Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
Hallowed Ground
For the generations of students and Christian missionaries who attended Columbia Theological Seminary [1831-1927], Westervelt Home [1930-1937] and Columbia Bible College [1937-1960] (today's Columbia International University), this city block holds a special, spiritual meaning. While here, each institution modified its campus to meet changing needs. Buildings came and went while grounds were used for socializing, sporting events and storage. Today, much of the property is filled with native and imported plants arranged in gardens with their own special meanings for those who plant, nurture and visit them.
[Captions:]
Above
In 1888, Winthrop College was founded in the seminary's chapel, seen here in 1930. In 1936, it was dismantled and moved to Winthrop College in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Inspired by that structure, the current building was completed in 1967.
Historic Columbia collection
Above
The Sanborn Fire Insurance map from 1919 shows how Columbia Theological Seminary had adopted its campus by building dormitories, classrooms and dining hall.
Image courtesy of South Caroliniana Library, Columbia
Erected by Historic
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Horticulture & Forestry • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.
Location. 34° 0.573′ N, 81° 1.719′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown. It can be reached from Blanding Street west of Henderson Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1616 Blanding 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 the North Atlantic Region, 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: A Masterful Design (a
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 30 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
