Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens
1615 Blanding Street Columbia, SC 29201
( Get Directions )Mary Cantey Hampton and Caroline Hampton Preston began improving the four-acre grounds around their home during the late 1830s. The mother-daughter duo transformed the landscape into regionally-acclaimed antebellum gardens that contained a remarkable collection of native varieties and plants from around the world. In addition to its splendid collection of plantings, the “Old English Garden” once featured a marble fountain attributed to Hiram Powers, America’s pre-eminent 19th-century sculptor, large arches, wooden benches, statuary, a gatehouse and one or more greenhouses.
Using historic documentation as a guide, Historic Columbia Foundation seeks to revitalize the 4-acre property in the spirit and design of Mary Cantey Hampton’s and Caroline Hampton Preston’s antebellum gardens. Plans for a 3-phase, multi-year implementation begin with the revitalization of the southern portion of the property, with ground broken in January 2012. Keep reading...