Columbia South Carolina Civil War Show

  I attended the June Columbia Civil War Show which turned out to be a great place to visit. There was a gun show at the same time which made visit even doubly interesting. The weather was good and everything was done by Mike Kent to make the show very enjoyable to all who attended this event.  

The South Carolina State Capital was a great place to start any tour of the city. There are monuments honoring the soldiers who died for the Confederacy.

Several sides of the capital received cannon shot fire from Sherman's artillery across the river. Each place where the granite building was struck is marked with a star. Sherman's army took the city after the Confederate authorities surrendered it. Sherman assured the city mayor that the citizens and their property would not be harmed. The city was later burned as the Union army pulled out. 'Match box' Sherman denied that he was responsible for the destruction.

Native South Carolina son, General Wade Hampton was a cavalry leader for the Confederacy. A statue giving credit to Southern women for their efforts during the Civil War is behind the state capital. Columbia has many other monuments and museums pertaining to the Civil War.

The weather was very warm outside the show but it didn't damper the spirits of these Confederate reenactors. Dwayne Davis of Lost & Found Relics had tables next to mine and kept me laughing with his stories about relic hunting in Tennessee.

David Korney had a fine selection of artillery shells for sale. Army of Tennessee Relics Nick Periut gives a thumbs up talking to his wife on Father's Day.

Rob Braswell picked up his North Carolina Goldsboro Rifles coat button from me. He told me that it was a gift for his Dad. Georgia Relic Dealer James Grant sits behind his relics at the show.

Dennis Cox and Kenny Copeland checking out recently dug relics. Ken and Brenda Coryell visiting from Georgia, did not see any Confederate plates that they haven't already found. 

Antique Road Show Host Rafael Eledge of Shiloh Relics is always in a good mood. Stephen Stafford came to the show with Rafael and had some really unusual relics for sale.

Artillery Collector Paul Hriez holds up a Parrott Shell for sale. Colonel Paul Lamb shows me a sample of his extensive inventory of Confederate notes.

American Digger Magazine Marketing Director Anita Holcomb takes a break from Butch Holcomb.  Georgia boys; David Baity, Jeff Cash, and Daniel Ogle brought some fine relics to the show. Their enthusiasm for Civil War relics is contagious.

Ernie Arnold brought his 'killer' Burnside Shoulder Eagle Plate display to the show. It is probably the largest collection of Burnside plates in the country. He spent many years putting this well organized collection together. His wife Tonnia is a collector and big supporter of her husband's passion for collecting. They both attend many of the Civil War Shows.

 Overall, the Columbia South Carolina Show was well worth the trip. The dealers and people who attend the shows make the trip worthwhile. Sharing information and discussing the hobby is a major factor at every show that brings history alive to many people. The historical areas and the different activites in the city were also excellent. I plan to be there again next year.