This event has passed.
Sunday, March 16th
1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County | Robert Mills House
Robert Mills House & Gardens : 1616 Blanding 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 thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month, visit the Robert Mills House.
Now named the Robert Mills House in honor of its famous designer, this Classical Revival mansion was once known as the Ainsley Hall House, as it was intended to be a fine townhome for Ainsley and Sarah Hall when work began on it in 1823. Instead, circumstances led to the property being used as a campus for three different religious schools, including a Presbyterian theological seminary and Columbia Bible College. Abandoned and threatened with demolition in 1960, the early-19th century architectural masterpiece became a lightning rod for historic preservation advocates who banded together to form Historic Columbia.
The Robert Mills House operates as an historic house museum featuring period rooms and focus galleries highlighting late-18th through mid-19th century decorative arts. Complementing the mansion are gardens that feature a combination of early-1970s landscape design, hallmarks of 19th-century English-style gardens and the accomplishments of contemporary gardeners.
Tours are free for HC members and residents of Richland and Lexington counties. For all other visitors, admission to Robert Mills House is $12 for adults and $8 for youth. Register for tours at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills. Tours will be semi-guided and offered at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m. Space is limited so guests will be registered on a first-come first-serve basis.
Free Sundays are presented by
Upcoming Free Events
See All Events21 Jun
Sunday, June 21st: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays | The Museum of the Reconstruction Era
1705 Hampton 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! This month, visit the Museum of the Reconstruction Era.
19 Jul
Sunday, July 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.
08 Aug
Saturday, August 8th: 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. From South Carolina natives to exotic species rarely seen in cultivation, each seasonal Tree Trek walking tour highlights a different...
13 Aug
Thursday, August 13th: 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.
16 Aug
Sunday, August 16th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sunday | Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
2025 Marion 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 thanks to Richland County! This month’s featured property is the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House.
10 Sep
Thursday, September 10th: 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.
20 Sep
Sunday, September 20th: 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! This month, visit the Hampton-Preston Mansion.
24 Sep
Thursday, September 24th: 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.
08 Oct
Thursday, October 8th: 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.
18 Oct
Sunday, October 18th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sunday | Robert Mills House
1616 Blanding 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, visit the Robert Mills House.
22 Oct
Thursday, October 22nd: 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.
26 Oct
Monday, October 26th: 5:30 — 7 p.m.
1616 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201
Put on your costume and join Historic Columbia for a safe, fun, and FREE Halloween experience on Monday, October 26 from 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm. Community members and local organizations throughout the city of Columbia will meet in the parking lot of Robert Mills House to pass out candy to local Columbia youth!
12 Nov
Thursday, November 12th: 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.
15 Nov
Sunday, November 15th: 1 — 4 p.m.
Free Sundays | The Museum of the Reconstruction Era
1705 Hampton 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! This month, visit the Museum of the Reconstruction Era.