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Friday, December 31st
10 a.m. — 3 p.m.
Holiday House Tours 2021
Gift Shop at Robert Mills : 1616 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Guests are invited to see a variety of holiday decorations and experience traditions at our historic house museums through Saturday, Dec. 31. Tour guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
At the Robert Mills House, guests will see how a home of its size might have been decorated in the 1820s during the time before Christmas trees were popular. Across the street at the Hampton-Preston Mansion, Christmas of the 1860s was very different from today in many ways but some of the traditions we carry on today have their roots from this time. Eggnog, poinsettias and Christmas trees were all part of the Victorian era holidays.
Admission includes a guided tour of both the Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion. Tours are offered Wednesday – Saturday at 10 a.m.,12 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. On Friday, Dec. 31, only the 12 p.m. tour will be held.
Visit The Gift Shop at Robert Mills, located at 1616 Blanding Street, to purchase admission and begin your tour. To schedule a group tour, call 803.252.1770 x 23 or email reservations@historiccolumbia.org.
Upcoming Events
See All Events01 Dec
Wednesday – Saturday at 12:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
Experience the holiday season with Historic Columbia on a guided holiday tour of the Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion! Guests are invited to see a variety of holiday decorations and experience traditions in both historic homes between Wednesday, November 15, and Saturday, December 30, 2023. Tour guides will...
01 Dec
Friday, December 1st: 10 — 11 a.m.
Columbia Canopy Project Launch Celebration
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Join Historic Columbia and Columbia Green on Arbor Day as we celebrate the launch of the Columbia Canopy Project. The Columbia Canopy Project commemorates the leaders of historically marginalized communities and addresses the impacts of structural racism through neighborhood histories and memorial trees. This event will include a short program...
09 Dec
Saturday, December 9th: 6 — 9 p.m.
1616 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Visit the decorated, candlelit halls of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Robert Mills House!
17 Dec
Sunday, December 17th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
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Sunday, December 17th: 1 — 4 p.m.
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2025 Marion St., Columbia, SC 29201
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Sunday, January 21st: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County | Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
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Residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE once a month thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month, visit the Hampton-Preston Mansion.
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Sunday, January 21st: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
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18 Feb
Sunday, February 18th: 1 — 4 p.m.
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The third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month, visit the Museum of the Reconstruction Era.
25 Feb
Sunday, February 25th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
800 Abelia Road, Columbia, SC 29205
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17 Mar
Sunday, March 17th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County | Robert Mills House
1616 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201
Residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE once a month thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month, visit the Robert Mills House & Gardens, one of only five National Historic Landmarks within Columbia, and explore architecture and daily life in the 1820s in Columbia.
16 May
Thursday, May 16th: 5 — 6:30 p.m.
2024 Preservation Awards Ceremony
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Join Historic Columbia as we celebrate National Historic Preservation month by recognizing exemplary work in preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and revitalization in Columbia and Richland County.