Hey, history buffs. Submit your unofficial historical locations around town.
Have you ever looked at a local spot and thought, “This place deserves to be commemorated?” Our city is full of legendary locations – many of which are indicated by historical markers. Historical markers reveal significant places, streets, neighborhoods, buildings, businesses, and cultural events from the past or present. Think: The Big Apple, USC’s Historic Horseshoe, or the South Carolina State House.
But not all significant areas get the attention they deserve.
What about the Hootie & the Blowfish Monument in Five Points that pays homage to USC’s own pop rock band formed in the 1980s when guitarist Mark Bryan met singer-songwriter Darius Rucker?
What about the iconic State Fair Rocket where moms have been meeting their kids when they’ve wandered off since 1969?
We want to put these places on the map — literally.
Rules + details
Submit your historic place for a chance to be featured nationwide on our historical marker map. Our favorite submissions will then be featured in our newsletter, where we’ll put it to a vote. Who knows? Maybe it will receive an official historical marker.
Submissions are open through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 3.
Finalists will be selected by our team and announced in our newsletter. These finalists will then go head-to-head in a vote for our readers’ favorite. The winner will be announced later in December. No promises that it will get an actual historical marker, but it will be one in our hearts.
Want to know more about official historical markers around town? Check out Historic Columbia’s offerings + local information.
Submit here.
The results
You’ve submitted your favorites, now it’s time for us to reveal the finalists for the COLAtoday historical marker contest. Check out the nominations below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite.
Finalist #1: Villa Tronco Italian Restaurant, submitted by reader Tripp, R.
“Villa Tronco, located in Columbia, South Carolina, is the oldest Italian restaurant in the state, rich in history and beloved by locals. Founded by the Tronco family, it has been serving traditional Italian dishes since 1940. The restaurant is housed in the historic Columbia Fire Engine Company No. 1 building, which dates back to 1866. This unique location not only adds character to Villa Tronco but also connects it to the city’s heritage, making it a cherished landmark that celebrates both Columbia’s Italian-American culture and its firefighting history.”
Learn more about Villa Tronco’s history + how it brought pizza to the Midlands.
Finalist #2: The Zesto ice cream cone, submitted by reader Michelle M.
This iconic, West Columbia soft-serve landmark may deserve a historical marker. It’s been cooking up chicken, burgers, and soft-serve desserts for almost 75 years.
Finalist #3: Rockafella’s, submitted by reader Robert L.
“Rockafella’s was a legendary music venue operated from 1984 to 1998. It hosted many acts, large and small over the years and was where Hootie and the Blowfish began their rise to fame.”
Learn more Rock ‘n Roll history about the legendary Five Points venue where Jake’s is now located.
Finalist #4: Constan Car Wash, submitted by reader Chip S.
“Columbia’s first full-service car wash. Washed over 3.3 million vehicles. Happy the Bengal tiger lived there for 10 years until Riverbanks Zoo opened. First detail shop in South Carolina. Only Mobil 1 Lube change facility in the midlands.”
It doesn’t stop there — we got more submissions than these. Just check out our map of unofficial historical locations — both locally and across the nation.
Voting closes Wednesday, Dec. 11 — so be sure to vote for the historical location you’d love to see recognized for its significance.
