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Join us for a
Holiday House Tour
Explore holiday traditions of the 1800s during this tour of both the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Robert Mills House. Tours are offered twice daily on Wednesday through Sunday, now through January 5.
Today at Historic Columbia
Start your experience at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills (1616 Blanding Street)
House Tour
Journey to Freedom Tour: Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
1:30 p.m.
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.
Preserving Our Stories
Tours
Connect with History
Our four house tours give you the chance to explore Columbia's history from antebellum to Civil Rights.
Upcoming Events
See All Events09 Jan
Thursday, January 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...
19 Jan
Sunday, January 19th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County | Hampton-Preston Mansion
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month, visit the Hampton-Preston Mansion.
19 Jan
Sunday, January 19th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
BullStreet District Walking Tour
2100 Bull Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Explore the BullStreet District with Historic Columbia.
05 Feb
Wednesday, February 5th: 12 — 1 p.m.
Knowledge at Noon | The Warming Kitchen Unlocked
Join Historic Columbia Curator of History Becca Woodruff and University of South Carolina Distinguished Professor of History Mark Smith as they discuss the new exhibit, “ Heat and Hardship: The Hidden Labor of Enslaved Cooks.” Funded by South Carolina Humanities, this exhibit relies heavily on audio and tactile interactives to...
11 Feb
Tuesday, February 11th: 5:30 — 7 p.m.
Behind-the-Scenes Tour | Olympia Armory
Join Historic Columbia as we explore the historic Olympia Armory, just one of many buildings undergoing renovation in Columbia's historic Mill Village district. Constructed by the Works Progress Administration in 1937, this building continues to serve the South Carolina State Guard. Rehabilitation of the Armory involves preserving its historic features...
13 Feb
Thursday, February 13th: 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...
13 Feb
Thursday, February 13th: 5:30 — 7 p.m.
Columbia Conversations | The Cost of the Vote
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia for a talk and book signing by Carolyn Click. Her new book, The Cost of the Vote: George Elmore and the Battle for the Ballot, centers on George Elmore and the activists and lawyers who successfully challenged the all-white primary in South Carolina. Although Elmore’s court challenge...
16 Feb
Sunday, February 16th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County | Mann-Simons Site
1403 Richland St., Columbia, SC 29201
The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month’s featured property is the Mann-Simons Site.
06 Mar
Thursday, March 6th: 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...
16 Mar
Sunday, March 16th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County | Robert Mills House
1616 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201
The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month, visit the Robert Mills House.
10 Apr
Thursday, April 10th: 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...
15 May
Thursday, May 15th: 5 — 6:30 p.m.
2025 Preservation Awards Ceremony
701 Whaley St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia as we celebrate National Historic Preservation month by recognizing exemplary work in preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and revitalization in Columbia and Richland County.
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.
Join Today