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HC administrative offices and gardens are closed on Tuesday, November 11, in honor of Veterans Day. Seibels House and Gardens are also closed on Monday, November 10.

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Historic Columbia

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Sunday, March 15th

1 — 4 p.m.

Free Sunday | Hampton-Preston Mansion

Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens : 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.

Wealthy Columbia merchant Ainsley Hall and his wife, Sarah, had this mansion built in 1818. They lived here briefly, until 1823, when Ainsley sold it to Wade Hampton I, who was known as one of the South's richest planters. For the next 50 years, the estate grew to be Columbia's grandest residence under the Hampton and Preston families and the many men, women and children they enslaved. In the 100 years following the Civil War, the mansion and its touted gardens hosted many different owners, including colleges and a tourist home. After an extensive rehabilitation, the property opened to the public in 1970 as an historic site. The site is owned by Richland County and managed by Historic Columbia. 

Tours are free for HC members and residents of Richland and Lexington counties. 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. No advance registration available. 

  • Tickets

    Admission is FREE for Richland and Lexington county residents with a valid ID. Register for tours at Historic Columbia's Welcome Center, located adjacent to the Robert Mills House. Tours will be semi-guided and offered at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00. Space is limited so guests will be registered on a first-come first-serve basis.

  • Questions?

    Contact Us

    Phone: (803) 252-1770 ext. 23
    Email: reservations@historiccolumbia.org

  • Hampton-Preston gazebo
  • Hampton-Preston Mansion
  • Hampton-Preston Mansion
  • Hampton-Preston Mansion
  • Hampton-Preston Mansion
  • Hampton-Preston Mansion
  • Hampton-Preston Mansion

Free Sundays Are Presented By

  • Richland County, SC

Upcoming Free Events

See All Events

13 Nov

Thursday, November 13th: 8 — 9 a.m.

Birdwatching in the Gardens

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 Hampton-Preston Gardens to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia. With the Hampton-Preston gardens playing host to over 100 bird species over the course of the year...

Learn More

15 Nov

Saturday, November 15th: 1 — 1:45 p.m.

Columbia Conversations | Woodrow Wilson and Reconstruction Era Columbia: Legacies for the 21st Century

1616 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201

Join Historic Columbia for a talk and book signing by Jennifer Whitmer Taylor. Her new book, Rebirth: Creating the Museum of the Reconstruction Era and the Future of the House Museum, traces the history of Woodrow Wilson's childhood home in Columbia, using it as a case study to offer best...

Learn More

16 Nov

Woodrow Wilson Family Home

Sunday, November 16th: 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, with support from Councilman Jason Branham! This month, visit the Museum of the Reconstruction Era.

Learn More

21 Dec

Mann-Simons Site

Sunday, December 21st: 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 thanks to Richland County, with support from Councilman Jason Branham! This month’s featured property is the Mann-Simons Site.

Learn More

18 Jan

Sunday, January 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 thanks to Richland County! This month, visit the Robert Mills House.

Learn More

12 Feb

Thursday, February 12th: 8 — 9 a.m.

Birdwatching in the Gardens

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 Hampton-Preston Gardens to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia. With the Hampton-Preston gardens playing host to over 100 bird species over the course of the year...

Learn More

15 Feb

Sunday, February 15th: 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, with support from Councilman Jason Branham! This month’s featured property is the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House.

Learn More

12 Mar

Thursday, March 12th: 8 — 9 a.m.

Birdwatching in the Gardens

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 Hampton-Preston Gardens to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia. With the Hampton-Preston gardens playing host to over 100 bird species over the course of the year...

Learn More

15 Mar

Hampton-Preston Mansion

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.

Learn More
NTHP Preservation Award Winner
Historic Columbia

© 2025 Historic Columbia

Administrative Offices
1601 Richland Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Tours
All historic house and garden tours start at the Welcome Center at Robert Mills.
1616 Blanding Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Questions? Call (803) 252-7742.

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