Frequently Asked Questions
Tours
Please review our House Museum Visitation Policies prior to your tour.
What tours are available?
Historic Columbia offers limited capacity, semi-guided tours for five house museums.
- Wednesday - Saturday | The Museum of the Reconstruction Era (10:30 a.m.), Hampton-Preston Mansion (12 p.m.), Journey to Freedom (1:30 p.m.), and Robert Mills House (3 p.m.)
- Sunday | Hampton-Preston Mansion OR The Museum of Reconstruction Era (1:30 p.m.) and Robert Mills House OR Journey to Freedom (3 p.m.). Please note guests choose which tour they want to take at these two time slots.
Please check our House Tours page and Tour Schedule for additional information. Tickets may be purchased in advance online up until midnight the day prior to the tour, OR tickets may be purchased the day of the tour at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
Will restrooms be available?
Restrooms are available in the Robert Mills Carriage House during the hours that the Gift Shop at Robert Mills is open.
Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sundays: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Gift Shop
Where can I park?
There is a small gravel parking lot accessible from Henderson Street across from the Township Auditorium. View parking map.
What hours is the gift shop open?
The Gift Shop at Robert Mills is open:
Wednesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Sundays: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Gardens
Please review our Garden Etiquette page prior to your arrival.
What hours are the gardens open?
The gardens will be open to the public as follows:
- Seibels House (1601 Richland Street): 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., Tuesday - Friday
- Robert Mills (1616 Blanding Street): 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday | 1 – 4 p.m. Sunday
- Hampton-Preston (1615 Blanding Street): 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday | 1 – 4 p.m. Sunday
- The Museum of the Reconstruction Era (1705 Hampton Street): 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday | 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Sunday
Hampton-Preston and Robert Mills open garden hours are extended to 7 p.m. on Thursdays during Daylight Savings Time.
Can I bring my pet?
Visitors are encouraged to bring pets to our gardens, but please keep them leashed. Picking up after your pet is required. Please note only service animals will be permitted inside house museums.
Am I allowed to bring food or drink onto the grounds?
Visitors can bring their own food and drinks, but please pack it in and pack it out.
How can I learn about the plants in the gardens while I’m visiting?
Signage throughout the gardens provides information on the history, plants, and more.
If you would like to learn about specific plants that you find during your visit, our garden database records the origin, progress, and success of the diverse living plant collections at Historic Columbia.
If I have other questions, who should I contact?
Please call our reservations office at (803) 252-1770 ext. 23 .