Columbia, South Carolina - A walk through the Capitol City = Beauty, History & Painful Memories

The South Carolina Military Museum is a free attraction that should not be missed. This is the "Gorget" used by Francis Ford Marion who was known by the British during the American Revolutionary war as the "Swamp Fox". Marion was the inspiration for the Mel Gibson character in the movie "The Patriot". A Gorget is a crescent shaped piece of armor that was worn around the neck to protect the soldier from saber slash. Small crescent gorgets adorned the hats of South Carolina colonial troops during the American Revolutionary war. The Crescent on the State Flag is not a crescent moon but rather a Gorget in honor of this heritage. 

Railway cut through the woods - Columbia, South Carolina

Many of the old buildings downtown are made of brick

This statue of George Washington that stands on the steps of the South Carolina Statehouse was abused by Sherman's Union Troops when they entered Columbia during the Civil War. One story states that a Union Cannon Ball broke off Washington's staff. A plaque at the site claims that Sherman's troops "Brick Batted" the statue after the Capitol fell.

Palmetto Palms in front of the State Capitol. Palmettos appear on the State Flag as well. During the defense of Charleston at the battle of Sullivan's Island, Colonists made defensive works out of stacked Palmetto trunks and from these works they repelled the British Attack. Again, a source of heritage and pride for South Carolina represented in their flag. 

SC State Flag and the Stars and Stripes hanging from the Administration building - University of South Carolina

Colonial period buildings - University of South Carolina

Brick walkways under oak and magnolia across wide open greens are what you will find at the University of South Carolina's "Horseshoe". In 1861, the entire Student body of the University of South Carolina volunteered for service in the Confederate Army. 

State Emblem flower garden - Columbia, SC


Beautiful "Live Oak" on University of South Carolina "Horse Shoe"

Display on State Capitol grounds depicting how African Slaves were stacked like cord wood in slave ships after being sold by their kings in Africa to Europeans. A slave trader believed at that time that a 40% loss of life during the crossing due to horrid conditions was financially acceptable. It is impossible for us to comprehend the heartless sale of countrymen into cruel slavery in the Americas. African Americans were sold like any other commodity at Southern Markets. The pain inflicted through slavery is still palpable today in the South. 
General William Tecumseh Sherman burned Columbia on February 17-18, 1865 when he sacked the city on his march to the Sea. 

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