A Walking Tour of Historic Downtown Lancaster

Take a leisurely walk through Lancaster's picturesque downtown historic sites.  A plaque is located in the sidewalk in front of each historic site.  This plaque corresponds to the list of historic locations.  For more information, call 803-286-8414.

Lancaster County Courthouse
100 North Main Street

One of several buildings in Lancaster listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The Lancaster County Courthouse is also a National Historic Landmark.  The Courthouse was designed by Robert Mills, America's first native-born architect and designer of the Washington Monument in the Nation's Capital.

  

Lancaster County Jail
208 West Gay Street

Completed in 1823, the Lancaster County Jail is on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a National Historic Landmark.  Its design is also credited to Robert Mills.  The downstairs cells were intended to hold debtors, a practice that soon waned.  During the Union invasion of 1865, soldiers under General Sherman tried unsuccessfully to burn the jail.

L & C Railroad Museum
512 South Main Street

As industry replaced agriculture, railroads replaced rivers as transportation arteies.  The Lancaster and Chester Railroad was originally built to haul products from the Springs Cotton Mill to market.  Today, the station houes a railroad museum and the Nation's only up-fitting operation where retired rail cars are tailored to the tastes of celebrities and others who prefer to travel by land.

Old Presbyterian Church
307 West Gay Street

A testament to Lancaster's early Scots-Irish heritage, the Old Presbyterian Church dates back to 1862 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.  The cemetery holds graves dating back to 1836, including those of veterans of conflicts as early as the War of 1812.  The cemetery is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Springs House
201 West Gay Street

Build circa 1830, this historic house was purchased in1888 by Colonel Leroy Springs, founder of Springs Industries.  It was the birthplace of Elliott White Springs, noted author, World War I flying ace, and textile magnate.  From 1957 to 2000, it served as City Hall and currently houses the Lancaster County Council fo the Arts and See Lancaster SC.

Clinton Memorial Cemetery
110 Clinton School  Road

The cemetery is full of Southern history with graves that date to the 1890's.  Many of the local residents buried here are among the most famous in Lancaster's African-American history.  They include Isom Caleb Clinton, a founder of Mt. Carmel Campground, noted businessman and politician.

 

Kilburnie
1824 Craig Farm Road

One of many historic homes ot survive in the Lancaster area.  Kilburnie was built in the late 1820's by a local dentist, Dr. Joseph Lee.  Today, this architecturally significant structure has been moved to the outskirts of Lancaster and meticulously restored as a bed and breakfast.  Click here to visit the Kilburnie website.