Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
The South Caroliniana Library
1840
Photographed By Mike Stroud, 2009
1. The South Caroliniana Library Marker
Inscription.
The South Caroliniana Library. The central portion of this structure is the oldest freestanding college library in the United States and has served continuously as a library since its completion in 1840. It is based upon design elements by South Carolina native and nineteenth-century federal architect Robert Mills. Its reading room was inspired by Charles Bulfinch's 1818 design for the US Capitol's Library of Congress room, which was destroyed by fire in 1851., Known only as the College Library for its first 100 years, wings designed by architect J.Carroll Johnson were added in 1927. When a larger main library was erected in 1940, this building became a respository for published and unpublished materials relating to the history, geography, literature, and culture of South Carolina. It was named South Caroliniana Library-- the term "Caroliniana" meaning "things pertaining to Carolina."
The central portion of this structure is the oldest freestanding college library in the United States and has served continuously as a library since its completion in 1840. It is based upon design elements by South Carolina native and nineteenth-century federal architect Robert Mills. Its reading room was inspired by Charles Bulfinch's 1818 design for the
US Capitol's Library of Congress room, which was destroyed by fire in 1851.
Known only as the College Library for its first 100 years, wings designed by architect J.Carroll Johnson were added in 1927. When a larger main library was erected in 1940, this building became a respository for published and unpublished materials relating to the history,
geography, literature, and culture of South Carolina. It was named South Caroliniana Library-- the term "Caroliniana" meaning "things pertaining to Carolina."
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1840.
Location. 33° 59.898′ N, 81° 1.792′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown. Marker can be reached from Sumter Street near College Street, on the right when traveling north. Located near northeast side entrance to USC Horseshoe. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Columbia SC 29201, United States of America. Touch for directions.
3. The South Caroliniana Library Marker, seen at right
Photographed By Usc
4. The South Caroliniana Library
reading room destroyed by fire in 1851
Photographed By Mike Stroud, August 21, 2011
5. The South Caroliniana Library War Memorial Fountain
Plaque at right honors Patriots of the Revolutionary War
Historic American Buildings Survey, M.B. Paine, April 1934
6. The South Caroliniana Library South and west (front )elevations
Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,40-COLUM,2A-1
Historic American Buildings Survey, M.B. Paine, April 1934
7. The South Caroliniana Library North elevation
Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,40-COLUM,2A-2
Historic American Buildings Survey, M.B. Paine, April 1934
8. The South Caroliniana Library First floor entrance hall
Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,40-COLUM,2A-3
Historic American Buildings Survey, M.B. Paine, April 1934
9. The South Caroliniana Library Main Reading room, looking east
Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,40-COLUM,2A-4
Historic American Buildings Survey, C.O. Greene, September 21, 1940
10. The South Caroliniana Library View from north gallery
Historic American Engineering Record HABS SC,40-COLUM,2A-8
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 1, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 958 times since then and 24 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 1, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 5. submitted on December 10, 2011, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. submitted on May 12, 2010, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Craig Swain was the editor who published this page.