[Columbia, SC] - 141 years ago, General Sherman's army crossed over the Saluda River and into Columbia via the same tract of land Riverbanks Zoo and Garden sits on today. Two sites on Riverbanks' property have been incorporated into the Greater Columbia Civil War Alliance's February 18 "Columbia's Longest Days" event, commemorating Sherman's march into Columbia and the subsequent burning of the city.

"Historic tourism has become increasingly popular over the last few years and I applaud the GCCWA's efforts to showcase Columbia's rich history through this creative and inclusive event," said Satch Krantz, executive director of Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. "It's great to see cultural institutions in the area partnering to provide worthwhile programming to area residents as well as visitors."

On Riverbanks' grounds, guests can see the Saluda Mill ruins as well as the granite abutments of the original Saluda River Bridge, burned by the Confederate army to slow advancing Union troops. During the mid-1800s, the Saluda Mill was the largest textile producer for the war effort in the Southeast and employed between 500 and 1,000 workers. The Zoo and Garden will be one stop on a bus tour that traces Sherman's march from Lexington County to downtown Columbia, stopping at sites of historic significance along the way. Bus tours leave the State Museum at 10:00am and 2:00pm and tickets for the tours are $10.

Other activities include a reenactment of the 9:00am cannon firing on the State Capitol from the West Columbia side of the Gervais Street Bridge as well as a full day's events at the State Museum. Participants can visit the Confederate Relic Room, participate in a symposium with sessions running from noon to 4:00pm that will feature presentations about Sherman's military strategy, Union and Confederate uniforms and arms, women's role in the Confederacy, and a focus on African-American South Carolinians pre- and post-1865. Dr. David Aiken will discuss his recent book on Columbia's burning, "A City Laid Waste," and Neil Rose a respected relics appraiser will be on hand to give free appraisals on Civil War era artifacts.

At 7:00pm a gospel concert featuring period music by McGowan's Band will be held in the State Museum's auditorium. Tickets for the concert are $5. The rest of the day's events are free. Tickets for both the bus tour and concert are available by calling 803.898.4922.

In honor of this year's event, the GCCWA commissioned a painting by John W. Jones, a native Columbian artist and slave descendent, based on the illustration of Union troops crossing the Saluda River that was originally sketched by a reporter traveling with Sherman's army. The painting will be auctioned at a 7:00pm reception honoring Jones on Friday, February 17 at Columbia's historic Seibels House. Limited edition prints and posters will be made available to the public with proceeds benefiting the GCCWA. For details on the reception or prints, call 803.217.0071. More information is also available at www.shermansmarch.com.