Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

From Historic House to Modern Museum

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

1. From Historic House to Modern Museum Marker

Inscription.
Since its debut in 1978 as the Center for Black History, Art and Folklore, the Mann-Simons Site has been a community resource. Partnerships have resulted in unique learning experiences, programs and projects. On-going research has uncovered new information about who lived here and how they made their lives in Columbia. The history of the Mann-Simons Site's past will continue to evolve as time passes and more information is uncovered.

[Captions:]
Above
Members of the Wisteria Garden Club installed raised garden beds here in the early 1980s.

Above
Churches, schools, businesses and individuals have worked together since 1978 to produce the Jubilee Festival of Heritage. This annual event offers visitors an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and contributions that African Americans have made in shaping South Carolina.

Above
In April 2012, students with Richland School District One's Heyward Career Center installed steel frames under the guidance of their teachers and master pipe fitter Mark Crockett. Archaeologist Dr. Jakob Crockett oversaw this hands-on educational project that resulted in dynamic interpretations of what buildings that once stood on the property looked like.

Erected by Historic

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Columbia Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Anthropology & Archaeology • Education • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical month for this entry is April 2012.

Location. 34° 0.729′ N, 81° 2.067′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown. It is on Marion Street north of Richland Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1403 Richland St, Columbia SC 29201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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: Uncovering Traces of the Past (here, next to this

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026

2. From Historic House to Modern Museum Marker

marker); Time to Collect the Rent (a few steps from this marker); Out With the Old and In With the New (a few steps from this marker); Prosperity and Property Ownership (a few steps from this marker); Getting to Know Your Neighbors (a few steps from this marker); Food for Thought (within shouting distance of this marker); Making History One Generation at a Time (within shouting distance of this marker); The Family's First Home (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2026. It was originally submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 23 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.