South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame

I was pleasantly surprised by the last museum on my Columbia list, the South Carolina Law Enforcement Officers Hall of Fame. This small, free museum does more than just honor fallen officers. It’s a solid history of policing from London to New York and into other American cities as they expanded.

I like that they include some Etymology – the origin of the words “sheriff,” “cop” and “copper,” even the English “bobby” is explained, which is fun. Also, a display of games from the ’40s & ’50s like Dragnet and Calling All Cars, based on popular TV shows.

There’s a section that explains each department of the South Carolina police force, from boating and wildlife to the protection of the Governor and the State House. It really makes you aware of everything they take care of (and not just pulling you over.)

There is a fun display of police technology in the back, from old police call boxes to bomb-diffusing robots. Next to that are confiscated items like a gambling wheel and drug paraphernalia.

A corridor along the back has a corner about Melvin Purvis, a famous “G-Man” (aka FBI agent) who captured John Dillinger in the ’30s. He became famous and quit the FBI to sponsor products and promote “Junoir G-Man” merchandise to kids.

Wrapped around the corner is Purvis’s exotic gun collection. There’s one rifle that’s 8 feet long! Many are beautiful, but it’s no surprise that Purvis died at home due to an accidental gunshot.

Further along the hallway is an interesting display of international policing uniforms and badges. There is an ongoing exchange program where South Carolina officers can train in other countries and they in ours.

At the end of the hall is a beautifully restored 1955 Ford police car and a kid-high photo op. Nearer the front is a single, free-standing jail cell, apparently used during times of overcrowding until the ’70s.

At the front of the museum is a section displaying the evolution of badges and pull-out boards for patches by county, which is sort of fun from a graphic design perspective.

And next to the front door is the Memorial Room, which names every South Carolina officer killed in the line of duty going all the way back to 1797. A memorial stone with the inscription “Blessed are the Peacemakers” honors them all, and the South Carolina seal is set in the ceiling.

All in all, it’s pretty great for a free museum and more interesting & entertaining than I would have thought, given its “Hall of Fame” title. Visiting is free, both free admission and parking. Though head to the “back” of the building for the front door, the side away from the main road. There are some unhelpful arrows near the parking area that point in opposite directions (though I suppose you could go the other way around the buildings as well!)