Attractions
Family FavoriteRiverbanks Zoo & Garden
$25–$50See giraffes, a coral reef aquarium and thousands of animals, then ride the Saluda Skyride over to the botanical garden.
Photo: HaloMasterMind, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons. Cropped and resized.
SightseeingHistory BuffFree
South Carolina State House
1100 Gervais St · Columbia, SC
Why you should go…
The South Carolina State House in downtown Columbia holds the House and Senate chambers and the Governor's office. Built of blue granite between 1855 and 1907, it has a copper exterior dome and a false interior dome. Free guided tours start with a short film, and outside you can find six bronze stars marking where Union shells struck in 1865, plus monuments across the grounds.
- #state capitol
- #free tours
- #civil war history
- #monuments
Good to know
General sightseeing guidance
Habits that pay off across this whole category, not rules for this one venue. Always check the official site for the specifics.
The forecast is part of the ticket
Haze, low cloud, and rain flatten a view. Clear-day visits are worth rearranging your plans for.
Golden hour sells out first
Sunset slots at observation decks and cruises are the first to go, so book those further ahead.
Dress a layer warmer
It is always breezier up high and out on the water than it feels at street level.
Timed entry is common
Plenty of landmarks release tickets in windows rather than at the door, so check before you walk over.
What's around here?
The closest stops to South Carolina State House, ordered by straight-line distance.
