Historic Columbia January 2026 events
January 4, 2026
This month, Historic Columbia is wrapping up Historic Holiday Tours and welcoming the new year with a month of tours and programs, including a walking tour of Columbia’s Heathwood neighborhood and Free Sunday at the Robert Mills House.
UPCOMING PROGRAMS & EVENTS:
Through Sunday, January 4 | Times vary | Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion | 1616 Blanding Street
Tour the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion, each beautifully adorned for the season, and enjoy stories of holiday gatherings, gift giving, and seasonal customs that connect past and present.
Admission: FREE HC members; $20 adult; $16 youth
Sunday, January 18 | 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. | Robert Mills House | 1616 Blanding Street
Learn the fascinating history behind this 1823 Classical Revival mansion. Free, semi-guided tours start on the hour. Free Sunday is sponsored by Richland County, with support from Councilman Jason Branham.
Admission: FREE; space is limited and admission is first come, first served.
Sunday, January 25 | 1:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Begins at Heathwood Park | 800 Abelia Road
Explore one of Columbia’s most architecturally distinct neighborhoods and learn about some of the notable residents who once called Heathwood home during this 75-minute stroll.
Admission: $5 HC members; $10 adult; FREE youth 17 and under
Thursday, February 5 | 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. | Savage Craft Ale Works | 430 Center Street, West Columbia
Grab a local craft brew, unwind with friends old and new, and learn a bit about the history that makes our city unique.
Admission: $20 Palladium members; $22 HC members; $25 general admission
Saturday, February 7 | 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. | Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion | 1615 Blanding Street
Tour Historic Columbia’s diverse tree collection in the lush gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion, with varieties ranging from South Carolina natives to exotic species rarely seen in cultivation.
Admission: $10 HC members; $15 general admission
SAVE THE DATE:
50 Forward Preservation Awards | Thursday, May 14 | The Laundry at Bull Street
Historic Columbia will celebrate fifty years of Preservation Awards in 2026 with a ceremony and gala honoring preservation excellence in Columbia and Richland County. Now accepting nominations!
VISIT US:
Historic Columbia’s historic house museum tours are free for HC members, $15 for adults, and $10 for youth ages 6–12 (Historic Holiday Tours are $20 for adults and $16 for youth). 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
Regular tours of the Hampton-Preston Mansion resume January 7 and are offered:
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Wednesday – Saturday | 10:30 a.m.
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Sunday | 3:00 p.m.
Journey to Freedom: Mann-Simons Site and Modjeska Monteith Simkins House | 1403 Richland Street & 2025 Marion Street
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Wednesday – Sunday | 3:00 p.m.
The Museum of Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home | 1705 Hampton Street
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Wednesday – Saturday | 1:30 p.m.
Robert Mills House & Gardens | 1616 Blanding Street
Regular tours of the Robert Mills House resume January 7 and are offered:
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Wednesday – Saturday | 12:00 p.m.
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Sunday | 1:30 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.
Seibels House & Gardens | 1601 Richland Street
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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.
