From Hamilton to Hampton Street: HC Tackles Musical Trivia
True or false: On January 25th, the award-winning smash musical Hamilton is coming to Columbia. We wish it were true. But on January 25th, Historic Columbia brings you the next best thing— Historic Happy Hour ! And this month, we’re tackling the Tony award-winning giant, Hamilton: An American Musical. What...
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Claussen's Bakery: A Landmark of Industrial Columbia
On Thursday, January 17, we will take guests on an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of Claussen’s Bakery , a historic Five Points landmark that originated as Claussen’s Bakery in 1928. The building was built by George Frederick Claussen, the grandson of a German immigrant who had previously established a steam bakery...
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Help Tell Modjeska Simkins' Story
Each year, Historic Columbia’s Annual Fund program supports a meaningful project that will have lasting impact on our community. This year’s annual fund is focused on the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House . Built between 1890 and 1895, this one-story cottage was home to Modjeska Monteith Simkins (pictured above)—considered "the matriarch of...
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A Historic Holiday Snapshot
On December 22, 1955, readers of The Columbia Record newspaper met a full-page chronicle of Columbia’s Gross family preparing to ring in the holidays. With husband Albert M. Gross ill and states away in Florida, wife Miriam wrangled her six children, ages 18 months through ten years, as the annual...
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Historic Holidays Around the World
Celebrating the holidays often means taking part in family traditions year after year. Each activity holds meaning and value for a family—from trimming the tree to caroling in the neighborhood. But have you ever wondered where these traditions originated? The staff and volunteers at Historic Columbia love sharing these stories...
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In the Path of Totality
Have you ever been in the path of something that you cannot escape? Have you ever been faced with an event that cannot be avoided? Such situations often elicit anxiety or even dread. What if you knew exactly when and where such an event was to occur? What would you...
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A Sunday Stroll Through Main Street
Main Street in Columbia has lived a double life. Today, festivals, farmers markets, as well as retail and cultural arts institutions, make Main Street one of the city’s most vibrant districts. But what was Main Street like in the past? To answer that question, we need to look one block...
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Gifts from Historic Holidays
Diving into the imagination, playing dress up, hosting skits and talent shows for parents and friends – children have been dreaming up different ways to play for hundreds of years. In 2018, it’s easy for a child to find entertainment. Conversely, because they did not have smartphones, video games, or...
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A History of Feasting in South Carolina’s Backcountry
With Thanksgiving behind us and the holidays on the horizon, late November is the time of year to celebrate family, friends, and (most importantly) good food. Every family has traditions of their own, some stricter than others, but what did a traditional meal look like 150 years ago in South...
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A Holiday Parade to Remember
With the holiday season picking up pace, it seems a natural thing this time of year to recall people, places, and (in this case) parades that have shaped our memory of Holidays past. Much has been written about Main Street over the years—this corridor has hosted citizens who worked, lived,...
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