1. Establishment as a city and as the capital, 1786
It was the first city in America to hold the name of “Columbia” of at least 19 that are now in existence. 

2. George Washington’s visit, 1791

3. Founding of USC, 1801

4. Building of Robert Mills House, commissioned in 1823 by Sarah and Ainsley Hall

5. First Gervais Street Bridge built, 1827

6. Governor’s Mansion built, 1855
Originally the officers’ barracks for the Arsenal Military Academy, it was the only school building to survive Sherman’s burning 10 years later. It was established as the home of South Carolina’s Chief Executive Officers in 1868 by Governor James Orr.

7. The South Carolina Secession Convention begins at First Baptist Church, 1860

8. Town of Lexington established, 1861

Lexington County was named in 1785 after the Revolutionary War Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts. 

9. Gen. Sherman’s burning of Columbia, 1865

10. The Constitution of 1868
Established public education in South Carolina.

11. Woodrow Wilson moves to Columbia at age 14 with his family, 1870

12. Irmo chartered, 1890
The town was named by combining the first two letters of the names of two railroad company men, C.J. Iredell and H.C. Moseley.

13. Establishment of Ft. Jackson, 1917

14. The Lake Murray dam completed, 1930
At the time, it was the largest earthen dam in the world.

15. The Doolittle Raiders transfer to Columbia for training, 1942

16. First art collection displayed in the Columbia Museum of Art, 1950

17. Public school desegregation, 1963

18. Establishment of Riverbanks Zoo, 1974

19. George Rogers, a tailback for USC, wins the Heisman Trophy, 1980

20. Hootie & the Blowfish formed at USC, 1986

21. Pope John Paul II visits Columbia, 1987

22. Opening of the South Carolina State Museum, 1988

23. Hurricane Hugo, 1989

24. Establishment of the Congaree National Park, 2003

25. USC Baseball wins their 1st and 2nd National Championship, 2010, 2011