Olympia-Granby in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Granby Cotton Mills
510 Heyward Street
Incorporated in 1895 and completed in 1896, Granby Cotton Mills was one of four textile mills in Columbia designed and initially operated by architect and engineer W. B. Smith Whaley. Mill work provided impoverished farmers with stability and opportunities for education, as well as housing in one of 55 nearby "saltbox" and gable-front duplexes. In exchange, entire families, including children, worked long hours in dangerous conditions.
Erected by Richland County Conservation Commission; Mill District Alliance; Historic Columbia; funded in part by the Richland County Conservation Commission.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1895.
Location. 33° 58.956′ N, 81° 2.338′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Olympia-Granby. It is at the intersection of Heyward Street and Tryon Street, on the right when traveling east on Heyward Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Heyward St, Columbia SC 29201, United States of
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Regionally, this marker is in the Midlands. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Deep South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Linthead 2022 (here, next to this marker); Olympia Cotton Mills (about 800 feet away, measured in a direct line); Olympia Cotton Mills 2022 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Votes for Women (approx. 0.2 miles away); "The Spirit of the American Doughboy" (approx. Ό mile away); Cotton Mill District (approx. 0.3 miles away); Supervisor's House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Mill Village Design (approx. 0.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 23, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 23, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 40 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 23, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
