Local Resources and Information

Etowah Creek District

Indian Waters Council
Columbia, South Carolina  USA

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Local Resources in Columbia, SC Area

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Museums and Zoos

• Riverbanks Zoo and Botanical Garden Regular Hours 9am-5pm daily. Group rates available for 15 or more with preregistration. Ask about educational programs for your den. 779-8717 [OSP] [FT] [EVENT] [MAT]
• State Museum Open every day, except Christmas, Thanksgiving and Easter, 10-5 Monday through Saturday:1-5 p.m. Sundays and New Year's Day. Check for $1 Sundays. Address: 301 Gervais St. Columbia SC 29201. Ph.(803) 737-4999 Group info[OSP] [FT] [EVENT] [MAT]
• Columbia Museum of Art Corner of Main and Hampton Streets. Hours: Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m, Fridays - 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 pm. in December) Sundays - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and major holidays. Admission : Free on Sat. for all. Other days: $5 adults, $2 students, $4 military, $4 senior citizens ages 60 and over. Free for museum members and children under 6.Info: 803.799.2810 Museum Shop: 803.343.2159 Group tours: 803.343.2208 Map [OSP] [FT] [EVENT] [MAT]
• McKissick Museum on the grounds of the University of South Carolina [OSP] [FT] [MAT]

Parks and Nature

• South Carolina State Trails Program http://www.sctrails.net/Trails/ This link takes you to a website that has Trail Maps and Guides for The Palmetto Trail, Paddling and Canoe Trails in SC,Cycling Trails, and many others. It is for both Public and Private lands and is a terrific resource with maps, mile-by-mile descriptions, etc. Take your youth hiking, paddling, or cycling today! It also has Trail Management guides for Eagle Projects and Community Service.[H][C] [FT][INFO] [OSP][Cubs][BSA]
• Sesquicentennial State Park Park Hours: April - October (daily) 7 a.m. - 9 p.m. November - March (daily) 8 a.m. - 6 p.m. Address: 9564 Two Notch Road, Columbia, SC 29223 Phone: (803) 788-2706 [OSP] [TP] [FT] [C] [H] [EVENT] [MAT]
• Dreher Island State Recreation Area (Billy Dreher State Park) Park Hours: April - October (daily) 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. November - March (daily) 6 a.m. - 6 p.m. Office Phone: (803) 364-4152 Office Fax: (803) 364-0756 . Address: 3677 State Park Road, Prosperity, SC 29127 Downloadable Map (PDF) [C] [H] [EVENT]
• Congaree Swamp National Monument 200 Caroline Simms Rd., Hopkins SC 29061 (803) 776-4396 Located 20 miles southeast of Columbia off SC Route 48. The last significant tract of old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the U.S. Covers 22,200 acres. Open daily 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Guided nature walks Saturdays at 1:30 p.m. Group tours with advanced arrangements only. Offers 18 miles of hiking trails, fishing, canoeing and primitive camping with permit. Admission free. [OSP] [TP] [FT] [H] [EVENT] [MAT]
• Peachtree Rock Nature Conservancy Site: Peachtree Rock Preserve is named for the large sandstone formation (shaped like an upside-down pyramid) that the visitor sees immediately upon entering the preserve. The rock's strange configuration is a result of the erosion of lower layers of rock and sand, with the upper layers of hard, coarse-grained sandstone eroding at a slower rate. A small waterfall tumbling into a pool, the only cascade in the South Carolina sandhills or coastal plain, is another treasure found here. Map [FT] [H]
• Harbison State Forest Harbison Environmental Education Forest: PO Box 21707, Columbia, SC 29210. (803)896-8890 Fax-896-8896. Primitive Camping Sites available for Scout Troops and Crews by advance notice, only. Good hiking and biking trails. [OSP] [FT] [TP] [C] [H] [INFO] [EVENT] [MAT]
• Orangeburg National Fish Hatchery Near Columbia, in Orangeburg. P.O. Box 410 Orangeburg, SC 29116 (803) 534-4828 Physical Address: 427 Lakeview Drive, Hwy 21 By Pass, Orangeburg, SC 29115 FAX: (803) 534-4917 E-mail: orangeburg@fws.gov. Great place for both older Scouts and Cub Scouts. Breeding site of endangered South Carolina Short-nosed Sturgeon. Public Use Opportunities: Over 14,000 visitors annually, Recreation fishing on 100-acre lake, Visitor center with aquarium, Nature trail, Offsite presentations, Picnic pavilion. Throughout the year the hatchery holds events such as: May: Handicap/special needs fishing. June: National Fishing Week. August: Senior citizens fishing days. Map [OSP] [FT] [MAT]
• Poinsett State Park located along the edge of the Wateree Swamp. Camping, a fishing pond with coquina bathhouse built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s, its own extensive trail system connects to the Palmetto Trail. 42 miles away from Columbia, SC. Park Hours: April - October (daily) 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; November - March (daily) 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Address: 6660 Poinsett Park Road, Wedgefield, SC 29168 Phone: (803) 494-8177 Email poinsett@scprt.com Map [FT] [C] [H] [INFO]
• Sumter National Forest A listing of campgrounds, hiking trails, and more from GORP Resources.[C] [H] [BSA]
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife SE Region. See this map for SC fish and wildlife areas. Local Ph.(803)765-5626[C] [INFO] [EVENT]
• SC State Forestry Commission Education Department 5500 Broad River Road,Columbia, SC 29212 Phone: 803-896-8800 Fax: 803-798-8097 Ask for the "What Tree Is This?" booklet or look at it here online [OSP] [TP] [C] [H][G/F] [INFO] [EVENT] [MAT]
• SC State Parks Guide A list of SC State Parks [INFO] [C] [H]
• Educational Programs from SC Department of Natural Resources [INFO][OSP][FT] [G/F] [EVENT] [MAT]

Heritage and Historical Sites

(see also Museums)

• Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum The Museum is located in the Columbia Mills Building at 301 Gervais Street in Columbia, just a few blocks west of the State Capitol in downtown. The Museum shares this building with the SC State Museum. Weapons and trappings from the American Revolution forward, with an emphasis on the Confederate era, including clothing, flags, newspapers, pictures, money and other artifacts. Also videos uploaded online. Regular Admission: $4.00, age 21 and over. Tickets are $1.00, age 21 and over, on the first Sunday. Under 21 is free. (Joint tickets for the Confederate Relic Room and the SC State Museum are $6.00. A joint ticket allows you to visit both museums once within a seven day period.) TOUR GROUPS and SCHOOL TOURS: The Museum offers discounted ticket rates of $3.00 for tour groups. School tours are offered at no cost. Special events include Home School Fridays, etc. Contact Curator of Education Joe Long wjlong@crr.sc.gov HOURS: Tu-Sat 10AM-5PM First Sunday of the Month 1PM-5PM Closed All State Holidays, except Confederate Memorial Day and Veteran's Day. Free for under 21 years. 803-737-8098 [OSP] [FT] [MAT]
• The Cayce Historical Museum City of Cayce Municipal Complex, 1800 12th Street. Cayce, South Carolina 29033 . The town of Cayce sits on the site of Ft. Granby, one of the earliest inland villages and the scene of two Revolutionary battles. The museum is a replica of the old Cayce House, a trading post of the mid-1700s, with an authentic kitchen, smokehouse and dairy. (Tu-F 9-4. Sa and Su 2-5. Adm. 796-9020)
• The Fort Jackson Museum Jackson Boulevard, Fort Jackson, across from post headquarters. Displays and exhibits recount the history of training the American soldier. A collection of memorabilia celebrates the life and times of President Andrew Jackson, for whom the fort is named. Call first, as the museum is undergoing renovations and may be closed. (Tu-F 10-4; Sa & Su 1-4. Free. 751-7419)
• Lexington County MuseumFox Street and U.S. 378, Lexington Fifteen antebellum buildings house varied collections of the period's arts and crafts of self-sufficiency, including locally-made furniture, textiles and decorative pieces. (Tu-Sa 10-4; Su 1-4. Adm. 359-8369)
• Mann-Simons Cottage: Museum of African-American Culture 1403 Richland Street. Celia Mann bought her own freedom from slavery in Charleston, walked to Columbia and made a remarkable life for herself in this white frame cottage, of which she was the original owner. Built in the early 1800s, it is now a historical heritage house museum. (Tu-Sa 10:15-3:15; Su 1:15-4:15. Closed last two weeks in December. Adm. 252-1770)
• Robert Mills Historic House and Park1616 Blanding Street Robert Mills, one of America's most celebrated architects and designer of the Washington Monument, also designed this mansion, which was built in 1823. The interior is lavishly furnished with period pieces and the park-like gardens invite strollers. (Tu-Sa 10:15-3:15; Su 1:15-4:15. Closed last two weeks in December. Adm. 252-1770)
• Camden Revolutionary War Park, and other Camden area Battle Sites Muskets fire and cannons roar on the first weekend in November as 600 re-enactors and living history interpreters celebrate the 225th Anniversary of the Revolution on the very grounds occupied by the British in 1780-81.[OSP] [FT] [H] Adm. to reenactments
• Winnsboro SC Railroad Museum Historic Steam Train Rides and Museum. 110 Industrial Park Road, Winnsboro, SC 29180 803-635-4242 (9-5 Weekdays) or call 803-635-9893 (Recorded message). Email:info@scrm.org Map [OSP] [FT]

Law Enforcement and Fire Safety

• Lexington County Sheriff's Dept. [TP] [MAT]
• Richland County Sheriff's Dept. [TP] [MAT]
• Irmo Police Dept. homepage Also home of Explorer Post 800.
• Columbia City Police [TP] [MAT]
• Cayce Police Dept. Homepage
• City of Columbia Fire Museum [OSP] [FT] [MAT]
• SLED While tours generally are not conducted on a regular basis at SLED, some areas at SLED are accessible for small tour groups if arrangements are made in advance. Areas such as SLED's Forensic Laboratories and the State Crime Information Center are not open for public tours. For further information, you may call SLED's Community Relations Department at (803) 896-7247. [OSP] [FT] [MAT]
• Columbia Metropolitan Airport Tours The Columbia Metropolitan Airport is introducing a new tour for Girl Scout and Boy Scout groups. If your group is trying to earn their travel badges, check us out. This scavenger hunt contains 37 questions or items to locate within the airport's terminal building. (803)822-5129 [OSP] [FT] [INFO] [MAT]
Owens Field Airport (CUB)Columbia-Owens Downtown Airport 1400 Jim Hamilton Boulevard, Columbia, South Carolina 29205 . Sponsors Young Eagles program (see next entry) 1.5 miles from downtown Columbia. Midlands Aviation (803)771-7915 [OSP] [FT] [INFO] [MAT]
• Young Eagles Flying Program - Free small craft airplane flight for ages 8-18. Locally sponsored by Palmetto Sport Aviation at Owens Field Young Eagles Coordinator Ron Shelton 803-796-1892 [FT] [OSP][G/F] [BSA]     [EVENT][MAT]
• Irmo Firestation [OSP] [FT] [TP] [MAT]
• Columbia Firestation [OSP] [FT] [TP] [MAT]
• Columbia Fire Museum [OSP] [FT] [TP] [MAT]
• Criminal Justice Hall of Fame5400 Broad River Road, Columbia, SC 29212. The Hall of Fame building was dedicated on April 9, 1980. Additional exhibit space was enclosed in 1990. Newly completed renovations have modernized the physical plant and given the building a fresh appearance.New exhibit areas give an overview of the South Carolina law enforcement story. The most exciting and difficult changes of the recent renovation project have been our museum exhibits, which have been totally revamped. Twelve new exhibit areas tell the story of South Carolina law enforcement through artifacts, photographs, and text. Admission: Free to the public - Group tours are welcome by prior arrangement. Hours: 8:30AM to 5PM M-F (closed on all state holidays)(803) 896-8199 fax: (803) 896-8067 Map [OSP] [FT] [MAT]

Learning about the Community

• Columbia SC Visitor's Center 1101 Lincoln St, Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 545-0000 Hours from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday – Friday, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m. Sunday "Spirit of Columbia " a/v presentation and events info. Giveaways are sometimes available. Also Photo Tour and E-Cards Toll Free: 1-800-264-4884, (803)545-0000 , Fax: (803)545-0013 Map [INFO] [EVENT] [MAT]
• Irmo Public Library Part of Lexington County Library System. 781-7835
• Richland County Library General Information 799-9084 Branches in most Richland County communities. Main Library is in Downtown Columbia.
• Columbia SC Home Page[INFO] [EVENT]
• Adluh Flour [OSP] [FT] [MAT]
• SCE and G : Coal Plant and Lake Murray Dam [OSP] [FT] [MAT]
• Columbia SC Area Hotlinks List [INFO] [EVENT] [MAT]

Learning About South Carolina

• PRT (Parks, Recreation, and Tourism for South Carolina) Here are excellent links to all aspects of SC [C] [H] [INFO] [EVENT] [MAT]
• SC State Parks Guide A list of SC Parks [INFO]
• Historic Sites of Interest in SC If you need more help in finding information on Historic sites in South Carolina, this is a good place to start.

Local Schools and Community Resources

Local Schools and Community Resources that may be of help or interest to you and your unit. Some of the links below may provide you with needed service projects, too.

• School District 5 of Richland and Lexington Counties
• Lexington School District 2
• Chapin, SC Home Page A great home page with lots of information about the nearby community of Chapin.
• Irmo, SC Home Page A gateway to Lake Murray Country, there is local historical information here