Memorial Park, Columbia

Nestled in downtown Columbia, Memorial Park is a 7-acre urban green space steeped in history and remembrance. Located at the corner of Gadsden and Hampton Streets-just a block south of Finlay Park-this park serves as a quiet sanctuary dedicated to honoring South Carolinians who served and sacrificed in times of war.

Originally established in 1944–1945 by the Garden Club of South Carolina and designed by the esteemed landscape architect Loutrel W. Briggs, Memorial Park has grown into a meaningful destination for reflection and community remembrance. The park’s landscape blends beauty and serenity with purpose: mature shade trees, grassy lawns, walkways, a peaceful creek with a small bridge, and a water fountain invite visitors to linger and remember.

The park features several important monuments honoring South Carolinians who served in major conflicts. Its centerpiece is the South Carolina Vietnam Monument, with granite walls inscribed with 980 names-the largest of its kind outside Washington, D.C. Other memorials pay tribute to Korean War veterans, WWII Navy servicemen, the USS Columbia crew, Pearl Harbor casualties, and the China-Burma-India Theater. The Holocaust Memorial, designed by Irwin Hyman, includes names of survivors and liberators, a map of death camps, and a WWII timeline. A bronze sculpture by Renee Bemis honors Vietnam War dogs and their handlers.

Beyond its historical and emotional significance, Memorial Park offers a tranquil setting that appeals to veterans, families, and passersby alike. With birds flitting through the trees and children often chasing them near the creek, the park remains not only a place of solemn remembrance but also of gentle life and everyday peace.