State Capitol - Columbia, SC - State House with Many Monuments and Statues

The State Capitol in Columbia, South Carolina, is also called the State House. It is a National Historic Landmark, and its construction started in 1851. Due to a series of fires, changes in architects, and other unfortunate events, the building of the State House took over 50 years and around $3,540,000. It was declared completed in 1903. Renovations took place between 1995 through 1998.

The State House is made of granite and has a dome, which is covered with 44,000 pounds of copper. Seen from the interior, the dome is actually a false dome for aesthetic reasons and is meant to be viewed from the center of the Main Lobby. There is a room between the false dome and the actual dome so that the flags at the top of the State Capitol can be raised and lowered.

One of the main exterior characteristics of the State Building is its Corinthian, columns which are considered amongst the largest in the world. They are approximately 43 feet high and are monolithic. Another distinctive feature is the two hand-carved axes on the front door.

The State House and its grounds are home to many beautiful monuments, markers, portraits, plaques, and other works of art. Some of these distinctive monuments, markers, and statues include: the George Washington bronze statue, the Confederate Soldier Monument, the 6 Bronze Star Markers, the African American Monument, the Battleship Maine Gun Monument, the S.C. Law Enforcement Officers Monument, and many others. The 6 bronze stars mark the places on the building that were hit by shells from the Union cannons. Other buildings on the grounds include the Wade Hampton Building, the Calhoun Building, the Brown Building, the Gressette Building, the Blatt Building, and the Dennis Building.

The first floor of the State House is made up of white marble walls with white and pink marble flooring. The Lieutenant Governor's Office is located in the east wing of the first floor. The Office of the Governor is in the west wing.

The second floor houses the Main Lobby of the State House. It has exquisite carvings and a number of stained glass window panels. Both the House and the Senate Chambers are accessed from the Main Lobby. The South Carolina Legislature consists of the House of Representatives and the Senate. Annual sessions start from January and run through June of every year. Both chambers were renovated and equipped with state of the art technology. Some of the wood and the cast iron columns date back to 1887. Another feature that is located inside the State House is the Joint Legislative Conference Room, which is the library. The library's chandelier, mosaic glass windows, and spiral staircases render it one of the most beautiful rooms.

Within the State House, there are a number of portraits. Examples of portraits to be found are those of Robert E. Lee, Thomas J. Jackson, John C. Calhoun, George Washington, and many others.

The State Capitol is situated at the intersection of Gervais and Main Streets in downtown Columbia. The State House is located at 1100 Gervais Street. Visiting hours are between 9am and 5pm Monday through Friday. The Gift Shop is open from 9am to 4pm Monday through Friday. The State House is closed on the weekends. There is no admission fee for visiting the State House.

There are guided tours available free of charge. The tour starts with a 15-minute film on the history and architecture of the Capitol. To make reservations for a guided tour or to request additional information, all calls are to be made to the Tour Desk at 803-734-2430.