SC State House – Columbia, South Carolina

South Carolina’s first State House was located in Charleston on the corner of Broad and Meeting streets. However, as settlements grew farther inland a number of South Carolinians wanted to move the State House to a more central location.

A compromise was reached in 1786 when Colonel Thomas Taylor donated some of his land along the Congaree River for the new capital city.

The new city was named Columbia, and the State House was built on a hill that was one of the most prominent points in the area.

It took 56 years to build it, and the cost exceeded $3,450,000! The Civil War, along with corruption, lack of funds, and political bickering, interrupted the construction on several occasions. The building weighs more than 70,000 tons and is constructed of native blue granite, most of which came from a quarry two miles from the site.

Learn more about the history of our State Capitol building.

Take a virtual tour of the State House!