Avenue	This square is part of the tract where stat fairs held 1856-61, 1869-1903. The buildings, used 1864-65 for Confederate barracks and hospital, as well as niter and mining bureau in charge of Joseph LeConte and James Woodrow. Were burned by Union Troops in 1865.
11	Cemetery of Columbia Benevolent Society Gadsen at Richland Street	In this cemetery, 2 ½ blocks south on Gadsen Street are buried many distinguished Jewish citizens, including toe mayors of Columbia: Mordecai Hendricks DeLeon (1791-1849) and Henry Lyons (1805-1858). The Benevolent Society was organized in 1822, chartered in 1834.
12	Governor’s Mansion Richland and Lincoln Streets	Arsenal Academy, converted from a state arsenal, occupied this square from 1842 to 1865 when Union Troops burned all the academy buildings except officer’s quarters, erected 1855. Since 1868 this building has been the Governor’s Mansion.
13	Site of Palmetto Iron Works Richland and Lincoln Streets	On S-W corner of this square was Palmetto Armory, later called Palmetto Iron Works. Originally built for converting flint and steel muskets into percussion guns. Arms and munitions were manufactured here during the Confederate War 1861-65
14	Ladson Presbyterian Church Laurel and Sumter Streets.	Congregation originated in the Sabbath School for colored people organized by the First Presbyterian Church 1838; later conducted by the Rev. G. W. Ladson. A chapel for the Negro member of that church was built here 1868. Rebuilt 1896. The title was transferred to |Ladson Church Trustees in 1895.
15	DeBruhl-Marshall House Laurel and Marion Streets	Fine example of the classic style in Southern domestic architecture. Built in 1820, probably after a design of Robert Mills. For almost one hundred years the home of the DeBruhl and Marshall families.
16	Site of Blanding House Near Blanding and Marion Streets	In this square stood the home of Colonel Abram Blanding (1776-1836) for whom the street is named. He was first principal, Columbia Male Academy 1798; a noted lawyer and philanthropist. Ably served the state on board of public works 1819-28. Financed and built city’s first water works, 1820.
17	First Baptist Church Hampton Street	Congregation organized 1809. Original Church, built 1811 on Sumter Street corner, was burned Feb. 17, 1865 by Union Troops who mistook it for the present church, built 1859, where the Secession Convention had met Dec. 17. 1860. Because of reported smallpox in Columbia, the convention adjourned to Charleston.
18	Site of Gibbes House Hampton and Sumter Street.	On this corner stood the home of Dr. Robert W. Gibbes (1809-66) distinguished physician, scientist, historian, editor, antiquarian, surgeon general of South Carolina 1861=65. The house with his notable library, art treasures and scientific collections were burned by Union Troops February 17, 1865.
19	Site of Carolina Hall Sumter Street	After Red Shirt Campaign of 1876 Wade Hampton was inaugurated Governor of South Carolina at Carolina Hall which stood in center of this square. During the dual government that followed, the Democratic House of Representatives (Wallace House) met here until the Hampton Administration gained possession of the State House.
20	Site of Columbia Female Academy Washington and Marion Street	Authorized by Legislature 1792, the Columbia Female Academy was located here from about 1820 to 1883, when the property was leased to Columbia Public School commissioners, two of whom still represent the academy board. The remodeled academy became the first Columbia High School, in use until 1915.
21	Washington Street Methodist Church Washington and Marion Street	A church was built here between 1803 and 1805; another church, erected 1832 was burned by Union Troops in 1865 and reconstructed in 1866 of salvaged brick and clay mortar. Present church dedicated 1875. Bishop Wm Capers (1790-1855), founder of missions to slaves in SC, was a pastor and is buried here.
22	First Presbyterian Church Marion Street	First congregation organized in Columbia 1795. The churchyard, allotted as a public burying ground in 1798, was granted to this church in 1813. Here are buried: D. E. Dunlap, first pastor; Chancellor H. W. DeSaussure; Jonathan Maxcy, first president of SC College; Ann Pamela Cunningham, founder of Mt. Vernon Ladies Association; US Senators F. H. Elmore and Wm. F. DeSaussure; and the parents of Woodrow Wilson.
23	Last Home of Wade Hampton Senate Street	Wade Hampton, III, born March 28, 1818, was commander of Hampton Legion 1861 with rank of Colonel; Lieutenant General, C. S. A., 1865; Governor of SC, 1876-78; US Senator 1879-91. He died April 11, 1902 in this house, given to him in 1899 by a grateful people.
24	Horry-Guignard House Senate Street	One of the oldest houses in Columbia. Built before 1813, probably by Peter Horry (1747-1815), Colonel in Revolution; Brigadier General of the SC Militia. Later the home of John Gabriel Guignard (1751-1822), surveyor general of South Carolina, 1798-1802.
25	Birthplace of General Maxcy Gregg Senate and Sumter Street	Maxcy Gregg, Confederate General and leader in the southern rights movement, was born Aug. 1, 1815 in a house on this site. Member of committee which framed the Ordinance of Secession, Dec. 1860; Colonel 1st Regiment South Carolina Volunteers; Brigadier General in 1861. Mortally wounded at Fredericksburg Dec. 13, 1862; died two days later.
26	Entrance to Cemetery of Columbia Benevolent Society	This society has been in continuous existence since it’s organization in 1822. It was chartered 1834. It’s charities are administered to the needs of the community without regard to creed or race.
I-I	University of South Carolina
I-2	South Carolina State Hospital Bull Street at Elmwood Avenue.	Institution authorized in 1821 by General Assembly, mainly thorough the work of two member, Samuel Farrow and William Crafts, Jr. The original building on the right, designed by Robert Mills, shows a pioneer grasp of the idea of humanitarian treatment.
Q-1	Horrell Hill
Q-2	Hopkins
Q-3	Gadsen
S-1	Early Summer Resorts
S-2	South Carolina Female Collegiate Institute
S-3	St Peter’s Church and Ursuline Convent
S-4	Site of Wayside Hospital
S-5	Historic Printing Plant and Warehouse
S-6	Columbia Canal
S-7	Congaree River Bridges
SL-1	Early County Homes
SL-2	Fisher’s Mill on Gill Creek
U-1	Friday’s Ferry
U-2	Early Richland County Settlements
W-1	Wateree River Ferries
W-2	Antebellum Plantations
W-3	Congaree Baptist Church
W-4	Woodlands and Millwood
W-5	Camp Jackson
W-6	Early Columbia Racetrack
W-7	Sherman’s Headquarters Senate Street	During the Federal Occupation of Columbia February 17-19, 1865 Commanding General William T. Sherman had his headquarters here.
W-8	Broad River