The South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) announces the opening of a new exhibit, “Know Your State and Make it Know: The South Carolina Historical Marker Program”. The opening is on Thursday, December 5, 2024, 5:30 – 7:30 PM at the South Carolina History Center, 8301 Parklane Road, Columbia, SC 29223.
“For nearly ninety years, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History has partnered with local groups to bring attention to historic places in their communities by erecting state historical markers. This exhibit tells the story of how that program came about, and it speaks to the work of our agency and the thousands of South Carolinians who have heeded the charge originally made by the program’s first director, Dr. Nora Marshall Davis—to “know their state and make it known to others” through the South Carolina Historical Marker Program.” said exhibit creator, Edwin Breeden, Ph.D.
Administered by the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), South Carolina’s official state historical marker program was established in 1936 and is one of the oldest programs of its type in the country. Since the program’s creation, historical markers have been approved by the South Carolina Department of Archives and History (SCDAH) and erected all across the state.
Throughout its history, the South Carolina Historical Marker Program has been state-managed but locally driven. SCDAH reviews and approves all new state historical markers; however, the agency has never received regular state funding for new markers. Rather, it depends on the citizens of South Carolina to propose, document, fund, and maintain state historical markers.
The exhibit will be open to the public Monday – Friday, 8:30 AM until 5:00 PM through March 2025. There is no admission fee to view the exhibit.
