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30-465: The facility opened in 1993 to replace the decommissioned Central Correctional Institution which had been the state's primary prison for over 130 years. At the time, Lee cost $ 46 million dollars to construct. It remains the largest maximum-security prisons for males in the South Carolina state system. It is often characterized as being the most dangerous. Prisoners took control over portions of

60-713: A canal to navigate the rapids where the Broad River and the Saluda River form the Congaree River . It used a natural ravine that was between the City of Columbia and the Congaree and Broad Rivers. The canal started between Lumber (currently Calhoun) and Richland Streets. It ran along the Congaree for about 3.1 mi (5 km). It ended across from Granby Landing just north of the current railroad bridges across

90-537: A guard rail on each tier. The initial complex comprised two cell blocks and an administrative building. It would later evolve into a more diverse institution, including a hospital and separate blocks for females and juvenile inmates. Historically significant structures included the boundary wall, made of granite and brick, the North Wing Cell Block, the electric chair building, the Richards building, and

120-567: A small plot within the prison yards. However, in 1883, the Department of Corrections purchased the land for the new Penitentiary Cemetery located between Elmwood Cemetery and the Columbia Canal. Until 1915, the prison did not keep death records on any of its prisoners. Researchers have estimated that 1,900 prisoners were buried in the cemetery and the area surrounding it, only 279 prisoners of the 1,900 prisoners have been identified. In

150-758: Is the surviving canal of a series of canals built by the State of South Carolina in 1824 using the labor of indentured Irishmen to provide direct water routes between the upstate settlements and the towns on the Fall Line . It is on the Congaree and Broad rivers in Columbia, South Carolina . It is the focal point of the Riverfront Park in Columbia. The canal is now used to generate hydroelectric power by

180-526: The Baltimore pattern variation where the cells lined the exterior. Interior shower stalls were located on the north wall. The cells were approximately 5 by 6 feet (1.5 m × 1.8 m) with a ceiling height of 6.5 ft (2.0 m) and door openings of 25 ft (7.6 m). The metal catwalks were attached on the exterior of the cell block and was 3 ft (0.9 m) in width. This was, much later, followed by heavy wire fencing material and

210-637: The Central Correctional Institution (CCI) in 1965) was the state of South Carolina's first prison. Completed in 1867, the South Carolina Penitentiary served as the primary state prison for nearly 130 years until its demolition in 1999. It was located adjacent to the Congaree River in Columbia, South Carolina and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 4, 1996. It

240-472: The Civil War . The Penitentiary accepted its first convict in 1867. The majority of prisoners were African American. Until 1937, women were also housed at the penitentiary in separate housing from the men. The penitentiary was also created partly in response to the freeing of slaves who had previously been disciplined by slave holders rather than by a criminal-justice system, making for a greater strain on

270-658: The South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. The Columbia Canal is on the National Register of Historic Places , No. 79002392. The South Carolina Department of Archives and History has additional pictures and information, and copies of the nomination forms. There are additional pictures, and information available from the Historic American Engineering Record at the Library of Congress . In 1820, construction started on

300-492: The 1980s, the South Carolina's Budget and Control Board took control of the cemetery. The Board relinquished control to the city of Columbia in 2000. Initial construction took place in 1867. The first permanent building was the South Wing Cell Block, which served as a cell block until 1927 when it was demolished. Started around the same time, North Wing Cell Block or as it is more commonly known, Cell Block One,

330-582: The Broad River to allow access from the Saluda Canal . There were three waste weirs to prevent flooding of the canal. A separate canal, which was called Bull Sluice, was constructed north of Columbia Canal on the Broad River, This ½ mi (0.8 km) long canal had one lock. The 1891 canal extended the Columbia Canal upstream of Bull Sluice. In 1840, the State of South Carolina dropped its subsidy of

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360-608: The Chair Factory building. The oldest section of the prison, Cell Block One was condemned before the prison was closed for good. Prisoners who were willing to stay in that cell block signed waivers to do so. The cell block was desirable because prisoners typically didn't have cellmates in their cells. From 1912 to 1990, death row was housed at the State Penitentiary changing over historically to Central Correctional Institution in Columbia. Prior to shutting down

390-405: The Congaree. The canal was completed in 1824. It was 12 ft (3.7 m) wide and 2.5 ft (0.8 m) deep north of Senate St. South of Senate St., the canal was 18 ft (5.5 m) wide and 4 ft (1.2 m) deep. It had an 8 ft (2.4 m) wide towpath on either side. The canal had four lifting locks and one guard lock for the 34 ft (10 m) descent of the river. A diversion dam was built across

420-690: The Fiber Craft Chair Company. In May 1922, anger at harsh living conditions in the penitentiary sparked a riot by convicts working in the furniture factory. Reinforced by local police, prison guards suppressed the riot with gunfire, killing at least one prisoner and wounding many others. In 1965, the Penitentiary was renamed the Central Correctional Institution. The penitentiary remained the only maximum-security prison in South Carolina until 1975 and

450-480: The canal was redesigned as an industrial power source. The revised design started at Gervais St. and extended about 3½ mi(5.6 km) north along the Congaree and Broad Rivers. It was about 150 ft (46 m) wide and 10 ft (3 m) deep. It included a new diversion dam, an entry lock, and a waste weir. It was opened in 1891. The Columbia Mill, now known as the South Carolina State Museum ,

480-476: The canal. In 1842, the railroads came to Columbia and the traffic on the canal decreased. During the Civil War , the hydraulic power of the canal was used to make gunpowder. Mills that used the canal for power were a grist mill run by the State Penitentiary, another grist mill, and a saw mill. Portions of the 1824 canal south of Gervais St. survive today. Also parts of the Bull Sluice canal remain. In 1888,

510-518: The counties. In the 1870s, after Wade Hampton III was elected Governor of South Carolina, the board members and superintendents made the penitentiary largely self-sufficient by leasing convict labor. Life for leased convicts could be hard. Prisoners mined phosphate in the lowcountry during the 1860s and 1870s. Additionally, between September 1877 and April 1879, the Greenwood and Augusta Railroad leased 285 prisoners and 128 of them perished under

540-554: The nearby St. Peter's Catholic Church . As a result of catastrophic flooding in early October, the canal was breached. Shortly after, the South Carolina Army National Guard made a claim that repair was underway. In 2021 the funding for repairs, coming from the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development , was approved and repairs have been estimated to be completed by 2023. As of February 2024, repairs on

570-474: The penitentiary, the death house was moved to a newer facility at Broad River Correctional Institution , in January 1990. The first electrocution took place on August 6, 1912. Prior to that date, state executions were carried out by means of hanging in individual counties. Before the South Carolina Penitentiary closed, 243 people were executed by electric chair within the prison. The youngest person executed

600-400: The primary prison in the state until its demolition in 1999. Due to extreme over crowding at the time, 100 temporary cells were placed on the floor of the main cell block. The state was ordered in 1990 by a federal judge to create a prisoner-reduction plan to remedy the problem. The Corrections Department spent $ 202 million and built seven new prisons to fulfill the plan's requirements. Before

630-468: The prison guard captain in the process. Afterwards, all 6 inmates were convicted of murder and were executed in South Carolina's electric chair. In 1971, four prisoners escaped by widening a toilet drain and following the storm drain into the Columbia Canal . When Pee Wee Gaskins served as an inmate at the penitentiary he famously blew up a fellow prisoner with a plastic explosive. In 1991, Gaskins

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660-453: The prison on two separate incidents prior to the 2018 riot which was the deadliest U.S. prison riot in the past 25 years. The prison has had a long history of violent incidents. The riot was the inspiration for the 2018 U.S. prison strike . 34°11′51″N 80°13′34″W  /  34.19747°N 80.22620°W  / 34.19747; -80.22620 South Carolina Penitentiary The South Carolina Penitentiary (SCP) (renamed

690-589: The prison was decommissioned, it was the oldest prison in the United States still in use. The Department of Corrections temporarily gave tours of the old facility before its demolition. It was removed from the Register on December 8, 2005. The average prisoner at the penitentiary was serving a sentence of 23 years compared to the state average of 12. For this reason, escapes were a constant concern of guards. Six prisoners who attempted to escape in 1937 killed

720-492: The railroad's control. Because of negative press coverage of the deaths of prisoners leased to external companies, South Carolina began using convict labor within the confines of the penitentiary. In 1883, the Columbia Hosiery company established a hosiery mill on the prison’s premises, with convicts producing stockings and other knitted goods. In 1917, the hosiery mill was converted to a furniture factory operated by

750-683: The street railway system. It was once operated by the South Carolina Electric & Gas Co. In September 2008, the St Columbia division of the Ancient Order of Hibernians dedicated a memorial to the Irish canal workers that built the Columbia Canal. Known as the South Carolina Irish Memorial, this granite memorial pays tribute to the Irish workers that built and also died digging this canal, many that are buried at

780-425: Was 14-year-old George Stinney Jr. , his 1944 death marked the youngest lawful execution in the United States during the 20th century. In December 2014, that conviction was vacated . Death row for men is now located at Broad River Correctional Institution . 34°00′09″N 81°03′04″W  /  34.002548°N 81.051233°W  / 34.002548; -81.051233 Columbia Canal The Columbia Canal

810-408: Was built on high ground north of Gervais Street. To power the alternating current motors in the mills, a powerhouse was built on the canal about 600 ft (183 m) away. This made it the first textile mill in the world to use AC motors and generate power away from the mill. The Columbia Hydro plant was built at the southern end of the canal. This produced power for industry, the City of Columbia, and

840-428: Was completed in 1886. North Wing stood five stories tall, built from granite with the tops of the walls crenellated . For prisoners, the tunnel between their living quarters and the prison church was the only "way to get to living, working and eating areas." The tunnel was problematic for prison control and was a frequent location for prison stabbings. The interior was essentially an Auburn-style cell block, but in

870-647: Was executed for the crime. Prisoners were required to have short hair by the South Carolina Department of Corrections. This requirement was challenged in court. In 1999, the same year the Penitentiary closed, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ruled the requirement was constitutional. During the mid-1990s, programs for mental health were cut at the prison. Until the mid-1880s, prisoners were buried in

900-636: Was replaced by the Lee Correctional Institution as the main prison in the state of South Carolina after the prison was deemed too overcrowded by a federal court. In 1866, Construction of the penitentiary was approved by the South Carolina General Assembly . It was the first state penitentiary in South Carolina and essentially the start of the state's penal system. Previously, all jailing had been handled by counties, which were financially ill-equipped after

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