Irmo, South Carolina

This church isn't just a beautiful building; it's a testament to resilience and the fight for justice. Sidney Park Christian Methodist Episcopal Church, originally Sidney Park Colored Methodist Episcopal Church, was…

Prepare to be chilled: this spot was once home to the Babcock Building, the imposing centerpiece of the South Carolina State Hospital. Construction started in 1857, aiming to provide more space than the overcrowded…

Pull over, history buffs! You're approaching Bethel A.M.E. Church, a true cornerstone of Columbia's African American community. This isn't just a church; it's a living monument to resilience and faith. Built in 1921,…

Imagine the stories within these walls, as records of its construction were lost in the burning of Columbia during the Civil War. This historic building, known as the Hale–Elmore–Seibels House, is thought to be the…

Pull over for a second; this spot is more important than it looks. This unassuming church is where South Carolina decided to leave the United States.In 1860, delegates gathered right here at what was then First Baptist…

Pull over, history buff! This unassuming spot hides the legacy of a family that literally built much of South Carolina. The Guignard family started making bricks here way back in 1801, using clay dug right from the…

Columbia, South Carolina, sits a bit higher than the coastal plains, a strategic location that propelled it to become the state capital in 1786. Named for Christopher Columbus, the city was deliberately chosen for its…

Ever wondered what it was like to live in a grand home in the early 1800s? You're about to see a masterpiece designed by one of America's most important early architects. This is the Robert Mills House. It offers a…

State capitol still bearing bronze stars marking where Sherman's cannons hit the unfinished building in 1865.

Ever wonder where a future president spent his formative years? You're about to pass the childhood home of Woodrow Wilson, a place that witnessed the scars of the Civil War firsthand. Wilson lived here from 1871 to…

Look to your right at Allen University, and you're admiring a masterpiece by a true pioneer! John Anderson Lankford, often called the “dean of Black architects,” designed the impressive Chappelle Administration…

Pull over for a moment, because right here, you're about to drive past a living monument to freedom and education. Imagine, just five years after the Civil War ended, a place dedicated to educating freed slaves rose…

Pull over for a moment, because you're about to pass a place where history truly came alive for a community. This unassuming brick building was once the Carver Theatre, a vibrant hub built in 1941 specifically for…

Ever wondered about the stories a city holds, especially those etched into its very foundations? Up ahead, you'll find a place that whispers tales of resilience and community: the A.P. Williams Funeral Home. This isn't…

Right here, at Allen University, education became a beacon of hope for newly freed African Americans. In 1870, the African Methodist Episcopal Church founded Payne Institute in Cokesbury, South Carolina. It was designed…

Pull over, RoadyGoat adventurers! You're approaching the historic Horseshoe of the University of South Carolina, a place steeped in academic history and rock-and-roll legend. You won't want to miss this! This entire Old…

Pull over for a moment, because you're about to pass a place that tells a powerful story about resilience and community in the face of segregation. This unassuming brick building was once Good Samaritan-Waverly…

Look at that imposing red-brick structure – that's the Olympia Mill, a place that absolutely reshaped this community. Built in 1899, it wasn't just a building; it was a behemoth of industry and a magnet for workers.…

Look over there! That old brick building isn't just a relic; it's a monument to the rise and fall of South Carolina's textile industry. Once a buzzing hub, this is the Richland Cotton Mill. Built in 1894, this…

Pull over for a moment! This spot isn't just a building; it's a testament to the resilience of a community and a pivotal chapter in American education. Florence C. Benson Elementary School, also known as Wheeler Hill…

If these stones could talk, they'd tell tales of generals, governors, and devastating fires. This is Millwood, once a grand plantation home. Owned by Colonel Wade Hampton II and his wife, it was here that their son,…

Ever wonder how those grand granite buildings got built? You're driving right through the heart of the answer! This historic railroad district is a testament to the sheer muscle and ingenuity it took to move mountains…

Pull over for a moment to truly appreciate the ground you're driving on, because you're about to discover a powerful legacy of education and resilience. This unassuming spot is home to the Hope Rosenwald School, a vital…

Pull over here! You're about to pass one of the few surviving 18th-century churches in the South Carolina midlands. It's called the Old Brick Church, and it's been a cornerstone of this community for over two centuries.…

Imagine travelers stopping here in the 1820s, seeking rest and refreshment at this historic stagecoach stop. This very spot was once Vaughn's Stagecoach Stop, a vital waystation built around 1820. Weary passengers and…