Historic Holiday Tours
Experience the holiday season with Historic Columbia on a guided holiday tour of the Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion!
From November 12, 2025, to January 4, 2026, explore festive decorations and learn how 19th-century Columbians celebrated the holidays. Tour guides will share stories of seasonal traditions, food, and décor.
At the Robert Mills House, discover early 1820s holiday customs before Christmas trees became popular. Across the street, the Hampton-Preston Mansion showcases 1850s Victorian holiday traditions, from poinsettias and eggnog to the origins of the Christmas tree. Guests will also learn about celebrations of Christmas, Hanukkah, and the New Year.
Please note there will be no standard tours of the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion during holiday tour dates. The holiday tour is your only option for these two homes, but you can take a tour of the Museum of Reconstruction at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, or the combined Journey to Freedom Tour of the Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House.
Holiday Closures
Please note Historic Columbia is closed for tours on the following dates in observance of the holidays:
- Thursday, November 27
- Friday, November 28
- Thursday, December 25
- Friday, December 26
- Thursday, January 1
Plan Your Visit
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Accessibility
The historic homes are located adjacent to one another, but guests will have to walk between them. Please note guests with mobility issues will not be able to experience the full house tours as there are stairs in both exhibits.
