About Historic Columbia
Our Pillars
Preservation
We serve as a steward, advocate and resource for preservation in Columbia and Richland County.
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Experiences
We create experiences and host events that bring context to the present through history.
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Education
We introduce the complexities of history in ways that engage every age and level of familiarity through tours, educational programs and special events.
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Advocacy
We work with government agencies to secure our legacy for the future.
Learn MoreWe preserve places and share complex stories from the past that connect us in the present and inspire our future.
Vision
We will harness the power of history to inspire curiosity and catalyze community engagement.
Mission
We share the complex history of Columbia and Richland County through historic preservation advocacy, innovative educational programs, and strategic partnerships.
Values
Welcoming: We behave in a way that makes people feel safe to open themselves up to a variety of concepts and experiences.
Inclusive: We are intentional about ongoing efforts to include a diversity of individuals in decision-making.
Informed: We work consistently and collaboratively with partners to amplify learning.
Responsible: We are proactive in encouraging thoughtfulness, weighing possible outcomes, and considering what is best for the organization and Columbia/Richland County.
Evolving: We continuously make improvements to Historic Columbia’s policies, facilities, programs, and interpretations. Open to new ideas and suggestions from the public, we invite collaboration.
Join Us
There are many ways in which you can get involved. Learn more about how you can support our mission and vision.
Recent News from Historic Columbia
Renovation Rodeo | Earlewood
Palladium presented Renovation Rodeo | Earlewood on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Over 40 guests toured this circa-1948 home while enjoying beer from Columbia Craft Brewing Company, wine courtesy of Republic National Distributing Company, and delicious food from Something Small Catering. This event was proudly sponsored by Lizz Grimm with ERA Wilder Realty, Hardy and Brittany Childers, and Garvin Design Group.
Embellished in Elegance: Textile Remnants of Women’s History
Clothing, while practical in its purpose to keep one warm and preserve a sense of modesty, is also a means of artistic expression. In the nineteenth century, a large wardrobe demonstrated wealth, and each item reflected one’s social status through fabric, style, and construction. While many enslaved men, women, and...
Visit Historic Columbia’s New “Test Kitchen”
Historic Columbia is proud to announce the opening of Heat & Hardship: The Hidden Labor of Enslaved Cooks, which will serve as our “test case” for this interpretive plan. This exhibit reimagines one of the Robert Mills House’s most popular spaces, the warming kitchen, through the installation of hands-on activities that incorporate touch and smell.
Soaring to New Heights
In January 2024, Historic Columbia introduced its Birdwatching in the Gardens program—a monthly bird walk that has taken flight as a standout success during its first year. Typically held on the second Thursday of each month in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion, this free, guided program offers participants...