Discover the Charm: Top 7 Amazing Fun Facts About Columbia, South Carolina

1. Athlete Factory

Columbia, South Carolina: a one-stop shop for churning out human sport machines in all shapes and sizes! Seriously though: this southern gem has produced remarkable athletes like Olympic gold medalist swimmer Samuel Henry Dickson, former NFL defensive end John Abraham, and the trailblazing MLB player Larry Doby, who broke barriers as the first black player in the American League.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

2. Capital of Southern Cool

Chilling with Art and a Side of Wattage: Columbia, South Carolina was once lauded as "The Capital of Southern Cool" by GQ magazine, thanks to its eclectic blend of arts and music, scrumptious delicacies, and breathtaking sights. Beyond its cultural cornucopia, this Southern belle also boasts the first fully electric bus system in the Southeastern United States and a cool $1.07 billion Transportation Penny Program for all your road-related needs.
Source => colatoday.6amcity.com

Did you know South Carolina's "Garden City" boasts a mouthwatering assortment of local produce and stunning landscapes? Discover the delights of Barnwell County and its picturesque Ag + Art Trail! 🍑🌳✨

=> Fun Facts about South-Carolina

3. Army's Hogwarts

Columbia, South Carolina might be the Army's very own Hogwarts—minus the wands, but with a whole lot of discipline and strength: As the home of Fort Jackson, over 50% of all U.S. Army soldiers and 60% of women entering the Army receive their magical transformation into disciplined, fit, and motivated soldiers each year, molding them into core-value-fortified warriors ready to stand for their nation.
Source => home.army.mil

4. Gervais Street Bridge

Who needs a bridge to success when you've got the Gervais Street Bridge to alter the course of history: Once the widest roadway in South Carolina, this nearly-century old marvel redirected traffic, turning Senate Street into a residential area and serving as Columbia's sole river-crossing connector until 1953.
Source => en.wikipedia.org

5. Black Majority Legislature

When the going gets tough, the tough get elected: In Columbia, South Carolina during the Reconstruction Era, the first Black majority legislature in the United States was formed, boasting 75 Black members in the House of Representatives and 10 in the State Senate, making history by funding public schools, public works programs, and reforming the State Hospital and South Carolina Penitentiary.
Source => experiencecolumbiasc.com

6. Splash & Learn Playground

Who knew splashing around could be so enlightening: Columbia, South Carolina features an interactive water playground known as the Columbia River Watershed where folks can frolic and feed their brains simultaneously. The Headwaters section flaunts a hand-cut, granite depiction of the watershed and a bronze topographic map of the Columbia River's source in British Columbia, all on a nifty Brazilian Coast Green Granite slab.
Source => publicartservices.com

7. Comedic Bankscape

In an alternate universe where banks moonlight as stand-up comedians, Columbia, South Carolina hosts the funniest banking institution this side of the Mississippi: Behold, Tunnelvision, the town's pride and joy! This renowned piece of public art has folks banking on laughter while standing in a parking lot, as they stare at a mesmerizing sunset that simply doesn't exist: Seriously, Tunnelvision is a talented trompe-l'oeil mural, crafted by the visionary artist Blue Sky (born Warren Edward Johnson) in 1975, which uses forced perspective to create a jaw-dropping, three-dimensional experience of a surreal sunset on the side of a downtown bank, funded by a $3,000 grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission, turning a once ordinary wall into a beloved local landmark..
Source => roadsideamerica.com