Choosing a Tour

Deciding which house museum to tour can be difficult when you have multiple choices, but only time to explore one! We are happy to help you figure out which tour is best for you.

• Would you like to learn more about the Reconstruction era? The Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home may be the best for you. It is also the most easily accessible for those with limited mobility.
• If you have an interest in decorative arts and architecture, then the Robert Mills House is the place to see. 
• People interested in hearing personal stories and learning about the Civil War and urban slavery should tour the Hampton-Preston Mansion. 

While all our museums explore the experiences of African Americans, the Journey to Freedom Tour combines the Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House. The Mann-Simons Site explores generations of family members from those who were free African Americans in antebellum Columbia through the Jim Crow era. The Modjeska Monteith Simkins House enables visitors to learn about Simkin's pivotal role in the long civil rights movement through the multimedia exhibit, “An Advocate of the People." The Journey to Freedom Tour is available for group tours, school tours, and through special programming like the Free Sunday program. For more information about scheduling a private tour, contact reservations@historiccolumbia.org or (803) 252-1770 ext. 23.

We look forward to touring you through our sites and exploring Columbia's rich and complex history!

Learn more about our historic house tours