Columbia SC 63: Our Story Matters

In the eight years since its inception, Columbia SC 63 has helped to grow the public understanding of Columbia, South Carolina's rich civil rights history, utilizing historic buildings and sites to make the city's vibrant history come to life. Through research, tours, and public events, Columbia SC 63 has drawn attention to the little-known civil right's history hidden in plain sight. Created by Major Steve Benjamin in partnership with six other southern cities, from the very beginning Columbia SC 63 worked to create a broadly accessible appreciation of Columbia's historic resources.

Columbia SC 63's work has enhanced the public's access to historical knowledge across the city. In 2013, Columbia SC 63 sponsored the creation of wayside signs along Main Street in Columbia and at other historic sites. During the 1950s and 1960s, downtown Columbia served as the site of major civil rights activism, from lawsuits and organizing meetings to mass protests and sit-in demonstrations. These signs allow visitors to Columbia a free walking tour of the city's civil rights history, bringing attention to historic properties along one of Columbia's busiest streets. Moreover, they reframe the stories of the city's historic sites and buildings, adding an additional layer of history to these locations. Since then, Columbia SC 63 has continued to add to the historical narrative around the city by sponsoring the erection of historical markers at the sites of sit-ins. Outside of the former Eckerd Drug Store and Taylor Street Pharmacy, Columbia SC 63 has helped to make the history of these sites accessible to the broader public.