Although 239 years might seem like a long time, the Capital City is still relatively young by global standards. Columbia was laid out in 1786 as the new seat of state government and formally chartered as a city in 1854.
All things considered, it’s a young city. To put it in perspective, Paris became the capital of France in the year 987, Oslo was established in 1049, and Mexico City was founded in 1325.
You don’t have to leave town to stand face-to-face with artifacts that predate Columbia by decades — or even centuries. Let’s take a peek at some really old stuff you can see in town.
Clovis-era arrows and points | 11,000–10,000 BCE
Along Congaree Creek, archaeologists unearthed stone spear points and other tools made 11,000–12,000 years ago, where Cayce’s 12,000 Year History Park now sits. Select pieces are displayed at the Cayce Museum, and walking tours of the park trace the site’s timeline.
Archangel Gabriel and Virgin Annunciate | Late 14th century
This 14th-century sculpture at the Columbia Museum of Art depicts the Annunciation, where the archangel Gabriel tells Mary she will bear Christ. Crafted by an anonymous Tuscan artist, the work is part of the museum’s Kress Collection.
Robert B. Ariail Telescope | 1730
The State Museum’s Ariail Collection spans 200+ telescopes, the oldest dating to about 1730 — barely a century after Galileo. Get an up-close look at how early astronomers chased clearer views of the stars.
House of Representatives Mace | 1756
Fashioned in London of silver gilded with gold, the 48-inch mace has opened every session of SC’s legislature since colonial days.
Fort Moultrie Flag | 1776
After holding off British forces at Sullivan’s Island, the militia raised a crescent-and-blue flag that became the blueprint for our flag today. The original flag is co-owned by the Smithsonian + the SC State Museum, where it’s displayed every five years. A replica is always on view in the museum’s fourth-floor exhibit, “The American Revolutionary War in South Carolina.”
Which ancient artifacts do you think should be on this list? Drop us a line.
