Past Meets Present

A black and white photo of the old post office on Gervais Street, which is now the South Carolina Supreme Court.

An inquiry about the original doors to the Supreme Court of South Carolina building on Gervais Street turned into a treasure hunt, yielding images of Columbia that are pretty different than what we know today. The law librarian at the Court asked for anything we could find about the front doors to the building, which was a post office until the state bought it in 1966. Images like this one from the Digital Public Library of America show their appearance. Connecting with the National Archives, we learned that the building's architectural drawings and plans are on file in Maryland.

Upcoming Event

Revolutionary War Day 2026 banner stating the date is March 28, 2026.

SCCRRMM Revolutionary War Day

March 28, 2026, 10:00 AM

The State Library will be supporting the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum's American Revolution Day. More American Revolution battles/skirmishes were fought in South Carolina than in any other state. Everyone has something to learn from the conflict that founded our country; the Relic Room’s full day of programs will offer something for everyone. Spend a day immersed in history and bring the youngsters!