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The Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens is closed on Sunday, May 18. All other sites and tours will run as scheduled, including Free Sunday at the Museum of the Reconstruction Era.

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Historic Columbia

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Volunteer at HC

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Support HC by becoming a

Volunteer

Volunteering at Historic Columbia is a fun way to enrich yourself and your community! With a variety of volunteer options throughout the year, we hope that you will join the HC Volunteer Team and further our mission to preserve, share, connect, and inspire!

Education Volunteers Needed

Want to help make memorable experiences for youth and school groups? Consider becoming an Education Volunteer!

Sign Up

Volunteer Opportunities

While some of our opportunities are abundant, others are only needed periodically. Please review the following options that may be available now or in the near future!

Now Accepting: Garden Volunteers

Come play in the dirt with HC's grounds staff as a Garden Volunteer and help preserve the beauty of our 14 acres of historic landscapes! Learn more about the rare and native plants at our sites from our skilled staff while engaging in tasks including planting, weeding, and pruning. Whether you’re an experienced gardener or just looking to learn, come share your passion for horticulture, meet like-minded individuals, and help us keep history blooming! This vibrant volunteer group meets Tuesdays from 9:00 – 11:00 a.m. during the winter, spring, and fall months, with a summer hiatus.

Sign Up

Now Accepting: Education Volunteers

If knowledge is power, you can make a difference in strengthening our community as an Education Volunteer! Alongside HC's education staff, you'll help bring history to life for our youth and school groups. Enhance learning through leading games and activities on our sites. This is a fabulous opportunity for former educators, college students, or stay-at-home parents looking to keep active during school hours, though anyone is welcome. Education Volunteers are needed throughout the school year, typically on weekday mornings.

Sign Up

Summer 2025: Tour Guides

HC offers four different tours five days a week. That's twenty opportunities a week to be a House Tour Guide! Get in-depth training and continuing education opportunities to learn the ins and outs of HC's properties and the history of Columbia. Trained guides will lead groups of visitors and share the complex history of our sites. More interested in local history outside of our sites? Select individuals may be eligible to lead Walking Tours across the city. Our next cohort of Tour Guides will begin in Summer 2025.

Not Currently Accepting Volunteers

HC ♥s Volunteers!

As a heartfelt thanks to our dedicated volunteers, Historic Columbia works hard to ensure your generosity of time and talent is matched! 

Volunteers can enjoy:

  • Field trips to other SC historical sites and museums. Recent volunteer field trips have included Milford Plantation, the International African American Museum, and Riverbanks Zoo.
  • Exclusive opportunities to volunteer at HC signature events, which may include Behind-the-Scenes Tours, Wavering Place, Kensington, and Palladium Tour.
  • Volunteer Appreciation parties.
  • Complimentary admission to our Historic House Museums.
  • A 10% discount at the Gift Shop.
volunteer group

Group Volunteering

More Hands = More Impact

Gardens

A great opportunity for groups of 5 – 15, our grounds team periodically has opportunities to help with larger needs, such as spreading mulch, raking leaves, clearing beds, or trimming. Garden Volunteer groups need to be arranged a minimum of 8 weeks in advance.

Contact Us

Jubilee

Jubilee is a FREE community festival that takes place annually in September. Groups of any size are needed to assist with the festival setup (8:00 - 10:30 a.m.) and breakdown (5:30 - 7:30 p.m.). Participants must be able carry 20 lbs.

Get on next year's email list

Meet your volunteer supervisors

Heather Bacon-Rogers

Visitor Experience Manager (Tour Guides + Jubilee Volunteers)

Email

(803) 252-7742 ext. 20

Carmen Sangster

Education Manager (Education Volunteers)

Email

(803) 252-7742 ext. 26

Rebecca Townsend

Horticulturist (Garden Volunteers)

Email

(803) 252-7742 ext. 27

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 Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
1616 Blanding Street
Columbia, SC 29201

Questions? Call (803) 252-7742.

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