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History
Columbia’s historical markers: The Figure 8
The number eight symbolizes South Carolina’s history — from the eight Lords Proprietors and colonial rulers to becoming the nation’s eighth state.
October 07, 2025 01:55 PM
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David Stringer
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City
Celebrate Bike + Preservation Month in Cola
Celebrate Columbia’s history and bike culture with events, tours, and rides throughout May.
April 30, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
Jackie Robinson wearing a suite and tie surrounded by a group of people .
Culture
Jackie Robinson’s history in Columbia
The trailblazing player visited Columbia after retiring from baseball, and his legacy will be honored at a Fireflies game.
April 14, 2025
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Michael Beausoleil
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Food
10 pimento cheeseburgers to try in the Soda City
Celebrate National Pimento Cheese Day with 10 must-try pimento cheeseburgers in Columbia — plus a bonus pizza twist.
April 8, 2025
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David Stringer
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City
Celebrating The Great Gatsby at USC
USC’s exhibit celebrates The Great Gatsby at 100 with rare artifacts, first editions, and global literary context.
April 8, 2025
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David Stringer
A black and white photo of a man standing outside the Joyful Alternative's Greene Street shop front.
History
Celebrating 8 with stories of Columbia’s past
To celebrate COLAtoday’s eighth anniversary, we’re highlighting eight favorite local history stories that shaped Columbia’s past and present.
April 2, 2025
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David Stringer
The Columbia skyline | Photo by COLAtoday team
Culture
6 unbelievable Columbia and South Carolina headlines
These stories look like they’re stranger than fiction, but there are no jokes here. All of these headlines really found their way into the news.
March 31, 2025
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Michael Beausoleil
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History
Columbia’s Historical Markers: Columbia College
Explore the rich legacy of Columbia College, a historic campus once exclusive to women, now celebrating over 150 years of change.
March 21, 2025
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David Stringer
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History
The history of St. Pat’s in Five Points
St. Pat’s in Five Points grew from a small gathering into Columbia’s biggest festival.
March 12, 2025
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David Stringer
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History
6 ways to honor Black history in Columbia
Discover more about Columbia’s African American history.
February 14, 2025
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David Stringer
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Events
Ways to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Learn about Martin Luther King Jr.'s presence in Columbia and how to commemorate his life and legacy on Martin Luther King Jr. Day.
January 14, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
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City
Local news, powered by readers like you
Over the next 10 days, we’re launching a reader-driven campaign to sustain what we do best.
November 10, 2025
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Staff
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City
Craig Melvin’s Columbia homecoming tour
Columbia looked good on national TV this week.
November 6, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
Two lion sisters interact playfully on a rocky habitat at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden.
Hello and goodbye at Riverbanks Zoo
Get ready to say hello to some new zoo friends and bid farewell to a few others.
November 6, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
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Business
A first look at the Grand Willow Hotel planned for BullStreet
Renderings show plans for the seven-story Grand Willow Hotel behind REI in Columbia’s BullStreet District.
November 5, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
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Food
Two Vista restaurants earn spots in inaugural MICHELIN Guide American South
Columbia’s fine-dining scene gets a boost as two Vista staples earn a spot in the MICHELIN Guide.
November 4, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
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Business
Can you build a startup in 24 hours?
Startup Sprint returns for a free 24-hour challenge at Boyd Innovation Center where teams build and pitch startup business ideas.
November 3, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
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City

Beat the end of daylight saving scaries with these activities in Columbia
The sun may be setting earlier, but Columbia still has plenty to do.
October 30, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
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City

Just how bad is the traffic in Columbia?
Spoiler alert: Traffic isn’t great. We dove into the Texas A&M Transportation Institute’s congestion data so you don’t have to.
October 28, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
Aerial view of Main Street District buildings at sunset
Business
The local wish list: What Columbia readers say we’re missing
Columbia readers shared their wish list of new businesses they’d like to see in the Midlands.
October 27, 2025
 · 
David Stringer
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City

Who ya gonna call? Jot down contact info for these Midlands resources
Don’t be afraid. Concerns about everything from flood damage to environmental health can be solved by getting in touch not with the Ghostbusters, but with these Midlands resources.
October 27, 2025
 · 
David Stringer