IV: Grounds: Monuments & Markers

The monuments and markers that adorn the State House grounds complement the dignity of the surrounding architecture and provide a vital glimpse into the history of the Palmetto State. They include the African-American History Monument, Confederate Soldier monument, the Spanish-American War memorial, the Benjamin Ryan Tillman monument, a statue of George Washington, the Robert E. Lee Memorial Highway marker, the Dr. J. Marion Sims monument, the old State House monument, the bronze stars, the Palmetto Regiment monument, the Lunsford grave site, the General Richard Richardson monument, the monument to Confederate Women, a replica of the Liberty Bell, a statue of Wade Hampton, the Revolutionary Generals monument, the James F. Byrnes Monument, the Jefferson Davis Highway boulder, a cannon from the battleship Maine, and the city of Columbia Time Capsule.

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African American History Monument | The SC State House
African American History Monument | The SC State House

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The unveiling of this African American History Monument on March 26, 2001, made South Carolina the first of the fifty states to have a monument dedicated to black history on the grounds of its state...
Benjamin Ryan Tillman Monument | The SC State House
Benjamin Ryan Tillman Monument | The SC State House

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This monument honoring Benjamin Ryan Tillman was dedicated May 1, 1940. Ben Tillman served as governor of South Carolina from 1890 to 1894, and as United States senator from 1895 to 1918. Tillman...
Bronze Stars | The SC State House
Bronze Stars | The SC State House

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The bronze stars on the outer walls of the State House mark the spots where cannonballs struck the granite walls. The shots were fired by northern artillerymen on February 17, 1865, during General...
Confederate Soldier Monument | The SC State House
Confederate Soldier Monument | The SC State House

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The North side inscription reads: “This monument perpetuates the memory of those who, true to the instincts of their birth, faithful to the teachings of their fathers, constant in their love for the...
Dr. J. Marion Sims Monument | The SC State House
Dr. J. Marion Sims Monument | The SC State House

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This monument honors the founder of the science of gynecology, Dr. J. Marion Sims, a native of Lancaster, South Carolina. After graduating from South Carolina Medical College, Sims began practicing...
James F. Byrnes Monument | The SC State House
James F. Byrnes Monument | The SC State House

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This monument honors James F. Byrnes 1879–1972, who served as South Carolina congressman, senator, governor, and secretary of state of the United States.
Jefferson Davis Highway | The SC State House
Jefferson Davis Highway | The SC State House

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This marker commemorates the Jefferson Davis Highway, which was named after the president of the Confederate States of America. It was erected in 1923 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
Liberty Bell Replica | The SC State House
Liberty Bell Replica | The SC State House

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This replica of the Liberty Bell is one of 53. Cast in France in 1950, the replicas were given to the United States government by six American businesses.
Lunsford Grave | The SC State House
Lunsford Grave | The SC State House

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The inscription reads: “Captain Swanson Lunsford, a native of Va., and for many years a resident of Columbia. Died August 7, 1799 . . . Aged about 40 years. He was a member of Lee’s Legion in the...
Monument to Confederate Women | The SC State House
Monument to Confederate Women | The SC State House

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The Monument to Confederate Women, called Angels of the Confederacy, was erected in 1912. The sculptor was Frederick W. Ruckstull. The inscription on the northwest side reads: “In this monument...
Old State House Monument | The SC State House
Old State House Monument | The SC State House

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The first State House built in Columbia was large for its day, but it lacked adequate facilities for the transaction of state business and affairs. Construction began in 1787, but it was still...
Palmetto Regiment Monument | The SC State House
Palmetto Regiment Monument | The SC State House

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The Palmetto Regiment Monument, or the Iron Palmetto, was erected in 1858. It is the oldest monument on the State House grounds. Designed to honor the soldiers of the Palmetto Regiment for their...
Revolutionary Generals Monument | The SC State House
Revolutionary Generals Monument | The SC State House

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The Revolutionary Generals Monument honors those South Carolina generals who served with distinction in the American Revolution. It includes dedications to General Francis Marion, known as the “Swamp...
Richardson Monument | The SC State House
Richardson Monument | The SC State House

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Main Street in Columbia was originally named Richardson Street, in honor of Richard Richardson (1704–1780), brigadier general of the militia during the American Revolution. Richardson also served as a...
Wade Hampton Statue | The SC State House
Wade Hampton Statue | The SC State House

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Sculpted by Frederick W. Ruckstull, the bronze Wade Hampton statue is 15 feet tall and 17 feet long. It was. Hampton served with honor in the Civil War as commander of the Hampton Legion. Later, as...