Historic Columbia announces February 2024 events
February 5, 2024
Historic Columbia is excited to announce programming and events for February 2024. See the full list of February events below and be sure to leave room in your calendar to experience all Historic Columbia has to offer.
CALENDAR OF PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
Thursday, February 8 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | 1615 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia and local birder John Tjaarda every second Thursday of the month for a free, guided bird walk around the Hampton-Preston Gardens to learn about the many local and migratory birds in Columbia. Bring your binoculars and learn how to identify birds by sight, sound, and behavior. The Hampton-Preston Gardens host over 100 bird species throughout the year, providing a great opportunity to observe and learn about our feathered friends at HC. Tickets: This is a FREE event, however, space is limited and registration is required. February’s Birdwatching is full; register for future months on our website.
Columbia Conversations | Injustice in Focus: The Civil Rights Photography of Cecil Williams
Thursday, February 15| 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. | Boyd Horticultural Center | 1615 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia and the South Carolina State Museum for an engaging discussion and book signing event with award-winning journalist and author Claudia Smith Brinson in conversation with Civil Rights photographer, Cecil Williams. In the new biography on Cecil Williams, Brinson delves into the life and perspective of Williams, documenting his involvement in the South Carolina Civil Rights Movement from the 1940s through the 1960s behind the camera lens. Connected with the rich research and history of the movement by Brinson are over 80 photographs taken by Williams of protests, marches, and individuals involved in the South Carolina Civil Rights Movement. Light refreshments will be served following the event, and books are available for purchase onsite from USC Press beginning at 5:00 p.m. Tickets: This free event is at capacity.
Free Sunday at the Museum of the Reconstruction Era
Sunday, February 18 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home | 1705 Hampton Street
On the third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington Counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for FREE thanks to Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron! This month features the Museum of the Reconstruction Era. Tickets: FREE for HC members and residents of Richland and Lexington counties with valid ID. All other adults are $12 and youth are $8, paid on site.
Sunday, February 18 | 1:00 p.m. | Begins and ends at Heathwood Park | 800 Abelia Road
Join Historic Columbia for a stroll through the Heathwood neighborhood. Established by Moses Chappell Heath in 1914 and further developed by his son-in-law, Burwell Deas Manning, Sr., in the 1940s, Heathwood boasts architecturally distinct residences with mature landscapes. Participants will learn about different architectural forms and some of the notable residents who once called this neighborhood home. The tour will last approximately 75 minutes and begin and end at Heathwood Park. Tickets: This event is sold out.
Just Announced | Wavering Place Tours
Saturday, March 16 | Tour times run from 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. | Wavering Place | 427 Adams Hayne Road, Eastover
Join Historic Columbia for a tour of Wavering Place, affording attendees one of the only opportunities to access the Wavering Place grounds outside of private events. The grounds of Wavering Place are a remarkably intact built landscape, featuring structures that largely predate the main house and provide vital connections to understanding and interpreting the life in lower Richland County from the 1830s through the 1940s. This outdoor tour of Wavering Place will explore how the site held very different meanings to the people who lived there through the centuries, while hands-on and interactive elements provide tangible instances of the words and work of the site’s residents. Five tours are being offered: 11:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 1:00 p.m., and 1:30 p.m. Tickets: Tickets are $15 for HC members and $25 for non-members. Each tour has only 20 tickets, so act fast to reserve your spot!
HISTORIC HOUSE TOURS:
Historic Columbia’s historic house museum tours offer a peek into the past! Tours are free for members, $12 for adults, and $8 for youth ages 6-12 (Add $3 each for Journey to Freedom combined tour.). Discounts are available to active military, seniors, AAA members, and students, and must be requested at the time of purchase. Please purchase tickets online OR at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills, located at 1616 Blanding Street.
Robert Mills House & Gardens | 1616 Blanding Street
Wednesday – Sunday | 3:00 p.m.
The Museum of Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home | 1705 Hampton Street
Wednesday – Saturday | 10:30 a.m.
Sunday | 1:30 p.m.
Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | 1615 Blanding Street
Wednesday – Saturday | 12:00 p.m.
Sunday | 1:30 p.m.
Journey to Freedom: Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House | 1403 Richland Street & 2025 Marion Street
Wednesday – Saturday | 1:30 p.m.
Sunday | 3:00 p.m.
PUBLIC GARDENS:
Our 14 acres of landscapes in the heart of Robert Mills Historic District feature heirloom plantings popular with gardeners over the past two centuries. Entrance to the gardens is free, so come by to take a stroll or enjoy your lunch in any of our gardens. Don’t hesitate to sprawl on the grass to get some sun and throw a frisbee—and your four-legged friends are welcome!
Seibels House | 1601 Richland Street
Tuesday – Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Robert Mills | 1616 Blanding Street
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Hampton-Preston | 1615 Blanding Street
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sundays | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Woodrow Wilson Family Home | 1615 Blanding Street
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sundays | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
About Historic Columbia
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall 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 seven 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 Twitter, Facebook, Instagra
