Columbia City of Women
The Columbia City of Women initiative launched in March 2019 from Historic Columbia and WREN with the unveiling of a map that honors the legacy of 12 trailblazing women. Now, Columbia City of Women steering committee members are calling for increased visibility of the local accomplishments of women through the creation of a city-wide day of observance entitled #She Did Day, as a part of a national commemoration of Women’s Equality Day.
“Columbia City of Women has great potential to educate locals and visitors about women who contributed to Columbia, many times against the odds. Historic Columbia’s research about each of the women was eye-opening to me. The first 12 women to be honored will forever be a part of Columbia’s landscape!”
— Rachel Barnett
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
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
Let your special day be one for the history books at any of our beautiful rental properties.
Rent a VenueSunday, August 25th
2 — 4 p.m.
Columbia City of Women - Story Share
1616 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
The Columbia City of Women Story initiative launched in May 2019 and has provided women in the Midlands region with opportunities for connection, education, and increased recognition through community gatherings and free skill-based storytelling workshops. Join WREN , Carolina Archive of Storytelling (CAST) , and Historic Columbia on August 25th...
Monday, August 26th
2 — 4 p.m.
Columbia City of Women - #SheDidDay
Gervais and Main, Columbia, SC 29201
The Columbia City of Women initiative launched in March 2019 from Historic Columbia and WREN with the unveiling of a map that honors the legacy of 12 trailblazing women. Now, Columbia City of Women steering committee members are calling for increased visibility of the local accomplishments of women through the creation of a city-wide day of observance entitled #She Did Day, as a part of a national commemoration of Women’s Equality Day.
Tuesday, August 27th
12 — 1 p.m.
Research Roundtable | Seibels House
1601 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Director of Cultural Resources, John Sherrer, as he chronicles the history of Seibels House (with a hands-on element), recent changes to interpretive signage on the grounds, and what the future of the site will hold.
Monday, September 2nd
12 a.m. — 11:59 p.m.
1601 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201
Offices and properties will be closed for the holiday. Stay safe and join us for a tour tomorrow!
Thursday, September 5th
10 — 11 a.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia and Richland County Public Library for a special outdoor Storytime in the Gardens! Enjoy stories and songs at the Gardens of the Hampton Preston Mansion. In addition, participate in old fashioned historic games in gardens. This event is free and open to children of all ages.
Sunday, September 8th
2 — 3:30 p.m.
Second Sunday Stroll | University Hill
1619 Pendleton St., Columbia, SC 29201
Established between 1885 and 1950, the University Hill neighborhood features homes with a mix of architectural styles and designs from prominent regional and local architects.
Thursday, September 12th
7:30 — 9:30 p.m.
Moonlight Cemetery & Secrets from the Grave Tours
501 Elmwood Avenue, Columbia, SC 29201
One hundred and sixty years of history will come to life during our popular Cemetery Tours! Grab your flashlight as we tour one of Columbia's oldest cemeteries and acres of carefully planned grounds.
Sunday, September 15th
1 — 4 p.m.
Dollar Sunday | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens
1615 Blanding 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 newly renovated Hampton-Preston Mansion.
Monday, September 16th
10 a.m. — 1 p.m.
1601 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201
Learn more about Historic Columbia’s volunteer program by attending New Volunteer Orientation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday, September 16. This session will include an overview of the history and mission of the organization, detailed information on the training process and available volunteer positions.
Saturday, September 21st
11 a.m. — 6 p.m.
Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture
1403 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia at Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture from 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 21. Now in its 41st year, this free outdoor festival brings musician, artisans, dancers and storytellers together to celebrate South Carolina’s black history and culture on the grounds of the Mann-Simons Site.
Tuesday, September 24th
10 a.m. — 12 p.m.
1100 Gervais St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia for a guided tour of the various monuments throughout the Statehouse grounds and learn about the events that led up to their creation, movement and destruction.
Thursday, September 26th
6:30 — 8:30 p.m.
History Center Annual Lecture in Political History
1431 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201
Elaine Weiss is an award-winning journalist and writer whose work has appeared in The Atlantic and the New York Times . According to The New Yorker , Weiss' The Woman’s Hour "grippingly recounts the twists and reversals that took place in the weeks leading up to the suffrage victory, but...
Friday, September 27th
12 — 2 p.m.
Women and the Right to Vote: A Conversation with Marjorie Spruill and Elaine Weiss
1616 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join us for a roundtable discussion on the contemporary relevance of the women's suffrage movement and women and politics today with journalist Elaine Weiss, author of The Woman’s Hour: The Great Fight to Win the Vote and historian Marjorie Spruill, author of New Women of the New South: The Leaders of the Woman Suffrage Movement in the Southern States and Divided We Stand: The Battle Over Women's Rights and Family Values That Polarized American Politics.
Saturday, September 28th — Monday, September 30th
10 a.m.—4 p.m.
1616 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Scarecrows will take over the Robert Mills House gardens! This free exhibit will feature handcrafted scarecrows made by local families, businesses, organizations and classrooms. On a stroll through the gardens this fall, you’ll see dozens of ghoulish, historic and colorful scarecrows.
Tuesday, October 1st
6 — 7:30 p.m.
Join Historic Columbia and Palladium for a tour of this newly renovated Shandon home! Presented by The Moore Company , the Renovation Rodeo series takes guests on tours of old homes and buildings in the Columbia area that have been refurbished and renovated while staying true to the roots and...
City of Women Honorees
Frances, Charlotte, and Katherine Rollin were among the first and most significant women suffragists in South Carolina during the Reconstruction era. Their home on Senate Street served as the setting for the “Rollin Salon,” which was known as a place of interracial gatherings focused on advancing social causes, including women’s rights.
Historic Columbia is happy to announce a new partnership with Colonial Life . For the 2019-20 school year, Colonial Life is underwriting the admission cost for any Title 1 school in South Carolina so that students can experience Historic Columbia’s field trips, regardless of ability to pay. This partnership will...
