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April 6 | Forest Hills

A Century of Style

Join Historic Columbia to explore a curated group of homes that showcase varied styles of architecture while learning about the history of Forest Hills and the people who have called it home.

Get Tickets

Today at Historic Columbia

Start your experience at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills (1616 Blanding Street)

House Tour

The Museum of the Reconstruction Era

1:30 p.m.

House Tour

Hampton-Preston Mansion

10:30 a.m.

House Tour

Robert Mills House

12 p.m.

House Tour

Journey to Freedom Tour: Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House

3 p.m.

Public Garden Hours

Gardens at Hampton-Preston Mansion

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Public Garden Hours

Gardens at Robert Mills

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Public Garden Hours

Garden at Woodrow Wilson Family Home

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Public Garden Hours

Gardens at Seibels House

10 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Preserving Our Stories

Preservation Economic Impact Study Report Released

The first of its kind for the Midlands, this report details the collective impact historic preservation has on Columbia's economy in four main areas: Jobs, Investment, Tourism Revenues, and Property Value Growth.

Research Projects and Initiatives

Historic Columbia is committed to preserving places and sharing complex stories from the past that connect us in the present and inspire our future. Read about our current and recent research projects that highlight Columbia's history.

Explore HC's Collection

Historic Columbia is continually striving to make our 4,000+ object collection digitally available to the public for education and research purposes. New objects and edits to current entries will be published routinely.

Tours

Connect with History

Our four house tours give you the chance to explore Columbia's history from antebellum to Civil Rights.

Take a Tour

Upcoming Events

See All Events

27 Mar

Thursday, March 27th: 6 — 7:30 p.m.

Renovation Rodeo | Earlewood

TBA, Columbia, SC 29201

Join Palladium on Thursday, March 27, 2025, from 6:00–7:30 p.m. to view a newly renovated home located in Earlewood. Attendees of this Renovation Rodeo will have the unique chance to tour the home and learn about its history and renovation process. Enjoy light refreshments as you mingle with fellow preservation...

02 Apr

Wednesday, April 2nd: 12 — 1 p.m.

Knowledge at Noon | Spring Migration

Spring Migration: Identifying South Carolina's Most Colorful Warblers Join local birder and HC volunteer John Tjaarda as he discusses how to identify some common warblers that will be migrating through Columbia on their journey north to nest in late April and early May. Warblers are some of the brightest, most...

03 Apr

Thursday, April 3rd: 5 — 7 p.m.

Concert in the Gardens

1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Update March 3: Pre-sale tickets are sold out! In the event of favorable weather, additional tickets will go on sale the week of the event and be available for purchase at the gate. Email us to join the waitlist for tickets. Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic...

06 Apr

Sunday, April 6th: 1 — 6 p.m.

Palladium Tour | A Century of Style

TBA, Columbia, SC 29204

You are invited to the 6th annual Palladium Tour | A Century of Style! Join us in Forest Hills on April 6, 2025, to explore a curated group of homes that showcase varied styles of architecture while learning about the history of Forest Hills and the people who have called...

10 Apr

Thursday, April 10th: 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...

10 Apr

Thursday, April 10th: 4 — 6 p.m.

Members-Only Early Access: Spring Plant Sale

1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201

Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2025 Spring Plant Sale! Celebrate spring at our Plant Sale! Browse heirloom flowers, shrubs, vegetables, and perennials, all grown in Historic Columbia’s gardens. All selections are integral to the stories we share and many are rare or hard-to-find...

11 Apr

Friday, April 11th: 11 a.m. — 5 p.m.

Spring Plant Sale

1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201

Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2025 Spring Plant Sale! At one of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants propagated from the Living Collections across all of our...

12 Apr

Saturday, April 12th: 10 a.m. — 2 p.m.

Spring Plant Sale

1615 Blanding St., Columbia, SC 29201

Join us in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion for the 2025 Spring Plant Sale! At one of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants propagated from the Living Collections across all of our...

13 Apr

Sunday, April 13th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.

Elmwood Park Walking Tour

2204 Park Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Join Historic Columbia for a stroll through the Elmwood Park neighborhood. Established in 1904 as a suburb of Columbia, Elmwood Park stands today as one of the city's most architecturally intact neighborhoods. Participants will learn about different architectural forms and some of the notable residents who once called this neighborhood home.

24 Apr

Thursday, April 24th: 8 — 9 a.m.

Birdwatching in the Gardens | Migration Season

1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201

For bird watchers in South Carolina, spring migration brings tons of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, and more species that we don’t normally see as they make their way north to their breeding grounds. Hopefully, some of these birds will take a rest on their mammoth journey here at Historic Columbia! Grab...

27 Apr

Sunday, April 27th: 1 — 2:30 p.m.

Congaree Vista Walking Tour

1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Explore the Congaree Vista with Historic Columbia.

06 May

Tuesday, May 6th: 6 a.m. — 11:59 p.m.

Midlands Gives 2025

1601 Richland Street, Columbia, SC 29201

We are excited to participate in Midlands Gives  again this year on Tuesday, May 6, 2025, for an online giving campaign. Last year, as a part of Midlands Gives, we raised over $60,000 with 438 donations. This is a great community-wide day of giving, and it’s a fun way to raise money and awareness of Historic Columbia! HC has finished in the top of the leaderboard and has won the early morning Power Hour each year.

08 May

Thursday, May 8th: 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...

08 May

Thursday, May 8th: 5 — 7 p.m.

Concert in the Gardens

1615 Blanding Street, Columbia, SC 29201

Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic Columbia to present a beautiful concert of light classics in the gardens at the Hampton-Preston Mansion. Please plan to arrive any time after 5:00 p.m. The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. and last an hour. Bring your own blanket or...

15 May

Thursday, May 15th: 5 — 6:30 p.m.

2025 Preservation Awards Ceremony

701 Whaley St., Columbia, SC 29201

Join Historic Columbia as we celebrate National Historic Preservation month by recognizing exemplary work in preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and revitalization in Columbia and Richland County.

Preservation
Education
Community

Why Join?

If you look around, you’ll see Historic Columbia’s advocacy work everywhere—from the Bull Street development to the new Palmetto Compress building…and we’ve got big plans to save even more historic properties from demolition, but we need the help of people like you to make it happen.

Join Today

Why Join?

Your membership helps us create entertaining historical programming that brings people from diverse age groups and backgrounds together. Our educational programs help explain the connections between our past and present, using history as a prism for a deeper understanding.

Join Today

Why Join?

As a member, you’ll get discounted admission and early access to our most popular events. Joining Historic Columbia is a great way to “plug in” to the city’s professional network and get involved in your community.

Join Today

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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