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Construction of the State House, as the state capitol building is known, was begun in 1851, but the building was dismantled during construction due to defective materials.  The original architect was dismissed because of fraud and dereliction of duty, and a new structure was begun in 1855.  Work was suspended ten years later as Sherman's Union armies swept through and left their mark on Columbia and the State House.  The building was completed in 1907, still bearing the scars of these attacks.

In 1995, a building restoration project was begun, and three years later, the original copper dome and granite walls were restored to their original grandeur.  Today, visitors can see the original marble floors, walls, ceilings and columns, as well as original furnishings such as hand-carved mahogany desks, stained-glass windows, and the state's historic sword and mace.

The building also houses the offices of the governor and lieutenant governor as well as a gift shop.  The building is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.  It is also open on the first Sunday of each month, from 1 to 5 p.m.  The gift shop closes one hour before the building.