Midtown - Downtown in Columbia in Richland County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)
A Modern Mission for an Old Mansion
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026
1. A Modern Mission for an Old Mansion Marker
By the mid-1960s, the Hampton-Preston Mansion had fallen into disrepair and buildings and parking lots of all shapes and sizes filled the entire block. Despite this condition, the State of South Carolina bought the property in 1968 for its connection with the historically important Hampton and Preston family. In preparation for its tricentennial celebration, the state demolished some buildings and undertook a massive rehabilitation of the 150-year-old mansion. Between April 21, 1970 and June 30, 1971, more than 135,000 people visited the mansion and the two ultra-modern domes, known as the Midlands Exposition Center.
[Captions:]
By 1965, the 1600 block of Blanding Street featured a used car lot, the deteriorated Hampton-Preston Mansion and several businesses, including a restaurant and a laundromat.
Each nylon and metal dome offered 10,000 square feet of space for exhibits highlighting 300 years of South Carolina history.
Erected by Historic Columbia Foundation.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Notable Places • Parks & Recreational Areas
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Location. 34° 0.612′ N, 81° 1.799′ W. Marker is in Columbia, South Carolina, in Richland County. It is in Midtown - Downtown. It is on Blanding Street east of Pickens Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1531 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: Hampton-Preston Mansion, 1965 / Chicora College Students, ca. 1910 (a few steps from this marker); A Favored Fountain (a few steps from this marker); A Gateway into a Privileged World (a
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), January 17, 2026
2. A Modern Mission for an Old Mansion Marker
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 49 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 24, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
