About Historic Columbia
Our Pillars
Preservation
We advocate for the preservation of historic properties and artifacts in Columbia and Richland County.
Learn MoreOur Pillars
Education
We keep neighborhood history alive in the hearts and minds of today's residents through tours, educational programs and special events.
Learn MoreOur Pillars
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
Worth the Weight: Surveying Columbia’s 19th-Century Cast & Wrought Iron Heritage
What’s Going On As a steward of historic sites and an advocate and resource for preservation, Historic Columbia consistently yields research findings about Columbia and Richland County’s past. Most recently, fieldwork resulted in the discovery of a commonality between cast iron stairs, which historically embellished the front porch of the...
Why Palladium - Ari Robbins
Each month, Historic Columbia introduces one of its Palladium members. This series is designed to highlight individuals from HC’s dynamic group of diverse professionals. Meet Ari Robbins How long have you been involved with Palladium? 3 months Where are you originally from? Carmel, Indiana If you are not from Columbia...
Historic Columbia: A 60th Anniversary Look at Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens
In marking Historic Columbia’s 60th Anniversary, our staff are sharing reflections on the improvements and achievements at our historic sites and with our programs, only made possible through the support and dedication of donors, members, and volunteers who believe in HC’s purpose to preserve places and share complex stories. Over...
Historic Columbia: 60 Years in the Making
Pictured Above: Historic Columbia Foundation board of trustee member Willodene Lumpkin and docent Genevieve Hellar joined Elizabeth Holton host of WNOK’s World of Women show at 10:15 a.m. on Thursday, July 20, 1967, to highlight restoration progress at the Ainsley Hall House. History is far more than dates, events, and...