South Carolina Archives Building
National Register Listing
Street Address:
1430 State Street, Columbia, SC (Richland County)
NRHP Nomination
Record Number:
S10817740186
Description and Narrative:
The South Carolina Archives Building is significant to the governmental history of the state as the first purpose-built building constructed by the State of South Carolina to house its archival collection, maintained by the S.C. Archives Department under the authority of the S.C. Archives Commission. The Archives Building housed important state and county government records dating back to the colonial period, conserved and made accessible to researchers through the work of archives staff. Beginning in 1969, the building also became the home of the State Historic Preservation Office, tasked with implementing the programs of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966. The Archives Building served these important state government functions from its opening in 1959 until the relocation of the Archives Department in 1998. It is also locally significant as a rare example of transitional architecture combining Stripped Classical and New Formalist styles. This transitional design was used to reflect the function of the building while maintaining its identity as a state government structure. The limestone-clad building has over 42,000 square feet, not including the two extra floors of the stacks area. It has two stories above a raised basement with a projecting central block on the façade featuring a Modern interpretation of a portico, with a patio in front of the façade. The northern block of the building represents the original 1959 footprint, while the southern block is a 1971 addition. Listed in the National Register October 8, 2024.
Period of Significance:
1959 – 1974
Level of Significance:
State;Local
Area of Significance:
Politics/Government;Architecture
National Register Determination:
listed
Date of Certification:
October 8 2024
