Staff

An Advocate of the People: The New Exhibit at the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
Modjeska Monteith Simkins, born in Columbia, was one of South Carolina’s most significant human rights advocates. During the pivotal civil rights movement, Simkins served as secretary in the South Carolina NAACP, where she helped advance voting rights and desegregate schools in the state. Her career spanned a lifetime of advocacy...

2020-21 Annual Fund: Reaching Students Virtually
Each year, the Annual Fund supports a special and vital initiative of Historic Columbia. This year’s Annual Fund focuses on virtual programming – both through education and general events. Explore Historic Columbia’s efforts to maintain its mission in a virtual world and consider donating to our Annual Fund today. DONATE...

A Holiday Shopper’s Guide to Historic Columbia
Whether Santa needs some help this holiday season or you’re hunting for the perfect gift for family or friends, Historic Columbia’s Gift Shop at Robert Mills has many ways to bring history and more to those on your shopping list. Browse our gift guide here and then purchase online or...

Going Virtual: Palladium’s 16th Annual Bluegrass, Bidding & BBQ
Like so many events this year, Bluegrass, Bidding & BBQ will look a little different, but will feature the key elements of the event that you enjoy! Tune in on Facebook on October 15, 5-6 p.m., for a one-hour online special featuring bluegrass music, a BBQ discussion, cocktail demonstrations, and...

Announcing winners of 21st annual Volunteer Awards
HC Service Award winner Pat Itter hands out candy at Trunk or Treat event. Historic Columbia is happy to announce the winners of this year’s Volunteer Awards. For the past two decades, Historic Columbia has recognized the dedication of time and energy of its volunteer crew. While the traditional luncheon...

How to watch the 2020 Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture
A Jubilee like you’ve – literally – never seen before is coming Saturday! While we’d love for you to be joining us at the Mann-Simons Site and enjoying an in-person celebration of Black history and culture, the current times have forced us to make a few tweaks in order to...

Research Roundtable: Women's History
The road to suffrage did not begin or end with the Nineteenth Amendment. Join Katharine Allen, director of research, and Melissa DeVelvis, PhD, as they recount more than a century of women’s activism through both a national and state-wide lens. Columbia City of Women honorees Ida Salley Reamer, the Rollin...

Historic Civil Rights site is praised, then razed | The State Newspaper Features Recently Demolished Historic Site
On Saturday, July 21, 2012 a historic marker was placed at the Waverly Five and Dime store located at 2313 Gervais Street. Less than a week later the building was demolished by the First Nazareth Baptist Church, the current owners of the property. The State newspaper featured the following story...
Urgent Action Needed: Advocate for a 20% HTC in Final House/Senate Reconciled Bill
Senate Passes Tax Reform Bill with a 20% Historic Tax Credit, HTC Eliminated in House, Urgent Action Needed: Advocate for a 20% HTC in Final House/Senate Reconciled Bill

Matilda Evans House – 2027 Taylor St.
The house at 2027 Taylor Street was once the residence of Matilda Arabella Evans, the first female African-American physician in Columbia. Built sometime between 1910 and 1919, the vernacular house went through a myriad of early owners, most of whom were employees of the nearby Southern Railroad Company, before the Evans family occupied the residence. In 1928, the Evans family moved from their home on Two Notch Road to this location and descendants owned or occupied the home until 2005.