Waverly Historic District
Home to Benedict College and Allen University — heart of Black Columbia
Best time
March-May, September-November (avoid brutal South Carolina summers)
Currency
USD
Language
English
Mid-range / day
USD 120
Safety for Black Travelers
Columbia is generally safe for tourists. The Five Points, Vista, and Main Street areas are accessible. USC campus area is very welcoming.
Neighborhoods to Know
Five Points
Columbia's premier entertainment district near the University
The Vista
Converted warehouse district — restaurants and nightlife
Must-Visit Places
Benedict College and Allen University
Two HBCUs in adjacent Columbia — both founded 1870 for freed slaves
Columbia, South Carolina
South Carolina State Museum
Includes significant African American South Carolina history
Columbia, South Carolina
Mann-Simons Site
Home of Celia Mann — an enslaved woman who purchased her freedom — now a museum
Columbia, South Carolina
Congaree National Park (25 min)
Largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the Southeast — stunning
Columbia, South Carolina
Rosewood neighborhood
Historic African American Columbia neighborhood
Columbia, South Carolina
Visa
No visa required for US citizens
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