Located near the center of the state, 120 mi/190 km northwest of Charleston, Columbia became South Carolina's capital when the seat of government moved there from Charleston in 1786. The State House is where the governor's office is and the General Assembly meets. It is one of the more unusual state capitol buildings in the U.S.—its design is based on the architecture of the Italian Renaissance, but it was constructed from locally quarried blue granite. Sherman shelled it during the Civil War—look for the bronze stars that mark the hits.
In the neighborhood called Arsenal Hill, you'll find the Governor's Mansion, lots of historic homes and City Hall. The Historic Columbia District is another area chock-full of grand old buildings. To get a good look at some of the historic homes, take one of the tours offered by the Historic Columbia Foundation.
The University of South Carolina is also located in Columbia, and there are two museums on the campus: The McKissick Museum of the University of South Carolina, which has a fine collection of gemstones and antique silver, and the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum, which contains military artifacts from the Civil War and other periods. For a look at after-class student life, head to the cafes and lounges in the Five Points area near campus.
The metropolitan area also encompasses Lake Murray, which is formed by the Saluda dam, and Fort Jackson—the largest initial training center for the Army in the U.S.
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