Frequently Asked Questions
Tours
What tours are available?
Historic Columbia offers limited capacity, semi-guided tours for four house museums.
- Wednesday - Saturday | The Museum of the Reconstruction Era (10:30 a.m.), Hampton-Preston Mansion (12 p.m.), Mann-Simons Site (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 Mann-Simons Site (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 Hours & Pricing for additional information. Tickets can be purchase at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
Are there other safety guidelines while I visit Historic Columbia’s house museums?
The houses are open under reduced capacity.
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. to 4 p.m.
Sundays: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
If I have other questions, who should I contact?
Please call our reservations office at 803-252-1770 ext. 23
Gift Shop
What hours is the gift shop open?
The Gift Shop at Robert Mills is open:
Wednesday - Saturday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sundays: 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Can I purchase gifts online?
Yes, you can purchase all of HC's gift shop items at ShopHistoricColumbia.com. Items can be picked up at the Gift Shop.
Gardens
What hours are the gardens open?
The gardens at Robert Mills House, Hampton-Preston Mansion, and Seibels House 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. Saturday
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.
If I have other questions, who should I contact?
Please call our reservations office at 803-252-1770 ext. 23
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.