Photo Galleries:

Geenwood Cemetery

Zion Presbyterian Cemetery

Rose Hill Cemetery

HISTORIC CEMETERIES

Greenwood Cemetery was established as a necessity just after the founding of Columbia in 1808.  A man had died from a mule kick to the head and he had to be buried.  Others soon followed and the burial ground grew until substantial amounts of sub-surface rock made further internments problematic.  Today the old cemetery holds many beautiful examples of early American stonework, including the box tombs of the parents of President James K. Polk and various members of his family.

Those buried in Zion Presbyterian Cemetery represent the first colony to be established in this region.  Those pioneers, both white and black, who traveled together from South Carolina in 1806 are all buried here along with their succeeding generations.  Here are buried veterans of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Mexican War and the Civil War.  Notably among them is Samuel Rush Watkins, author of the definitive soldier’s memoire of the Civil War, “Company Aytch.”  The congregation of this venerable old Church have lovingly cared for this burial ground in all the years that have passed since its founding.

Columbia’s mayor, Meredith Helm, gave a portion of his farm in 1854 as a burial ground, called Rose Hill, as an alternative to the old Greenwood Cemetery.  This cemetery became the stylish place for internment during the late 19^th century.  Today is holds many beautiful examples of statuary and stonework, including the one-of-a-kind Confederate Monument of a life-size soldier at “funeral rest.”