Historic Columbia announces September 2023 events
September 5, 2023
Historic Columbia is excited to announce programming and events for September 2023. See the full list of September 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 ends on Labor Day, Monday, September 4, 2023.
Main Street Walking Tour | SOLD OUT
Sunday, September 3 | 1:00 p.m. | Begins and ends at Boyd Plaza | 1515 Main Street
Join Historic Columbia on Sunday, September 3, 2023, for a stroll to 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. Tickets are only $5 for HC members and $10 for non-members. Youth 17 and younger are free.
University Hill Walking Tour
Sunday, September 10 | 1:00 p.m. | Begins and ends at The Graduate Hotel | 1619 Pendleton Street
Join Historic Columbia on Sunday, September 10, 2023, for a stroll through the University Hill neighborhood. This National Register historic district features former and current residences with a mix of architectural styles that have been greatly influenced and impacted by the eastward expansion of the University of South Carolina. The tour will last approximately 75 minutes and begin and end at The Graduate Hotel. Tickets are only $5 for HC members and $10 for non-members. Youth 17 and younger are free.
Thursday, September 14 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Robert Mills Carriage House | 1616 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia and the University of South Carolina’s History Center for another Columbia Conversation on Thursday, September 14, 2023, from 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. USC Law Professor W. Lewis Burke will engage in a discussion about Reconstruction with Dr. Neil Kinghan of University College London, author of a recent book on Francis Cardozo’s record in South Carolina. The program will close with a book signing by Dr. Kinghan and light refreshments. The conversation is free to attend but please register on the Historic Columbia website; books may also be pre-purchased at the same link.
Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture
Saturday, September 16 | 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Mann-Simons Site | 1403 Richland Street
Join Historic Columbia at Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture from 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023. Now in its 45th year, this free outdoor festival to celebrate South Carolina’s Black history and culture on the grounds of the Mann-Simons Site. Jubilee features live music and entertainment, including 2023 headliner Tweet, artist demonstrations, and marketplace vendors selling a variety of wares, products, and art. Come hungry, because there will also be vendors selling food and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages. The Kids Zone will be available with educational and family-friendly activities, presented in partnership with the Columbia (SC) Chapter of the Links, Incorporated. We can’t wait to see you there!
*Note: Historic Columbia will be closed on Saturday, September 16, 2023, for Jubilee. All gardens will be closed and tours will be canceled for the day.
Free Sundays Presented by Richland County
Sunday, September 17 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Robert Mills House | 1616 Blanding Street
Join Historic Columbia on Sunday, September 17, 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 Robert Mills House. The Robert Mills House operates as an historic house museum featuring period rooms and focus galleries highlighting late-18th through mid-19th century decorative arts. Admission is free for Richland and Lexington County residents with a valid I.D. Register for tours at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills. Tours will be semi-guided and offered at 1:00, 2:00, and 3:00 p.m. Space is limited so guests will be registered on a first come first serve basis.
Concert in the Gardens
Thursday, September 21 | 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. | The Gardens at Hampton-Preston Mansion | 1615 Blanding Street
Performers from the South Carolina Philharmonic will join Historic Columbia to present a beautiful concert of light classics in the gardens at the Hampton-Preston Mansion on Thursday, September 21, 2023. Please plan to arrive any time after 5:00 p.m. Bring your own blanket or chairs, and pack a picnic if you’d like. The concert will begin at 6:00 p.m. and last an hour. General admission tickets are $20 and space is limited. Please note that this event is for those 21 & over. In the event of inclement weather, this concert will be moved indoors to the Boyd Horticultural Center greenhouse on the grounds of the Hampton-Preston Mansion; in the event of good weather, additional tickets will be on sale at the door.
2023 Fall Plant Sale
Thursday, September 28 | 4:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Friday, September 29 | 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Saturday, September 30 | 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
The Gardens at Hampton-Preston Mansion | 1615 Blanding Street
One of two plant sales Historic Columbia holds every year, attendees will be able to purchase and learn about a wide array of plants propagated from the Living Collections across all our historic sites, from herbaceous plants to woody perennials to evergreens. All the selections offered are integral to the stories we tell on our sites, and most are rare or not offered elsewhere. Many plants offered sell out quickly. Members get early access on Thursday, September 28, 2023, so become a member today to gain admission to this exclusive preview sale. The sale is open to the public on Friday, September 29, and Saturday, September 30, 2023.
Kugels & Collards Launch Party & Book Signing | Tickets on sale now
Friday, October 6 | 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. | Seibels House & Gardens | 1601 Richland Street
Join the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina and Historic Columbia for a book signing celebrating the launch of Kugels & Collards, a lively collection of South Carolina Jewish stories and special family recipes. Guests will be treated to a tasting using recipes from the book and will enjoy a meet-and-greet with the authors, Rachel Gordin Barnett and Lyssa Kligman Harvey, and book contributors. Kugels & Collards was released on August 29, 2023, and is published by University of South Carolina Press.
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.
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