Discover what’s new at Historic Columbia this July
July 7, 2026
Check out Historic Columbia’s upcoming events, local historic preservation and history initiatives, and more.
HISTORIC COLUMBIA OPENS NEW SEIBELS HOUSE EXHIBIT:
Thanks to grant funding from the Richland County Conservation Commission, Historic Columbia now offers unprecedented public access to a unique antebellum Columbia landmark—the ca.-1830 kitchen dependency at the Seibels House. Through the self-guided exhibit Enslaved Life and Labor Behind the Big House, visitors to the site can learn of the roles enslaved Black women played in daily life in the capital city before emancipation.
The Seibels House Gardens and kitchen building are free and open to the public Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
HISTORIC COLUMBIA’S UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
Free Sunday at the Mann-Simons Site
Sunday, July 19 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site | 1403 Richland Street
Explore Columbia’s history through the story of an entrepreneurial Black family whose experiences and achievements involved navigating profound social and economic change from the 1840s through the 1970s.
Admission: Free; space is limited and admission is first come, first served
BullStreet District Walking Tour
Sunday, July 19 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Tour starts at 2100 Bull Street
Discover the history and legacy of the former main campus of the South Carolina State Hospital. Explore the exterior of several remaining historic buildings as this guided walking tour highlights how the site’s past informs its current development.
Admission: $5 HC members; $10 general admission; FREE youth 17 and under
Tour Historic Columbia’s diverse tree collection with varieties ranging from South Carolina natives to exotic species rarely seen in cultivation. Each seasonal Tree Trek features a different set of trees set in the lush landscape of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Robert Mills House.
Admission: $10 HC members; $15 general admission
Thursday, August 13 | 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. | Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion | 1615 Blanding Street
Historic Columbia’s “resident bird nerd” John Tjaarda and Assistant Horticulturalist Jake Armstrong will guide you around the gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion to learn how to identify birds by sight, sound, and behavior. Bring your binoculars!
Admission: Free; please reserve a ticket in advance
SAVE THE DATE:
Jubilee: Festival of Black History and Culture | Saturday, September 19
Trunk or Treat | Monday, October 26
ACTIVE MILITARY GET FREE ADMISSION THIS SUMMER AS A PART OF THE BLUE STAR MUSEUMS PROGRAM:
Historic Columbia proudly participates in the Blue Star Museums program. Admission to our historic house museums is free currently serving U.S. military personnel, including the National Guard and Reserves. The Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day and ends on Labor Day each year. Visit our website for full program details.
VISIT HISTORIC COLUMBIA:
Historic Columbia’s historic house museum tours are free for HC members, $15 for adults, and $10 for youth ages 6–12. Discounts are available to active military, seniors, AAA members, and students, and must be requested at the time of purchase. Visitors may purchase tickets online or at the Welcome Center at Robert Mills, located at 1616 Blanding Street. All tours begin at the Welcome Center at Robert Mills.
Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | 1615 Blanding Street
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Wednesday – Saturday | 10:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.
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Sunday | 1:30 and 3:00 p.m.
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Wednesday – Sunday | 1:30 p.m.
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Wednesday – Saturday | 12:00 p.m.
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Sunday | 3:00 p.m.
Historic Columbia’s 14 acres of landscapes in the heart of Robert Mills Historic District feature heirloom plantings popular with gardeners over the past two centuries. Entry to the gardens is free and includes interpretive signage to help bring history to life.
Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | 1615 Blanding Street
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Monday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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Sunday | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Robert Mills House & Gardens | 1616 Blanding Street
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Monday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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Sunday | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
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Monday – Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Woodrow Wilson Family Home | 1405 Hampton Street
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Monday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
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Sunday | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
BECOME A MEMBER
Membership helps Historic Columbia create educational and entertaining historical programming that pulls people together and builds strong bonds within our community. Learn more about the perks of membership at historiccolumbia.org/
ABOUT HISTORIC COLUMBIA
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House (now known as the Robert Mills House) from demolition officially incorporated as Historic Columbia. Over the next five decades, the organization, which was founded on the premise of preservation and education, would take on the stewardship of six historic properties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model for local preservation efforts and interpretation of local history. Visit historiccolumbia.org or find us on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube for more details.
