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

Historic Fence and Gates Restoration

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

1. Historic Fence and Gates Restoration Marker

Inscription.
Between 1873 and 1889, these cast-iron columns and wrought iron gates replaced the Hampton-Preston estate's original, narrower gate and brick columns. A century of wear and tear left the grander, newer gates, columns and portions of the property's original 1818 cast iron fence bent, broken and rusted.

A gift from the Darnall W. and Susan F. Boyd Foundation, supplemented with a federal historic preservation grant, funded the gates' and columns' restoration in 2012.

[Captions:]
Artisans preserved historic portions of the gates, columns and fences while making replacement parts, resetting the columns and refinishing the entrance to the grounds.

For forty years, students often enjoyed perching atop the front gates at the former Hampton-Preston estate for humorous pictures.

Erected by Historic Columbia Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Arts, Letters, Music • Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1873.

Location. 34° 0.621′ N, 81° 1.763′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown.

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It can be reached from Blanding Street west of Henderson Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1615 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 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 Garden Resource for Everyone (here, next to this marker); Hampton-Preston House (here, next to this marker); Welcome to the Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens (here, next to this marker); Connected by History, Divided by Color (here, next to this marker); Columbia Bible College, 1937-1960 / Westervelt Home, 1930 - 1937 (a few steps from this marker); Hampton-Preston Welcome Garden (a few steps

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

2. Historic Fence and Gates Restoration Marker

from this marker); The Garden's Foundation (a few steps from this marker); Former Site of Columbia Theological Seminary (a few steps from 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 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.