S.C. Paves the New Road for Smalls Monument Commission

Artistic monument design concept

S.C. Paves the New Road for Smalls Monument Commission

In a move that promises to stir up a fresh wave of excitement in the heart of Charleston, South Carolina, Gov. Henry McMaster is looking to leave his mark on history. On August 29, he’s signing a bill that rolls out the red carpet for an 11-member legislative commission. This ain’t just any old commission, friends. This one is here to erect a monument on the Statehouse grounds honoring Robert Smalls, a Civil War hero and a legislator during the Reconstruction era.

Let’s Talk Some More About This Monument Commission

The newly budded Robert Smalls Monument Commission will have its first meeting on August 28. The agenda? To kickstart the process of placing a statue in the Statehouse grounds as a tribute to the hero, Robert Smalls, originally from Beaufort. With the appointed ten South Carolina General Assembly members on hand, the Commission is ready to pave their way into history books.

Now, if you’re wondering why this is such a big deal, here’s the kicker. If Smalls’ statue does end up adorning the state capitol complex, it would be the first-ever monument placed there commemorating a Black individual. That’s a giant leap forward, folks!

Who is Robert Smalls Again?

On May 13, every year, South Carolina takes a day off to honor Robert Smalls, a legislator of the Reconstruction era and a Civil War hero. Smalls was an enslaved crewman who managed to take over the Planter, a Confederate steamship, and handed it over to the Union Navy back in 1862.

With other enslaved crew members and their families aboard, Smalls navigated the steamship past Confederate batteries like a pro and earned himself a place in the annals of history, politics, and business. And can you believe it, he served five terms in the U.S. Congress after being elected to both houses of the S.C. General Assembly!

Some Final Thoughts

The commission now has a tall order to raise enough money for the monument. They’re also responsible for suggesting a design and location for the monument by January 15, 2025. We are really keeping our fingers crossed hoping to see Smalls’ monument in a spot that thrusts it in the limelight on the north side of the Statehouse.

Friends, it would be the second African American history memorial at the capitol. Charleston’s very own State senator Glenn McConnell, who chaired the senate committee for erecting the African American Monument, will share his valuable historical perspective with the committee. We’re buzzing with anticipation to see how this story unfolds.