Best Arts and Culture Places in Columbia

"Columbia’s cultural center has matured rapidly in the 20 years since it moved to Main Street. With 22,000 square feet of gallery space, the CMA has a custom-made Chihuly chandelier hanging at its main entrance and has hosted impressive traveling exhibits, including ones by Henri Matisse, Imogen Cunningham, and Salvador Dali. The permanent collection shows a timeline of American and European history from antiquity to modern times."

"Abundant with immaculate paintings and sculptures, a museum date through Columbia Museum of Art is always guaranteed success. Founded in 1950, Columbia Museum of Art is home to internationally renowned art pieces, some of which come from ancient Meditteranean times and showcases early Greek culture. Recently, the museum also opened galleries that feature modern artists such as Andy Warhol and Van Gogh."

"Tunnelvision was created by Blue Sky, an artist from South Carolina who is also responsible for a number of other famous modern artworks in Columbia; you’ll read about some of them in a little while!. He was inspired to create it based on a dream, and the result is a whimsical, almost otherworldly sort of masterpiece that looks like a portal to a different world. Located in downtown Columbia in an unassuming parking lot, Tunnelvision is painted across a large wall measuring 50 by 75 feet."

"Although it is located in a car park, the mind-boggling Tunnel Vision Mural is certainly well worth visiting if you are in the area. Painted on the side of a large blank wall, the arresting artwork and its amazing optical illusion make for some fantastic photos and lies just a short walk from downtown. Painted over the course of 1974 and 1975 by Blue Sky, arguably the city’s most famous artist, it depicts a road and tunnel leading to a glowing sun off in the distance."

"Historic Columbia is a non-profit organization aiming to protect the city’s extensive cultural and social past, which it does by preserving a number of historical buildings and landmarks around the city. The Historic House Museum is one of these buildings, a site consisting of four different properties, all with fascinating and intriguing backstories. The Woodrow Wilson Family Home here, for example, was once the home of the USA’s 28th president, who lived in the mansion in 1871."

"This elegant Classical Revival townhouse Robert Mills designed in 1823 for Ainsley Hall, a wealthy Columbia merchan, and his wife Sarah, was one of the very few private homes this prominent American architect designed. He was much more famous for his public buildings such as the Washington Monument. The house originally served as a seminary and a bible college until 1961 when it was meticulously restored and opened as a historic house museum."

"The Robert Mills House and Gardens are truly amazing spots for sightseeing, especially if you see lots of fun in architecture and arts. The home building is the creation of the titular Robert Mills, and it’s a townhouse in the style of Classical Revival elegance. It was made in 1823 for a wealthy merchant of Columbia named Ainsley Hall and his wife."

"If you’re looking for a judgment-free zone, the Art Bar is definitely the spot for you. The Art Bar has an open karaoke night on Wednesdays, live music, and dance parties on Friday nights. The place is also decorated with fun lights and art that will send off some good vibes from the friendliest bar in town."

"Dutch collector Wim Roefs came to the US to study journalism, although he had started collecting art while still living in his homeland and after he settled in Columbia, he rekindled his passion and began collecting across South Carolina. One thing led to another, and after a couple of shows that he hosted in his own house, Roefs eventually decided to take the next step and opened his own gallery – If Art Gallery– in 2006. The gallery now represents more than 30 cutting ­edge contemporary artists, who mostly work in the mediums of painting and sculpture."

"If you’re looking for enthralling but unusual things to see in Columbia, you’ll want to check out the Never Bust Chain. It’s a work of art by Blue Sky, an artist of South Carolina who also did Tunnelvision, located in downtown Columbia. No city approval was sought, only approval from the owners of the buildings involved, but it gained immediate government approval thanks to the renown of the artist."

"City Art is a local and small but very important gallery for regional artists. It is important because it exposes the most talented and impressive works of local artists. This gallery enables unknown talented people to become known not only in the city or country but in the whole world, because thanks to foreigners, all these people become known."

"One Eared Cow Glass is a gallery that presents pieces of art from glass. All models of vases, bowls, paperweights and bottles are hand made by glass sculptors and can be admired by people. The masters use some old techniques that date back thousands of years."

"If you want to learn more about the history, culture and nature of the state, no visit to town can ever be complete without stopping by the superb South Carolina State Museum. Set on the banks of the Congaree River, it has a huge array of interesting artifacts and interactive exhibits for you to peruse. First opened in 1894, it is now the largest museum in the state with its galleries containing around 70,000 objects in total."

"The South Carolina State Museum, located in Columbia is the largest museum in the Southeastern United States. Positioned on an old shipping canal on the Congaree River that dates back to pre-Civil War times, the museum is widely recognized as a resource for South Carolina history and lifestyle. The museum opened October 29, 1988 and is housed in what it calls its largest artifact, the former Columbia Mills Building."

"South Carolina State Museum is known for being the state’s largest history museum, containing four exhibitions and over 70,000 artifacts, this museum goes over a ton of the state’s history. This is a great museum to take the kids for them to have fun, learn and explore. This museum is the perfect museum to explore some history of the state with the whole family."

"More than 300 years of riverside history is detailed at the Cayce Historical Museum's replica trading post from the 1700s.|© Cayce Historical Museum. The expanse now known at the City of Cayce is home to one of the first European settlements in the area, thanks to its proximity to the Congaree River, and the Cayce Historical Museum highlights the heritage of these settlers. The museum itself, a welcoming blue house-like structure, is a replica of an old trading post from 1765."

"This museum's exhibits lead you on a historical and cultural tour of life in this region from the18th century – when the area was known as "the back country" – to the present. Exhibits cover a variety of topics, including agriculture, Native American culture, commercial development, and daily life in Colonial times. Read more about Cayce Historical Museum →"

"What it commemorates: The first museum dedicated to the Palmetto State's military tradition opened in 1981, thanks to the vision of South Carolina National Guard Col. Hugh McLaurin III. It originally was located in Sumter in a small space. By 2007, the location was moved to Columbia and into a much larger area for displays. A second building was christened June 7, 2014, making this museum the largest land-based, military museum in South Carolina and one of the premier U.S."

"This collection focuses on Civil War artifacts but also exhibits an overview of regional history from colonial years up through the modern era. See military garb, weapons, and portraits and learn about military figures like Robert E. Lee, Francis Marion and Wade Hampton. Books and records allow visitors to look up any ancestors that served in the military."

"Military Museums301 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 29201MoreLess Info. Founded in 1896, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum is the third oldest museum in the state. The collection focuses on the military history of South Carolina with emphasis on the Civil War period."

"This Pan-Asian restaurant off Killian Road opened last year, and is a perfect little place to celebrate something special – like your love for each other!. Their menu is varied with top items from Chinese and Japanese cuisine, and prepared to perfection. The interior is upscale with linen tablecloths and seating includes private booths."

"7509 St. Andrews Road, Irmo If you’re looking for some greasy, ready-in-10-minutes takeout Chinese food, this ain’t the place; if, however, you’re looking for some of the highest-quality Chinese food in the entire state, then you’ve gotta try Sun Ming. They’ve got all the standards, like fried rice, lo mein, and General Tso’s chicken, in addition to more traditional Cantonese cuisine like clay pot beef brisket, pickled cabbage soup, bitter melon, and Cantonese roast duck. Is your stomach growling yet?"

"1115 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29201-3147Mexican, Japanese, Sushi, AsianLunch, DinnerTakeout, Seating, Wheelchair Accessible, Serves Alcohol, Full Bar, Table Service+1 803-771-7131http://tako-sushi.com/restaurants/columbia-sc"