The South Carolina State House is the state capitol building of the U.S. state of South Carolina. The building Houses the South Carolina General Assembly, and housing the offices of the Governor and Lieutenant Governor of South Carolina, it is located in the capital city of Columbia near the corner of Gervais and Assembly Streets.
Construction on the building began in 1851, but the original architect was dismissed for fraud and dereliction of duty.[1] Soon thereafter, the structure was largely dismantled because of defective materials and workmanship. Work on the redesigned structure began in 1855, slowed during the Civil War, and was suspended in 1865 as Sherman's Union Army entered Columbia on February 17. Although several public buildings were "put to the torch" when United States troops entered the city, the capitol building was not. The structure was, however, damaged by artillery and smoke from the burning of adjacent structures. The building was finally completed in 1907. The current State House weighs more than 70,000 tons and has 130,673 gross square feet. The building is approximately long, wide and tall. Today, the copper-domed granite building wears six bronze stars to mark wartime shell/cannonball hits.[1]
The building was controversial during the 2000 U.S. presidential campaign for flying a Confederate battle flag.[2]
Renovations
South Carolina State House, post 1998 renovations
The capital has undergone two major renovation projects. The first occurred from 1959 through 1969. The planning phase for the second renovation occurred from 1991 to 1995. The second renovation addressed a number of problem areas that were not addressed during the first renovation and modernized the building. The renovation began in 1995 and lasted until mid 1998. The work balanced the need to meet modern code requirements and improved efficiency against a respect for historic form and appearance. Main enhancements were structural improvements, the sophisticated electrical wiring, alarm systems, or the state-of-the-art earthquake isolators that were installed. The renovation restored the House and Senate chambers, the 19th century treatment of the lobby, the vaulted brickwork in the hallways of the lower floor, the restored marble floors and refurbished interior of the dome. The total cost of the project was approximately $48,000,000. The State House was reopened on August 22, 1998.
Architecture
South Carolina State House, c. 1875
The South Carolina State House is in the Greek Revival style, first designed by John R. Niernsee. The buildings main structure was completed in 1875, and renovations were made to the original building in 1907, 1959, and 1998.
The rotunda is decorated with a painted masterpiece, and is really two domes: an inner which is seen by visitors on the inside and the main copper dome from the outside.
The South Carolina State House is also known for its distinctive cooper dome which adorns its roof.
The South Carolina Department of Archives and History states:
"Vienna-born architect John Niernsee began the structure in 1851, but the Civil War and post-war poverty slowed progress on the building.... From 1888 to 1891, Niernsee?s son, Frank McHenry Niernsee, served as architect and much of the interior work was completed. In 1900 Frank Milburn served briefly as architect, but was replaced in 1905 by Charles Coker Wilson who finally finished the exterior in 1907."[5]
House Grounds
African-American Monument
There are many statues and monuments on the State House grounds, such as a Confederate battle flag, which flew over the dome of the State House until it was the subject of controversy in the 2000 U.S. presidential campaign. On July 1, 2000 it was moved to the Monument dedicated to South Carolina's Confederate Dead on the north side of the State House grounds. On the other hand it is also asserted that the South Carolina State House is the only state capitol in the nation to have a monument dedicated to the contributions and history of African-Americans on its grounds. The grounds is also home to a monument to fallen South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers located on the southwest of the South Portico. There is also a statue for Senator Strom Thurmond and Benjamin Ryan Tillman.
Encyclopedia
top
