Complex History: State House Grounds Monument Tour

The grounds of the South Carolina State House are meant to be a neutral space that represents all citizens of the state, but what stories are actually being told there? Join the Coalition of Columbia’s Historic Districts (CCHD)and City preservation staff as we discuss the monuments on the State House grounds. This tour unpacks the complex history of the monuments, including who they represent and how they got there.

Topics will include the construction and design of the State House itself, how the landscape has been arranged, and why those changes were made. The tour will last just over one hour and start at the George Washington statue at the base of the State House steps. Come with curiosity and leave with a fresh perspective!

This tour is largely inspired by work done by Dr. Lydia Brandt, professor of Art History at USC. Dr. Brandt published The South Carolina State House Grounds- a Guidebook, along with an accompanying podcast, Historically Complex, in 2021. Both works were created in response to a national call to remove Confederate monuments from public spaces across the country, in conjunction with the Black Lives Matter movement. Research focuses on the development of the State House Grounds, how and when monuments were installed, moved, and arranged to tell a curated story of the history of the state of South Carolina. Her book is available for , and the podcast can be found on Spotify, Stitcher, and Apple Podcasts.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher City of Columbia Preservation Staff