Thursday, May 14th
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50 Forward Preservation Awards Gala
Celebrate five decades of preservation at a gala like no other! Join Historic Columbia on May 14 for an evening that honors where we have been and boldly toasts the future of Columbia’s built environment alongside the people who bring preservation to life.
Mark your calendars!
Today at Historic Columbia
Start your experience at the Welcome Center (1616 Blanding Street)
House Tour
Journey to Freedom Tour: Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
3 p.m.
House Tour
Robert Mills House
12 p.m.
Public Garden Hours
Gardens at Seibels House
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Public Garden Hours
Gardens at Hampton-Preston Mansion
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Public Garden Hours
Gardens at Robert Mills House
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 Events26 Apr
Sunday, April 26th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
2204 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia for a stroll through the Elmwood Park neighborhood.
30 Apr
Thursday, April 30th: 8 — 9 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 Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia.
02 May
Saturday, May 2nd: 10 — 11 a.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Chris Mathis, Horticulture Manager at Historic Columbia, on a guided tour of the diverse tree collection in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Robert Mills House. From South Carolina natives to exotic species rarely seen in cultivation, each seasonal Tree Trek walking tour highlights a different...
03 May
Sunday, May 3rd: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
Hollywood-Rose Hill Walking Tour
216 South Gregg Street, Columbia, SC 29205
Join Historic Columbia for a stroll through the Hollywood-Rose Hill neighborhood.
05 May
Tuesday, May 5th: 6 a.m. — 11:59 p.m.
1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
We are excited to participate in Midlands Gives again this year on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, for an online giving campaign. This is a great community-wide day of giving, and it’s a fun way to raise money and awareness of Historic Columbia! HC has finished in the top of the leaderboard and has won the early morning Power Hour each year.
05 May
Tuesday, May 5th: 5 — 7 p.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic Columbia to present a beautiful concert of light classics in the gardens at the Hampton-Preston Mansion. May's concert will feature a brass quintet and percussion performing Latin-inspired music in honor of Cinco de Mayo. Please plan to arrive any time after...
10 May
Sunday, May 10th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
1619 Pendleton Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Explore University Hill with Historic Columbia.
14 May
Thursday, May 14th: 8 — 9 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 Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia.
14 May
Thursday, May 14th: 4:30 — 7:30 p.m.
50 Forward: Preservation Awards Ceremony & Gala
2046 Talley Street, Columbia, SC 29201
On Thursday, May 14, 2026, join Historic Columbia in celebrating 50 years of honoring preservation excellence in Columbia and Richland County.
17 May
Sunday, May 17th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sunday | 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! This month, visit the Robert Mills House.
28 May
Thursday, May 28th: 8 — 9 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 Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia.
28 May
Thursday, May 28th: 6 — 7:30 p.m.
Renovation Rodeo | Main Street District
TBA, Columbia, SC 29201
Enjoy an opportunity to tour a recently renovated apartment inside a beautifully restored 1901 downtown building, highlighting Classical Revival architecture and Columbia’s rich commercial past.
07 Jun
Sunday, June 7th: 12 — 3:30 p.m.
Palladium Tour | Life on Main Street
1530 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join us in the heart of Columbia as Palladium Tour invites guests to tour an exciting mix private residences, short-term rentals, and dynamic commercial spaces throughout the vibrant 1500 block of Main Street.
11 Jun
Thursday, June 11th: 8 — 9 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 Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia.
11 Jun
Thursday, June 11th: 6 — 7:30 p.m.
Columbia Conversations | The South Carolina Backcountry and the Winning of Independence
1616 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia for a talk and book signing by Carl Borick. His new book, Backcountry Resistance: South Carolina's Militia and the Fight for American Independence, explores the critical role that those living in the less-settled South Carolina interior, including the area which is now Richland County, played in resisting...
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.
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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.
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