City of Columbia celebrates National Historic Preservation Month
April 25, 2025
May is National Historic Preservation Month and the City’s Preservation staff has several activities planned to commemorate the event. Since its inception by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1973, National Historic Preservation Month has been a way to promote historic places. The City’s Planning staff is promoting a number of activities and events throughout the month of May that focus on the history and architecture of Columbia.
Happy Hour Meet + Greet
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | The War Mouth, 1209 Franklin St.
In partnership with the Coalition of Columbia’s Historic Districts (CCHD), join City preservation staff for a happy hour drop in at The War Mouth to kick off the start of Preservation Month 2025. City preservation staff will have preservation month calendars available. Come to learn more about this year’s events, or just drop in to meet fellow historic district residents and say hello! Free and open to the public. Light snacks provided and drinks available for purchase.
Proclamation & Mabel Payne Award
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 | 4:00 p.m. | City Hall, 1737 Main St.
Join Columbia City Council as they officially declare May as Historic Preservation Month! The proclamation will be followed by an announcement of Preservation Month activities and the presentation of this year’s Mabel Payne Award. For details, view the City Council agenda.
Lunch + Learn: House History
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | Richland Library Main, Local History Room
Join preservation and library staff in the Walker Local and Family History Center to discover tools and methods for researching your historic Columbia home. The session will include a tour of the Center and a lecture on collections available to assist in building research. Presented by Margaret Dunlap, manager of the Walker Local and Family History Center, in partnership with City of Columbia preservation staff in celebration of National Historic Preservation Month.
Window Repair Workshop
Saturday, May 10, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | 1623 Richland St.
Join Staci Richey with The Committee for the Restoration & Beautification of Randolph Cemetery to learn the basics of historic wood window repair. The workshop will cover unsticking windows, re-roping, and restoration. Registration required (visit www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html to register); limited to 12 participants.
Lunch + Learn: Protected or Not
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | All Good Books, 734 Harden St.
Conservation District, Protection Area, Landmark, Historic District. You’ve probably heard these terms around town, but what do they really mean, and what do they protect? Why aren’t some of the city’s most beloved buildings protected when others are? Bring your lunch or grab a drink at All Good Books and learn the hows and whys of Columbia’s preservation protections. Registration encouraged; visit www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html to register.
Blower Door Demonstration + Window Workshop
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Historic Melrose
Join CCHD and City preservation staff for a window repair workshop and blower door demonstration to learn how to improve the energy efficiency of your house. A Blower Door test helps to determine how “leaky” a building really is, and how to get the best bang-for-your-buck when making repairs. The workshop will be led by a certified weatherization technician who will use a variety of diagnostic tools to show how energy is being used in a house, where leaks are happening and how to fix them. The concurrent window workshop will include the basics of historic window/wood repair and maintenance. The workshop will be held at a private home in Historic Melrose. Registration limited to 20 participants- so sign up today at www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html!
Preservation Bike Ride: Cottontown, Earlewood, and Elmwood
Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hop on your bike and join City preservation staff on a bike tour of recent projects in the Elmwood, Earlewood, and Cottontown historic districts. The tour will include behind-the-scene tours of recently completed or in construction historic renovation projects and a look at new construction projects. Limited to 15 participants. Registration, bikes, and helmets required. Register at www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html
Masonry Repointing Workshop
Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Cottontown
Do you own a brick building that needs a little TLC? Come learn the basics of masonry repointing and repair with an expert mason. The event is free thanks to the Coalition of Columbia’s Historic Districts but registration is required (register at www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html). Limited to 15 participants. All tools will be provided on site.
