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Take a Tour
Discover 200 years of local history through our four historic house museums, all located in the heart of the Robert Mills District.
Mark your calendars!
2019 Preservation Awards
Call for Entries!
Historic Columbia holds an annual Preservation Awards Luncheon each year to celebrate the accomplishments of local architectural, construction and rehabilitation projects and leaders. Nominate your historic preservation project by February 11, 2019 to be considered for an award in one of our four categories.
“At its most basic, preservation is about protecting places that matter to each of us. We want our children to know these places. We want them to stand as beacons for us and for those who come after us—to tell our stories, and the stories of our communities and our lives.”
— Stephanie K. Meeks
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 TodayTours
Connect with History
We offer historic house tours six days a week, garden tours for groups, off-site walking and bus tours and self-guided neighborhood web-based tours.
Take a TourRentals
Historically Ever After
Let your special day be one for the history books at any of our beautiful rental properties.
Rent a VenueUpcoming Events
Saturday, January 19th
9 — 11 a.m.
1616 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join horticulturists Keith Mearns and Evan Clements for Historic Columbia’s Winter Pruning Workshop! Utilizing the vast collection of trees and shrubs planted throughout the extensive gardens of our six properties, attendees will learn basics such as species-specific growth and form, what tools to use, and how to use them.
Sunday, January 20th
1 — 4 p.m.
Dollar Sunday | Robert Mills House
1616 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to take a guided tour of one of our historic house museums on Dollar Sunday! 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.
Tuesday, January 22nd
12 — 1 p.m.
Research Roundtable | Babcock Building
1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Recently, one of Columbia’s most iconic structures – the Babcock Building on the grounds of the former South Carolina State Hospital Bull Street campus – was threatened by fire. Join Historic Columbia’s Director of Cultural Resources, John Sherrer, as he explores the history of this venerable building.
Wednesday, January 23rd
6 — 7:30 p.m.
Unexampled Courage: A Conversation with Judge Richard Gergel
1525 Senate Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia, the USC History Center and the USC School of Law for “Unexampled Courage: A Conversation with Judge Richard Gergel” on Wednesday, Jan. 23 at the USC School of Law Auditorium.
Friday, January 25th
5:30 — 7 p.m.
Historic Happy Hour | Hamilton in Columbia
1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
What does the musical Hamilton have to do with Columbia? Almost nothing! But we love an excuse for trivia, and we thought we’d have a go at introducing Hamilton to Columbia. Prizes will be awarded to winning teams. Attendees must be 21 years of age or older.
Friday, February 1st
10 — 11:30 a.m.
Homeschool Friday | Emancipation in Columbia
1616 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
On February 1, 1865 Abraham Lincoln signed the 13th Amendment before it was sent to the states for ratification, the only amendment to ever be signed by the president. Join us to find out why it was signed and the lasting effects of the amendment, which officially ended slavery across the United States.
Sunday, February 3rd
2 — 3:30 p.m.
King Solomon’s Table with Joan Nathan
5827 N. Trenholm Road, Columbia, SC 29206
Join Historic Columbia and the USC History Center for a talk by Joan Nathan, a James Beard award-winner, much-loved cookbook author, and authority on Jewish cooking across the globe. The presentation will be followed by a reception with southern Jewish recipes from one of Nathan’s 11 cookbooks. She will also be on hand to sign her most recent publication.
Sunday, February 10th
2 — 3:30 p.m.
Second Sunday Roll | African American Historic Sites
1616 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Explore University Hill with Historic Columbia on Sunday, February 10 during our Weekend Strolls and Rolls program presented by Seed Architecture. From the Mann-Simons Site, to the North Carolina Mutual Building, this tour explores houses, businesses and other important African American sites.
Monday, February 11th
9 a.m. — 5 p.m.
Last Day to Submit Preservation Award Nominations
1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Historic Columbia holds an annual Preservation Awards Luncheon each year to celebrate the accomplishments of local architectural, construction and rehabilitation projects and leaders. Nominate your historic preservation project by February 11, 2019 to be considered for an award in one of our four categories.
Monday, February 11th
10 a.m. — 12:30 p.m.
1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Looking for a way to meet new people, visit historic sites and discover the culture and lifestyles of South Carolina's capital city and Richland County? Then volunteer with Historic Columbia! New Volunteer Training kicks off at 10 a.m. on Monday, Feb. 11 with an orientation session introducing Historic Columbia's sites, programs and events.
Wednesday, February 13th
6 — 9 p.m.
Down Under with Columbia Craft Beer Week
1332 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Historic Columbia will open the doors to Down Under from 6 – 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 13 as a part of Columbia Craft Beer Week! Experience a group of shops, bars and restaurants that operated between 1972 and 1974 just below the surface of the Arcade Mall on the 1300 block of Columbia's Main Street. While taking this exclusive tour, enjoy craft beer and wine, food tasting, live music and a local art display.
Saturday, February 16th
2 — 3:30 p.m.
Saturday Roll | Civil War Sites
1616 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Explore Columbia's Civil War Sites with Historic Columbia on Saturday, March 23 during our Weekend Strolls and Rolls program presented by Seed Architecture. The tour will meet at the Robert Mills Carriage House located at 1616 Blanding Street. Space is limited.
Sunday, February 17th
1 — 4 p.m.
Dollar Sunday | Mann-Simons Site
1403 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Every third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for just $1 on Dollar Sunday! This month, visit the exhibits at the Mann-Simons Site, the home to the same African-American family for nearly 130 years.
Monday, February 18th
11:30 a.m. — 4 p.m.
President's Day Tours | Woodrow Wilson Family Home
1705 Hampton Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Normally closed to the public on Mondays, there is no better way to mark President’s Day than by taking a tour of the only Presidential site in South Carolina. Join Historic Columbia on Monday, Feb. 18 for tours of the Woodrow Wilson Family Home: A Museum of Reconstruction to see how his time in Columbia may have influenced his decisions as President.
Tuesday, February 26th
12 — 1 p.m.
1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join us for our monthly Research Roundtable programs to learn more about Historic Columbia’s research initiatives.
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Latest News from HC
From Hamilton to Hampton Street: HC Tackles Musical Trivia
True or false: On January 25th, the award-winning smash musical Hamilton is coming to Columbia. We wish it were true. But on January 25th, Historic Columbia brings you the next best thing— Historic Happy Hour ! And this month, we’re tackling the Tony award-winning giant, Hamilton: An American Musical. What...
