Choosing a Tour

Deciding which house museum to tour can be difficult when you have four choices, but only time to explore one! We are happy to help you figure out which tour is best for you.

Would you like to learn more about the Reconstruction era? The Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home may be the best for you. If you have an interest in architecture, then the Robert Mills House is the place to see. People interested in the Civil War and urban slavery should tour the Hampton-Preston Mansion.

While all our museums explore the experiences of African Americans, the Journey to Freedom Tour combines the Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House. The Mann-Simons Site explores generations of family members from those who were free African Americans in antebellum Columbia through the Jim Crow era. The Modjeska Monteith Simkins House enables visitors to learn about Simkin's pivotal role in the long civil rights movement through the multimedia exhibit, “An Advocate of the People." Families with small children will love the hands-on activities available on the Journey to Freedom Tour.

Guests with mobility issues will find the Woodrow Wilson Family Home the most accessible. If you have an interest in personal stories, then the Hampton Preston Mansion is the place for you. The Robert Mills House contains a beautiful decorative arts collection and is the place to tour if you want to see the beauty found in objects.

We look forward to touring you through our sites and exploring Columbia rich, yet complex history. Learn more about our historic house tours.