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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 Events15 Mar
Sunday, March 15th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sunday | Hampton-Preston Mansion
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
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 Councilman Jason Branham! This month, visit the Hampton-Preston Mansion.
16 Mar
Monday, March 16th: 12 — 2 p.m.
Drop-In Tech Support: Tickets & Membership
1601 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201
Please join Historic Columbia staff for one of two drop-in tech support sessions to access our new online ticketing and membership platform: Monday, March 16 | 12:00–2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 | 5:00–7:00 p.m. Let our staff assist you with common concerns like: Creating your account Saving a credit card...
18 Mar
Wednesday, March 18th: 5 — 7 p.m.
Drop-In Tech Support: Tickets & Membership
1601 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201
Please join Historic Columbia staff for one of two drop-in tech support sessions to access our new online ticketing and membership platform: Monday, March 16 | 12:00–2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 18 | 5:00–7:00 p.m. Let our staff assist you with common concerns like: Creating your account Saving a credit card...
22 Mar
Sunday, March 22nd: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
1515 Main Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Explore Main Street with Historic Columbia.
31 Mar
Tuesday, March 31st: 5 — 7 p.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Update March 9: Pre-sale tickets are sold out! In the event of favorable weather, additional tickets will go on sale the week of the event and be available for purchase at the gate. Email us to join the waitlist for tickets! Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic...
09 Apr
Thursday, April 9th: 8 — 9 a.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Grab your binoculars to join Historic Columbia and local birder John Tjaarda for a free, guided bird walk around the Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia.
09 Apr
Thursday, April 9th: 4 — 6 p.m.
Members-Only Early Access: Spring Plant Sale
1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2026 Spring Plant Sale! A wide array of plants including heirloom flowers, shrubs, vegetables, and perennials, all grown in Historic Columbia’s gardens, will be available to our members before the public sale. With many rare or hard-to-find varieties...
10 Apr
Friday, April 10th: 10 a.m. — 4 p.m.
1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2026 Spring Plant Sale! At one of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants including heirloom flowers, shrubs, vegetables, and perennials, all grown...
11 Apr
Saturday, April 11th: 8 a.m. — 4 p.m.
1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2026 Spring Plant Sale! At one of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants including heirloom flowers, shrubs, vegetables, and perennials, all grown...
19 Apr
Sunday, April 19th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sunday | Mann-Simons Site
1403 Richland St., Columbia, SC 29201
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! This month’s featured property is the Mann-Simons Site.
26 Apr
Sunday, April 26th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
2204 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Historic Columbia for a stroll through the Elmwood Park neighborhood.
30 Apr
Thursday, April 30th: 8 — 9 a.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Grab your binoculars to join Historic Columbia and local birder John Tjaarda for a free, guided bird walk around the Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia.
02 May
Saturday, May 2nd: 10 — 11 a.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Join Chris Mathis, Horticulture Manager at Historic Columbia, on a guided tour of the diverse tree collection in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Robert Mills House. This tour is an opportunity to learn about a wide variety of trees ranging from South Carolina natives to exotic...
03 May
Sunday, May 3rd: 1 — 2:30 p.m.
Hollywood-Rose Hill Walking Tour
216 South Gregg Street, Columbia, SC 29205
Join Historic Columbia for a stroll through the Hollywood-Rose Hill neighborhood.
05 May
Tuesday, May 5th: 5 — 7 p.m.
1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201
Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic Columbia to present a beautiful concert of light classics in the gardens at the Hampton-Preston Mansion. May's concert will feature a brass quintet and percussion. Please plan to arrive any time after 5:00 p.m. The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m...