The Lobby
In the lobby, you’ll meet our front desk staff who can direct you to your destination inside the Archives and History Center. The lobby is dominated by a huge outline of the state flamed into polished black granite. The bricks throughout the interior and exterior of the building are a decorative element.
The brick arches seen here reference the structural arches at Fort Sumter in Charleston, site of the start of the Civil War.
- To your left is a brick arch leading to our public programming and rental facilities.
- To your right is another brick arch taking you into our Reference Room for historical and genealogical research. The gate leading into the Reference Room is a contemporary interpretation of traditional iron gates found in Charleston.
From the lobby, you may also choose to visit the gift shop or the current historical exhibit in the J. Verne Smith Gallery. You might also choose to stroll through the beautifully landscaped walled garden or examine the center’s art collection of works by South Carolina artists.