Historic Columbia announces June 2023 events
June 1, 2023
Historic Columbia announced programming and events for June 2023. See the full list of June events below and be sure to leave room in your calendar to experience all Historic Columbia has to offer.
CALENDAR OF PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
Historic Columbia is proud to be a Blue Star Museum
Through Monday, September 4
Historic Columbia participates in the Blue Star Museum program, which grants free admission to our Historic House Museums for our nation’s active-duty military personnel, including the National Guard and Reserves. The Blue Star Museums program begins on Armed Forces Day—Saturday, May 20, 2023, and ends on Labor Day—Monday, September 4, 2023.
Thursday, June 8 | 10:00 – 10:45 a.m. | Robert Mills Gardens | 1616 Blanding Street
Meet us in the Robert Mills Gardens on Thursday, June 8, 2023, for stories, songs and an activity led by Richland Library and Historic Columbia staff! This event is free; however, space is limited, and registration is required. In the event of inclement weather, this program will be canceled. Quilts will be provided, though guests may bring their own quilt or camping/folding chair. This event is ideal for children up to age 12.
Renovation Rodeo | Forest Acres
Thursday, June 8 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Ticketholders will receive the property address the day prior to this event
Join Palladium on Thursday, June 8, 2023, from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. to tour a newly renovated home in charming Forest Acres! Hear firsthand accounts about the renovation process and gain insight into the history of the home and Forest Acres. Enjoy light hors d’oeuvres as well as beer and wine at this fascinating tour. Palladium members get into Renovation Rodeo for FREE! HC members are $10 and non-HC members are $15.
Sunday, June 11 | 1:00 p.m. | Begins and ends at the First Responders Monument | 1101 Lincoln Street
Join Historic Columbia on the second Sunday of June for a stroll through the Congaree Vista, an area comprised of almost 800 acres. Once a bustling cotton warehouse and railroad district, today’s Vista is a bustling entertainment district that features architecturally significant buildings from the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. Participants will learn about buildings along the 700-1000 blocks of Gervais as well as the people and businesses who made this corridor a center of commerce more than a century ago. The tour will last approximately 75 minutes. Tickets are only $5 for HC members and $10 for non-members. Youth 17 and younger are free.
Historic Columbia Summer Camp | Kid Curator Camp
Session 1: June 12-16 | Session 2: July 10-14 | 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. daily | Robert Mills House | 1616 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia for five fun-filled days of summer camp! Campers can expect to enjoy an archeology dig, creating their own living museum, tie dye-ing shirts, water balloon fights, scavenger hunts, and more. This camp is designed for children ages 8-12. A few spots remain in both sessions, so register soon!
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County
Sunday, June 18 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site | 1403 Richland Street
Join Historic Columbia on Sunday, June 18, 2023, from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. for our Free Sunday program presented by Richland County, with support from HC Board Liaison, Councilwoman Gretchen Barron, to tour the Mann-Simons Site at 1403 Richland Street. The Mann-Simons Site, home to the same entrepreneurial African American family for nearly 130 years, now traces the journey of Columbia’s Black community from enslavement through urban renewal. Admission is free for Richland and Lexington County residents with a valid I.D. No registration necessary.
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, 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
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.
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, Instagram or YouTube for more details.
