Blog
2025 Preservation Awards | 1225 & 1229 Lincoln Street
Friday, May 16th 2025
After a generation-long spate of revitalization, Columbia’s Congaree Vista district rarely affords opportunities for revitalizing historic buildings. So, when the former Palmetto Candy & Tobacco store—a architecturally contributing property within the heart of the historic district—came up for sale, rehabilitating the property in a sensitive fashion proved a must for new owner Jerry and Ben’s, LLC.
2025 Preservation Awards | Barton House
Friday, May 16th 2025
That rehabilitation offers old buildings new life is a story that runs deep for the Barton House. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places, this ca.-1850 former residence-turned-office building originally stood a block north, on the grounds of the former State Hospital, whose campus is now being repurposed as the BullStreet District.
2025 Preservation Awards | Fred Delk
Friday, May 16th 2025
This year’s preservation leadership award winner played a critical role in shaping our capital city for a generation, proving that informed, successful, and even enviable urban growth can and should include historic properties. Without Fred Delk’s dedication to integrating landmark buildings into the fabric of our daily lives, irreplaceable buildings would have met the wrecking ball, leaving us and future residents of and visitors to Columbia culturally poorer.
Renovation Rodeo | Earlewood
Friday, March 28th 2025
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
Saturday, March 1st 2025
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”
Wednesday, January 15th 2025
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
Friday, January 3rd 2025
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...
Renovation Rodeo | Kilbourne Park
Thursday, November 14th 2024
Palladium presented Renovation Rodeo | Kilbourne Park on Thursday, November 14, 2024, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Nearly 40 guests toured this circa-1940 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.
Robert Mills House Renovations
Thursday, December 26th 2024
Look at before and after images of the recent capital improvements that changed the look of the Robert Mills House and are better preparing this National Landmark structure for its third century of existence.
Historic Columbia Wins Prestigious National Historic Preservation Award
Monday, October 28th 2024
Historic Columbia is proud to announce that it has been honored with the Trustees' Award for Organizational Excellence by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. This prestigious award recognizes Historic Columbia’s evolution from a narrowly focused preservation organization into a leader in preserving both the built environment and the memories of people and places often overlooked in history.