National Historic Landmark- South Carolina State House

Begun in 1851 and completed in 1907, this fine example of Neoclassical architecture demonstrates the disruptive effects of the Civil War and Reconstruction Eras on Southern development.

Here, between 1869 and 1874, the only legislature in American history with a Black majority met; it was the setting for THE PROSTRATE STATE: SOUTH CAROLINA UNDER NEGRO GOVERNMENT, an influential book which fostered the image of Reconstruction as an era of Black domination, corruption and misrule; in 1876, it was the scene of disputes about state elections, which ultimately resulted in the removal of Federal troops from the state and the return to power of the Democrats.

Courtesy National Park Service National Historic Landmarks

Photo courtesy Library of Congress Historic American Building Survey