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Storefront that says "Drake's Duck-In" with four windows on brick facade above.

2024 Preservation Awards | 1544 Main Street

By: John Sherrer, Director of Preservation

Thursday, May 16th 2024

2024 Preservation Awards | 1544 Main Street

Tan stucco building with large white columns and decorative pediment.

2024 Preservation Awards | Longstreet Theatre

By: John Sherrer, Director of Preservation

Thursday, May 16th 2024

Originally called College Hall at its completion in 1855, Longstreet Theatre ranks among Columbia’s most iconic historic buildings and is arguably one of the best examples of Greek Revival architecture in the capital city. For nearly 170 years, the temple-like landmark building has served as a Civil War military hospital, a Reconstruction-era arsenal and armory, science classrooms and laboratories, a gymnasium, and, since 1977, as a theatre in the round.

Red brick building with windows and stairs leading to the door.

2024 Preservation Awards | Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital

By: John Sherrer, Director of Preservation

Thursday, May 16th 2024

A state-of-the-art facility opened in 1952 as the first purpose-built hospital for Columbia’s Black community, Good Samaritan-Waverly Hospital operated until 1973. As a remarkable statement of resilience and perseverance during the Jim Crow era, the property received recognition by the Department of the Interior, which added it to the National Register of Historic Places in 2008. Despite this distinction, the nearly 20,000 square-foot landmark property remained gutted and windowless, languishing for years as it awaited rehabilitation.

Brick building with white trim

2024 Preservation Awards | The Babcock Building

By: John Sherrer, Director of Preservation

Thursday, May 16th 2024

Check out some of the other 2024 Preservation Award recipients:

Smiling woman with dark brown hair and sunglasses pushed back on her head wearing a striped shirt

2024 Preservation Awards | Janie Campbell

By: John Sherrer, Director of Preservation

Thursday, May 16th 2024

According to City of Columbia Historic Preservation Planner Amy Moore, “If you look around downtown, it would be challenging to find a block with a building(s) that Janie hasn’t touched!” Projects for which Janie has served as preservation consultant represent more than $38 million of rehabilitation investments and include such beloved local landmarks as the W.B. Smith Whaley house, Claussen’s Bakery, Lula Drake, Hotel Trundle and its Flutter Wing, the Wade Campbell House (FemmeX), the Curtiss-Wright Hangar, McCants School, the Equitable Arcade Mall, the Ehrlich Building (Smoked), and the Hair Building (All Good Books).

GBX

2024 Preservation Awards | GBX Group LLC

By: John Sherrer, Director of Preservation

Thursday, May 16th 2024

For more than a decade, GBX Group LLC and its partners have played a critical role in revitalizing Columbia’s Main Street Historic District, with the goal of transforming it into a vibrant retail, residential, and commercial corridor. GBX has worked alongside public and private-sector partners to repurpose and transform 13 buildings in 13 years, with the objective of bringing economic and community growth and prosperity to the historic downtown.

Commercial buildings on a street

2024 Preservation Awards | Eurytania & Brown Buildings

By: John Sherrer, Director of Preservation

Thursday, May 16th 2024

For years as other historic buildings along Main Street benefited from sensitive rehabilitation, the ca.-1901 Brown and ca.-1938 Eurytania buildings stood poised for reinvestment. Under the ownership of the Middleton family, the buildings recently underwent an extensive, historically sensitive revitalization. Directed by architect Scott Lambert, Mashburn Construction restored the Eurytania...

Tea set with cookies

Sipping from Spode: Tea Time in the South

By: Rachel Ward

Monday, April 1st 2024

Holiday Tours at Historic Columbia not only bring cheer to visitors but also to the curatorial staff, who have a chance to highlight interesting pieces in the collection that are not often at the forefront of our regular tours. This past holiday season, we placed a beautiful green and yellow...

Graphic of puzzle saying "Executive Director Search Now Open"

Calling All Visionaries: Historic Columbia's Executive Director Search is Now Open

Wednesday, March 13th 2024

As Historic Columbia continues its mission to preserve and celebrate the rich history of Columbia and Richland County, we are thrilled to announce the opening of applications and nominations for the position of Executive Director.

2827 Millwood Avenue

Renovation Rodeo | Millwood Avenue

By: Staff, Historic Columbia

Friday, March 22nd 2024

Palladium presented Renovation Rodeo | Millwood Avenue on Thursday, March 21, 2024, from 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. About 40 guests toured the new mid-century home of Purnell Orthodontics while enjoying beer from Peak Drift Brewing Company, wine courtesy of Republic National Distributing Company, and delicious food from Something Small Catering...