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Palladium Tour:
Landmarks & Landscapes
This year's tour will showcase several residences in Wales Garden, a historic neighborhood known for its charm, tree-lined streets, and diverse architectural styles. Join us on Sunday, April 7, to see how the landscape of Wales Garden was redesigned to create a landmark neighborhood unlike any other in the city.
Today at Historic Columbia
Start your experience at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills (1616 Blanding Street)
Public Garden Hours
Gardens at Hampton-Preston Mansion
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Public Garden Hours
Gardens at Robert Mills
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Public Garden Hours
Garden at Woodrow Wilson Family Home
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Public Garden Hours
Gardens at Seibels House
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Preserving Our Stories
Preservation Economic Impact Study Report Released
The first of its kind for the Midlands, this report details the collective impact historic preservation has on Columbia's economy in four main areas: Jobs, Investment, Tourism Revenues, and Property Value Growth.
Research Projects and Initiatives
Historic Columbia is committed to preserving places and sharing complex stories from the past that connect us in the present and inspire our future. Read about our current and recent research projects that highlight Columbia's history.
Kugels & Collards: Stories of Food, Family, and Tradition
What began as a blog in 2017 as a part of the Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative is now a book.
Tours
Connect with History
Our four house tours give you the chance to explore Columbia's history from antebellum to Civil Rights.
NEW!
Explore the Collection
Our object collection is now digitally available to the public for education and research purposes.
Upcoming Events
See All Events21 Mar
Thursday, March 21st: 5:30 — 7 p.m.
Renovation Rodeo | Millwood Avenue
TBA, Columbia, SC 29205
Join Palladium on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5:30-7:00 p.m. to view a mid-century modern commercial property located in Melrose Heights. Attendees of this Renovation Rodeo will have the unique opportunity to tour both halves of this architect-designed building—one of which has been completely renovated, and the other which reveals...
24 Mar
Sunday, March 24th: 5 — 6 p.m.
South Carolina's Jewish Merchants Webinar
Discover the untold stories of Jewish merchants in South Carolina! Join Rebecca Woodruff, Curator of History at Historic Columbia, in conversation with Judge Richard Gergel and Robert Rosen, as they delve into the intriguing history of Jewish merchants from across the state. Also joining the conversation is Dr. Diane Vecchio...
04 Apr
Thursday, April 4th: 6 — 8 p.m.
1705 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic Columbia to present a beautiful concert of light classics in the gardens at The Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home. Please plan to arrive any time after 6:00 p.m. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m...
07 Apr
Sunday, April 7th: 1 — 6 p.m.
Palladium Tour | Landmarks & Landscapes
Wales Garden, Columbia, SC 29205
You are invited to Palladium's 5th Annual Tour, Landmarks & Landscapes ! This year's tour will showcase several residences in Wales Garden, a historic neighborhood known for its charm, tree-lined streets, and diverse architectural styles. Join us on Sunday, April 7, 2024, to see how the landscape of Wales Garden...
11 Apr
Thursday, April 11th: 8 — 10 a.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Grab your binoculars to join Historic Columbia and local birder John Tjaarda for a free, guided bird walk around the Hampton-Preston Gardens to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia. With the Hampton-Preston gardens playing host to over 100 bird species over the course of the year...
11 Apr
Thursday, April 11th: 3 — 6:30 p.m.
Members-Only Early Access: Spring Plant Sale
1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2024 Spring Plant Sale ! One of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants propagated from the Living Collections across all of our...
12 Apr
Friday, April 12th: 11 a.m. — 6 p.m.
1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2024 Spring Plant Sale ! One of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants propagated from the Living Collections across all of our...
13 Apr
Saturday, April 13th: 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.
1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2024 Spring Plant Sale ! One of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants propagated from the Living Collections across all of our...
18 Apr
Thursday, April 18th: 8 — 10 a.m.
Birdwatching in the Gardens | Migration Season
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
For Bird Watchers, late April through early May is one of the most exciting times of the year. Spring migration brings tons of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and more species that we don’t normally see through South Carolina on their way north to their breeding grounds. Hopefully, some of these birds...
18 Apr
Thursday, April 18th: 4:30 — 7 p.m.
2706 Devine Street, Columbia, SC 29205
Like beer? 🍻 Like Historic Columbia? We have the perfect event for you! You are invited to the The ART of Real Estate Karma Keg Social benefiting Historic Columbia at Craft and Draft on Thursday, April 18, from 4:30-7:00 p.m. The ART of Real Estate will provide free beer and...
21 Apr
Sunday, April 21st: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County | Robert Mills House
1616 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201
Residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE once a month thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month, visit the Robert Mills House & Gardens, one of only five National Historic Landmarks within Columbia, and explore architecture and daily life in the 1820s in Columbia.
02 May
Thursday, May 2nd: 8 — 10 a.m.
Birdwatching in the Gardens | Migration Season
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
For Bird Watchers, late April through early May is one of the most exciting times of the year. Spring migration brings tons of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and more species that we don’t normally see through South Carolina on their way north to their breeding grounds. Hopefully, some of these birds...
07 May
Tuesday, May 7th: 6 a.m. — 11:59 p.m.
1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
We are excited to participate in Midlands Gives again this year on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, for an online giving campaign. Last year, as a part of Midlands Gives, we raised over $60,000 with 438 donations. This is a great community-wide day of giving, and it’s a fun way to raise money and awareness of Historic Columbia! HC has finished in the top of the leaderboard and has won the early morning Power Hour each year.
09 May
Thursday, May 9th: 8 — 10 a.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Grab your binoculars to join Historic Columbia and local birder John Tjaarda for a free, guided bird walk around the Hampton-Preston Gardens to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia. With the Hampton-Preston gardens playing host to over 100 bird species over the course of the year...
09 May
Thursday, May 9th: 6 — 7:30 p.m.
5317 North Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206
Step into the past with Richland Library and Historic Columbia's Curator of History, Rebecca Woodruff, as she shares the captivating history of Forest Acres, the "city within a city" established in 1935. Join us at the Richland Library Cooper branch for an engaging program where we'll unveil a new sign...
Why Join?
If you look around, you’ll see Historic Columbia’s advocacy work everywhere—from the Bull Street development to the new Palmetto Compress building…and we’ve got big plans to save even more historic properties from demolition, but we need the help of people like you to make it happen.
Join TodayWhy Join?
Your membership helps us create entertaining historical programming that brings people from diverse age groups and backgrounds together. Our educational programs help explain the connections between our past and present, using history as a prism for a deeper understanding.
Join TodayWhy Join?
As a member, you’ll get discounted admission and early access to our most popular events. Joining Historic Columbia is a great way to “plug in” to the city’s professional network and get involved in your community.
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