Categories
Things to do - Attractions and Museums
Partners
Get Your Gear On - Guided Canoe & Kayak Tours
WebsiteLocation: 208 Candi Lane Suite A, Columbia
Purple Martin Sanctuary on Bomb Island (in Lake Murray)
You can view the natural phenomenon, the thousands of Purple Martins roosting on Bomb Island in Lake Murray. To see this sanctuary, board the Southern Patriot Tour Boat or another guided tour boat for an evening cruise during July and August. This sanctuary is the largest, natural roosting sanctuary in North America.
Location: Can be accessed via Lake Murray Marina, 1600 Marina Rd, Irmo, SC
St. Andrews / Irmo
Riverbanks Zoo and Garden
More than 2,000 fascinating animals reside in this lush 170-acre site with natural habitat exhibits, historic landmarks and a botanical garden.
Location can be accessed from both 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia 29210 and 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia 29169
For more pictures and location click here!
Open: Daily 9am-5pm; summer weekends 9am-6pm
Phone: (803) 779-8717
Location: 500 Wildlife Parkway, Columbia 29210 and 1300 Botanical Parkway, West Columbia 29169
Cayce / West Columbia / Airport
Bonham House
James Butler Bonham's House (c.1780) is located in Saluda and is the only existing birthplace of an Alamo hero. Directions to this house may be obtained at the Saluda County Museum located on Town Square.
Open: Monday- Saturday, 10am-4pm.
Phone: (803) 445-8550Saluda / Ridge Spring
Carter & Holmes Orchid Nursery
Tour 18 greenhouses and enjoy 93,000 sq. ft. of tropical beauty in one of the largest orchid nurseries in the world.
Open: Monday- Saturday, 9am-5pm
Phone: (803) 276-057Location: 629 Mendenhall E. Road
Newberry
Cayce Historical Museum
The town of Cayce encompasses the site of Ft. Granby, one of the earliest inland villages and the scene of two Revolutionary battles. The museum is a replica of the old Cayce House, a trading post of the 1700's with an authentic kitchen and smokehouse.
Open: Tuesday- Friday, 9am-4pm
Saturday & Sunday, 2pm-5pm
Location: Cayce City Hall Complex, 1800 12th Street, Cayce.
Cayce / West Columbia / Airport
Columbia Museum of Art
The Columbia Museum of Art is South Carolina's premier international art museum with extraordinary collections of European and American fine and decorative art that span centuries. The collections include masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance and Baroque from the Samuel H. Kress Collection, works by significant furniture and silver makers, as well as modern and contemporary art. Of particular interest are Sandro Botticelli's Nativity, Claude Monet's The Seine at Giverny, art glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany and a chandelier by Dale Chihuly. The museum also offers changing exhibitions from renowned museums and educational programs that include group and public tours, lectures, films and concerts.
Hours: Tuesday - Friday 11 am - 5 pm; First Friday of every month 11 am - 8 pm (until 5 pm in December); Saturday 10 am - 5 pm; Sunday Noon - 5 pm
Location: 1515 Main Street, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
EdVenture Children’s Museum
EdVenture is a 67,000 square foot hands-on museum for children 12 and younger. The museum features eight galleries, two resource centers, a library, a theater and Eddie - the world's largest child!
Hours:
Tuesday- Saturday, 9am-5pm
Sunday, Noon to 5pm
Open Memorial Day through Labor Day on Mondays and Holidays.
Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Location: 211 Gervais St, columbia
Downtown Columbia
First Baptist Church
The first Secession Convention was held here in 1860 before it was moved to Charleston.
Open daily and visitors welcome for services.
Phone: (803) 256-4251Location: 1306 Hampton Street, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
Fort Jackson Museum
Exhibits the history of training the American soldier.
Open: Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, 10am-4pm
Sat. 1-4pm. Closed holidays.
Admission: Free.
Phone: (803) 751-741Location: 4442 Fort Jackson Boulevard, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
Governor’s Mansion
One of three historic houses on Governor's Green. The Governor's Mansion has been the home of the state's governors since 1868.
Tours by appointment only.
Phone: (803) 737-1710Location: 800 block of Richland Street, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
Hampton-Preston Mansion
This antebellum home of General Wade Hampton was occupied by Union officers in 1865. (c. 1818)
Location: 615 Blanding Street, ColumbiaDowntown Columbia
Historic Columbia Foundation
Historic houses offering guided tours from Tues.-Sat. 10am-3pm, Sun. 1-4pm. Tickets for tours available at the Robert Mills House Gift Shop
Phone: (803) 252-1770, Ext. 25Location: 1616 Blanding Street, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
Kensington Mansion
This 29-room, 12,000 square foot mansion is magnificent with its skylighted dome and elaborate cornices and moldings. The home reflects the life of pre-war southern aristocracy. Not Handicapped accessible.
Tours: Friday & Saturday, 9:30am, 11am, 1pm, & 2:30pm.
Phone: (803) 353-0456Location: U.S. 601 in Eastover
Lexington County Museum
Costumed guides lead tours of the complex of over 30 historic structures including three 18th century cabins, two antebellum homes, a 1790 post house, and the 1832 John Fox House. The Fox House is composed of nine rooms of authentic furnishings, including many locally made quilts and pieces of furniture. Open: Tuesday- Saturday, 10am-4pm Sunday, 1-4pm. Last tour begins at 3pm.
Phone: (803) 359-8369Location: 231 Fox Street at U.S. 378, Lexington
Lexington
McKissick Museum
Head of the USC Horseshoe, Sumter Street, Columbia. Features changing exhibits, along with Bernard Baruch's silver collection, geology and gemstone exhibits.
Open: Monday- Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Sat. 11am-3pm Free.
Location: 816 Bull Street Columbia, South Carolina 29208
Downtown Columbia
Newberry Opera House
The beautiful Newberry Opera House (c. 1882) is located in the center of town just off Main Street and has been restored to its full splendor. Professional touring companies perform regularly.
Phone: (803) 276-6264Location: 1201 McKibben Street, Newberry S.C. 29108
Newberry
Robert Mills Historic House and Park
Designed by Robert Mills, who also designed the Washington Monument. Lavish gardens surround the home.
Location: 1616 Blanding Street, ColumbiaDowntown Columbia
SC Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum
Inside the Columbia Mills Building, with the SC State Museum. Collections from the colonial period to modern times.
Phone: (803) 737-8095Location: 301 Gervais Street, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
SC Dept. of Archives & History Center
Preserves official state and county records from the colonial era to modern times. Quarterly exhibits.
Phone: (803) 896-6100Location: 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia
SC Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame
Exhibits tell the history of law enforcement.
Open: Monday- Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Closed weekends and state holidays
Location: 5400 Broad River Road, Columbia
SC State Museum
There are four floors of exhibits, many of them hands-on, focusing on the arts, history and technology. The museum itself is located inside its largest artifact, the world's first totally electric textile mill which opened in 1894.
Open: Tuesday- Saturday, 10am-5pm; Sunday 1-5pm
Phone: (803) 898-4921Location: 301 Gervais Street, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
Saluda County Historical Museum and Theatre
The museum, which is being restored, houses historic artifacts and genealogical information. Be sure to visit the courthouse (c. 1917) on the square and the Saluda Theatre. The theatre built in 1936 is one of the last of those standing built in the Art Deco style. Also on the square is the Saluda County Museum with information on Travis and Bonham, as well as records for tracing family ancestries. The museum gives directions to the historic Bonham House (c.1780), the only existing birthplace of an Alamo hero and to the monument marking Travis' birthplace.
Open: Monday- Saturday, 10am-4pm
Phone: (864) 445-8550Location: 109 AA Law Range St.
Saluda / Ridge Spring
South Carolina Library
Contains published material on the history of SC.
Open: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 8:30am-5pm
Tuesday, Thursday, 8:30am-8pm; Saturday, 9am-1pm
Location: On the University Horseshoe, Sumter Street, Columbia
Downtown Columbia
State Farmers Market
Purchase in bulk or just for you family fresh vegetables, fruits and plants. Check their calendar for special events also.
Phone: (803) 419-4020Location: 3483 Charleston Highway, West Columbia, SC 29172
Cayce / West Columbia / Airport
The State House
(c. 1855) Look for bronze stars on the building, marking hits made by General Sherman's army's cannonballs during the Civil War. The State House is the seat of SC's government, housing both the Governor's Office and the General Assembly.
Monday- Fri. 9am-5pm
Saturday 10am-5pm & the 1st Sunday of the month 1-5pm
Tours available. Free.
Location: 1105 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29201, USA
Downtown Columbia
Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
(c. 1846) It is one of the 20 largest Episcopal churches in the nation and has six governors buried in its churchyard.
Tours Monday- Friday, 10am-2pm, March- May & September- November
Phone: (803) 771-7300Location: 1100 Sumter Street, Columbia.
Downtown Columbia
