ABOUT
The Gervais Street Bridge Dinner is an annual sunset supper that raises funds to distribute to well-deserving charities. The dinner, much like the bridge, is a symbol of community and resilience after the 2015 flood that damaged much of the surrounding areas. Although the river below is everchanging with the rise and fall of waterlines, the durable bonds of friendship and community keep us steadfast.
Gervais Street Bridge Dinner
The inaugural bridge dinner was in October of 2015 and was the first public event able to be held after the Great Flood.
The Gervais Street Bridge Dinner has become the marquee event for the Columbia Metropolitan area -- guests attend from near and far, boundaries are pushed in a continuous quest to surprise and delight, and money is raised for local charities that work hard to make Columbia a better place to live, work, and play.
To keep the Gervais Street Bridge Dinner on track for 2021 and the years to come, the event has transferred ownership from Soda City Friends to a new nonprofit, Carolina Together, whose sole purpose is to manage and maintain premier fundraising events for our community. The change in the host organization will present minimal changes to the event this community has grown to love.
Gervais Street Bridge
The Gervais Street Bridge is just one of the many historical landmarks located in the Capital City of Columbia. Built from 1926-1928, this concrete bridge boasts of large arches and open spandrels to create one of the region's most iconic landmarks.
The Gervais Street Bridge is the third bridge to have its home atop the joining of the Broad and Saluda River. The first was built around 1827, and was burned during the American Civil War in 1865 to delay General Sherman reaching Columbia. The second was built in 1870 and was privately owned until 1912 when purchased by Richland County with cooperation of Lexington County.
A more permanent option was settled on in 1926, with the concrete bridge we see today. At the time of its construction it was the widest roadway in the state and the only bridge to cross the Congaree River until 1953. The bridge is crossed by a roadway flanked with sidewalks. The balustrades along the edges carry green, cast-iron light fixtures at intervals. The fixtures of the lamp posts have the crescent moon and palmetto trees on the bases, a vine pattern on the eight sided post, and an acanthus leaf design on the necking. These lamp posts shine an iconic orange light across the river nightly, making for a beautiful view.
The Gervais Street Bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.
