Learn about South Carolina. You may be surprised at what you'll find!
In addition to the topics below, you can also delve into South Carolina's history by visiting the Social Studies section.
Public schools observe John C. Calhoun's birthday, March 18, as South Carolina Day.
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The Spanish made two attempts to settle a permanent community in South Carolina. The first in 1526, led by a wealthy lawyer from Santo Domingo, Lucas Vasquez de Ayllon, failed in less than a year. The...
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The Governor's Mansion, seen in this 1907 postcard view, was originally constructed in 1855 as the officers' barracks of the Arsenal Academy, which later merged with the Citadel and moved to...
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Aerial photo of the South Carolina State House in 1976. In 1900, the legislature decided to add the porticoes and tower of 1854 architect John R. Niersee's original plan. A commission appointed Frank...
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The State House in 1862. The bulk of the work on the building was done from 1857 through March of 1861. At that time, bonds to finance more work could not be sold, but slaves continued to quarry the...
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The State House, from an 1855 stereoscopic print. The original State House of 1794 had deteriorated so badly by 1850 that Governor Seabrook was afraid the state's records were no longer safe there...
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The State House, 1790s. The act which established Columbia as the capital of South Carolina in 1786 included instructions that the funds gained from selling lots in the town were to be used to...
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The Carolina Parrot, drawn and engraved by John James Audubon, is now extinct. Courtesy of the Thomas Cooper Library, Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina.
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The Yellow Jessamine is the official State Flower of South Carolina, and the Carolina Wren, the State Bird. Recognition of the wren was unofficial until 1948, when the legislature passed an act...
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The three flags of the South Carolina State House at half-mast after the "Challenger" space shuttle explosion. Taken January 29, 1986. Courtesy of "The State" newspaper.
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The present South Carolina State Flag, adopted in 1861. Courtesy of Fort Moultrie National Park.
