Lexington County Museum director highlights West Columbia walking tour and preservation

JR Fennell, director of the Lexington County Museum, urged residents to explore and help preserve West Columbia's history while describing the museum's "West Columbia Murders and Mysteries" walking tour, which he said the museum has run since at least 2016. "We do the West Columbia Murders and Mysteries walking tour," Fennell said, adding the program blends education and entertainment.

The tour, Fennell said, highlights the city's deep historical roots, from Native American habitation and the early settlement of Granby to 19th- and 20th-century industrial growth tied to the Columbia Duck Mill. "It's one of the oldest parts of Lexington County in terms of European settlement," he said, and the program uses preserved structures along State Street and in the Mill neighborhood to tell those stories.

Fennell said the tour also draws on colorful local narratives such as stories about bootleggers and moonshine transport across the river to Columbia, and that long-time residents frequently contribute family recollections that the museum incorporates. "We have people that come up and tell us afterwards that they had no idea about the history of certain structures," he said, describing strong audience interest and attendance.

The museum partners with local organizations, Fennell said, including the city (which has allowed the museum to use the Riverwalk Amphitheater) and Savage Craft Brewery, where the tour typically ends. He said the brewery occupies two historic structures, the former fire station and old city hall and jail, and has offered discounts to tour participants.

Fennell emphasized that the museum treats sensitive material with care. He recounted telling a tragic story involving a child who killed a relative and said a family member later thanked him for how respectfully the account had been handled. "We treated it with respect," he said.

Fennell invited listeners to visit the Lexington Academy Museum in downtown Lexington and to attend the West Columbia walking tour to learn more about the city's history. He also encouraged civic engagement, suggesting residents attend council meetings to monitor development that could affect historic structures.

The museum director noted West Columbia's mix of architectural eras and neighborhoods, citing Saluda Gardens and Westover Acres among places with early-20th-century and mid-century houses, and credited city officials and residents with working to preserve many historic buildings on State Street. For those interested in the program, Fennell said the museum welcomes partnerships with other organizations and encourages people to sign up for upcoming tours.