Historic Columbia announces May 2024 events
May 1, 2024
Historic Columbia is excited to announce programming and events for May 2024. See the full list of May events below and be sure to leave room in your calendar to experience all Historic Columbia has to offer.
CALENDAR OF PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
Birdwatching in the Gardens | Migration Season
Thursday, May 2 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | 1615 Blanding Street
Species that we don’t normally see through South Carolina are making their way north to their breeding grounds, so we’ve added extra Birdwatching dates on April 18 and May 2! 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. 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.
Admission: This FREE event is at capacity.
Thursday, May 9 | 8:00 – 10:00 a.m. | Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | 1615 Hampton 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.
Admission: FREE; registration is required.
History of Forest Acres
Thursday, May 9 | 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. | Richland Cooper Library | 5317 North Trenholm Road
Step into the past with Richland Library and Historic Columbia‘s Curator of History, Rebecca Woodruff, as she shares the captivating history of Forest Acres, the “city within a city” established in 1935. Join us at the Richland Library Cooper branch for an engaging program where we’ll unveil a new sign showcasing the area’s rich heritage. Share your own Forest Acres memories and be part of this interactive evening of local history. Don’t miss out on this unique journey through time!
Admission: This FREE event is at capacity. An additional session is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday, October 16.
Columbia Canopy Project Community Celebrations
Friday, May 10 | 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. | Antioch Baptist Church Community Park | 5715 Koon Road
Join Historic Columbia and Columbia Green to celebrate the Columbia Canopy Project’s Community Celebration in the Prescott Manor / Ames Village Community. The Columbia Canopy Project commemorates the leaders of historically marginalized communities and addresses the impacts of structural racism through neighborhood histories and memorial trees. This event will include brief remarks and a wayside signage unveiling.
Admission: FREE; registration is encouraged.
Main Street Walking Tour
Sunday, May 12 | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Begins and ends at Boyd Plaza | 2706 Devine Street
Join Historic Columbia for a stroll down Main Street. Participants will learn about the architecture and history of buildings along the 1300-1700 blocks of Main Street. The tour begins and ends at Boyd Plaza and will last approximately 75 minutes.
Admission: $5 HC members, $10 non-members, youth 17 and under are FREE.
2024 Preservation Awards Ceremony
Thursday, May 16 | 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. | The Pool at 701 Whaley | 701 Whaley Street
Nothing ushers in spring like a soiree, and what better way to commemorate Preservation Month than through Historic Columbia’s annual Preservation Awards Ceremony, held again at the Pool at 701 Whaley—the recipient of a Rehabilitation Award in 2022. This year, HC will recognize 13 award recipients across four categories, and winners remain a secret until the event. The winners will be announced in our special Preservation Month email on Friday, May 17.
Admission: Given the number of award recipients this year, no tickets are being sold to this event.
Saturday, May 18 | 5:00 – 6:30 p.m. | Begins and ends at Eastover Park | 1031 Main Street, Eastover, SC
Join Sylvamo and Historic Columbia for an exclusive access public tour of Kensington Mansion. Each tour experience lasts approximately two hours. Tours will focus on the site’s unique architectural features, restoration and rehabilitation of the mansion, and life at this Singleton family plantation during the period of the mansion’s construction, 1852 to 1854. Kensington Mansion is unique for its melding of architectural styles and for its association with Jacob Stroyer, who was enslaved at the site as a child and wrote extensively about his experiences in My Life in the South. Through Stroyer’s memoir and other primary source documents, participants will learn about the site and what life was like for the people enslaved by the Singleton family.
Admission: This event sold out to members before opening to the public. Early ticketing to certain events is just one of our many membership perks. Become a member of Historic Columbia to take advantage of this and many other member benefits.
Free Sunday at the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House
Sunday, May 19 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Modjeska Monteith Simkins House | 2025 Marion 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 Modjeska Monteith Simkins House. The museum is open for self-guided tours from 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. Space is limited so guests will be allowed access on a first come first serve basis.
Admission: FREE for HC members and residents of Richland and Lexington counties with valid ID. All other adults are $12 and youth are $8, paid at the Gift Shop.
Thursday, May 30 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home | 1705 Hampton Street
Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic Columbia to present a beautiful concert of light classics in the gardens at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home. Please plan to arrive any time after 6:00 p.m. The concert will begin at 7:00 p.m. and last an hour. Bring your own blanket or chairs and pack a picnic if you’d like (alcohol is permitted). No food or beverage vendors will be on site. Tickets are required and space is limited. Please note that this event is for those 21 & over.
Admission: Advance purchase tickets are sold out. In the event of favorable weather, tickets will be on sale at the venue. General admission tickets are $20.
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. All tours begin at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills.
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 & Gardens | 1601 Richland Street
Tuesday – Friday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Robert Mills House & Gardens | 1616 Blanding Street
Tuesday – Saturday | 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Sunday | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens | 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 Facebook, Instagram, X, or YouTube for more details.
