Support the Renovation of the Robert Mills House
2023-24 Annual Fund
Join HC in Preserving a National Landmark
Each year, the Annual Fund supports a special and vital initiative of Historic Columbia. This year, we need your support for rehabilitation of the Robert Mills House.
Over the last 60+ years, Historic Columbia has assumed the important responsibility of caring for some of the most significant historic sites in the Midlands on behalf of the City of Columbia and Richland County and setting THE example of best practices in historic preservation. This year we need your help!
The Robert Mills House is a unique place, and its preservation is intertwined with the identity of Historic Columbia. In 1961, a group of local preservationists came together to save the Robert Mills House from demolition. Their efforts not only retained what would become one of only five National Historic Landmark properties in the capital city, but also set the foundation for the establishment of Historic Columbia.
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As the Robert Mills House stands on the cusp of its 200th anniversary, we return our attention to its ongoing preservation. Supporting this year’s Annual Fund invites the public to, once again, be a part of this effort. Capital improvements that will take place quite literally will be “bricks and mortar” preservation in practice. In full, the scope of this latest work includes:
- On the brick foundation, non-breathable paint that traps moisture will be removed and replaced with a breathable, natural lime wash.
- Historically accurate, low-fired, soft brick will be substituted for broken, spalled, and powdering bricks.
- Carpentry work on the rear porch will involve replacing deteriorated stair treads, risers, and some decking that suffers from major wood rot.
- Windows requiring exterior attention will be scraped, primed, and repainted. Inside, new UV-light-blocking material will be applied to all windows, whose current film has failed after two decades of service. This move will ensure the preservation of artifacts within the building while limiting solar gain, which when coupled with the installation of insulation within the attic, will improve the overall visitor experience.
By supporting this year’s Annual Fund you not only ensure that HC can maintain this iconic historic site, but that the organization continues to lead the effort towards the preservation of other key places, districts, and stories that are important to this community.
Questions?
To learn more, please contact Rebecca Jacobson, Director of Development, at (803) 252-7742 ext. 12 or rjacobson@historiccolumbia.org.