COLUMBIA, S.C., Wednesday, Nov. 30, 2016 — December is full of exciting events at Historic Columbia – from holiday tours, carriage rides and Breakfast with Santa to a Second Sunday Stroll of Five Points, to Dollar Sunday at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home as well as several activities associated with the Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative.
EVENTS:
Now – Saturday, Dec. 31 | Robert Mills House & Hampton-Preston Mansion
Spend your holidays with Historic Columbia and enjoy holiday tours of the Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion now through Saturday, Dec. 31. Guests are invited to see a variety of holiday decorations and experience traditions in both historic homes. Tour guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Tours of the Robert Mills House will be offered Tuesday – Saturday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.; Sunday at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. and tours of the Hampton-Preston Mansion will be offered Tuesday – Saturday at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.; Sunday at 2:30 p.m. Visit The Gift Shop at Robert Mills, located at 1616 Blanding St., to purchase tickets. Tours are free for members and $8/adult and $5/youth for non-members.
Sunday, Dec. 4 | 6 – 8 p.m. | Tree of Life Congregation
The Columbia Jewish Heritage Initiative, a partnership of Historic Columbia, and the Tree of Life Congregation are hosting Piano and Pastrami from 6 – 8 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 4. The fundraiser will feature classical music by renowned pianist Marina Lomazov, authentic Jewish cuisine and will benefit a new congregational history exhibit at the Tree of Life. The event will be held at the Tree of Life, located at 6719 Trenholm Road in Columbia. Tickets are $35 per person and $25 for Historic Columbia’s Palladium Society members and the Columbia Jewish Federation’s Young Adult Division. To purchase tickets, visit historiccolumbia.org, call 803-252-1770 x 23 or email [email protected].
Tree of Life Synagogue Historic Marker Unveiling and Tour
Sunday, Dec. 11 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. | 2701 Heyward Street
On Sunday, Dec. 11, the Columbia Jewish Heritage (CJHI), in partnership with Historic Columbia and the Jewish Historical Society of South Carolina, will dedicate a historical marker at the former Tree of Life Synagogue located at the corner of Heyward and Woodrow streets. The contemporary structure, designed by Lyles, Bissett, Carlisle and Wolff and erected by M. B. Kahn Construction, opened in 1952. It served as the place of worship for the Tree of Life Congregation until 1986 when the current synagogue opened in Forest Acres. Today, the building is in use by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia.Today, the building is in use by the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia. The dedication will be followed by tours of the building and a reception in the fellowship hall. The marker unveiling and tours will be located at the 2701 Heyward Street. The event is free and open to the public. Visit historiccolumbia.org/cjhi for more information.
Sunday, Dec. 11 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. | Meet at the Five Points Fountain at Green and Harden streets
Join Historic Columbia for a Second Sunday Stroll, a guided walking tour of the historic Five Points district, from 2- 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 11. Explore one of the earliest planned suburbs of Columbia where the introduction of street car lines provided the catalyst for its explosive growth. Learn how Five Points became the first major commercial district in South Carolina located away from a town’s main street. Second Sunday Strolls & Rolls are presented monthly, when weather permits, in historic districts throughout Richland County. Second Sunday Stroll is free for members and $8/adult and $5/youth for non-members. Space is limited. To purchase tickets, visit historiccolumbia.org, email [email protected] or call 803-252-1770 x 23.
Candlelight Tours & Carriage Rides
Friday, Dec. 16, 6 – 9 p.m. | Robert Mills House & Hampton-Preston Mansion
Visit the decorated, candlelit halls of the Hampton-Preston Mansion and the Robert Mills House and on a guided tour. Enjoy live music entertainment and children’s activities while celebrating the holidays with Historic Columbia. Before or after your house tour, take a carriage ride through the Robert Mills Historic District. Stop by the Gift Shop’s holiday open house throughout the evening for a last minute storewide sale as well as refreshments, holiday tunes and giveaways. Candlelight Tours are free for members and $12/adult and $8/youth for non-members. Carriage Rides are an additional $8/person. There is limited space on the carriage rides and guests are encouraged to purchase advance tickets by visiting historiccolumbia.org, calling (803)-252-1770 x 23 or emailing [email protected].
Saturday, Dec. 17, from 8 – 11 a.m. | Robert Mills Carriage House
Join Historic Columbia for a holiday treat to remember! Enjoy a continental breakfast in the cozy Robert Mills Carriage House while listening to seasonal music. After your meal, guests can view the decorated halls of the Hampton-Preston Mansion, see a Victorian Christmas tree, make holiday crafts to take home, and take a picture with Santa! While Santa is hard at work gathering lists, the Gift Shop elves will also be hard at work providing great values on purchases. Enjoy shopping and activities throughout the day at the Gift Shop. Breakfast with Santa is $15/adult and $7/youth for members, $18/adult and $9/youth for non-members and free for kids 3 and under. Space is limited and guests are encouraged to purchase tickets in advance by visiting historiccolumbia.org, emailing [email protected] or calling (803)-252-1770 x 23.
Dollar Sunday | Woodrow Wilson Family Home
Sunday, Dec. 18 | 1 – 4 p.m. | 1705 Hampton Street
Every third Sunday of the month, residents of Richland and Lexington counties are invited to tour of one of Historic Columbia’s house museums for just $1! On Sunday, Dec. 18, visit the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, South Carolina’s only presidential site. The site offers visitors wide-ranging experiences through exhibit galleries, virtual tours and wayside signage. Walk-ins welcome! Tours will be available between 1 – 4 p.m. Tickets can be purchased at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills, located at 1616 Blanding Street. General admission prices apply for any house tours after the first.
Holiday Hours
In observance of the Christmas holiday, the last tour on Christmas Eve will be given at 11:30 a.m. and all house museums will be closed on Christmas Day. In observance of the New Year’s holiday, the last tour on New Year’s Eve will be given at 11:30 a.m. and all house museums will be closed on New Year’s Day.
Special events aren’t the only way to celebrate the season. Find the perfect gift and support Historic Columbia by shopping at The Gift Shop at Robert Mills. The Gift Shop has something for everyone – from locally-made merchandise and food products, to books and jewelry, to toys for the kids and more! Save 20% off your entire Gift Shop purchase (some exclusions apply) and receive a free gift when you spend $25 now through Dec. 24. Also, don’t forget to give the gift of Historic Columbia membership or of Columbia’s past by purchasing Historic Columbia’s Remembering Columbia book.
HOUSE TOURS:
Historic House Museum Tours
Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. and Sunday: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Historic Columbia’s historic house museum tours offer a peek into the past! Tour the Robert Mills House, Hampton-Preston Mansion, Mann-Simons Site or the Woodrow Wilson Family Home to learn more about Columbia’s history. Tours are free for members, $8 for adults, $5 youth (ages 6-17) and free for children under 5. For a more detailed tour schedule, visit historiccolumbia.org.
Group Tours
Historic Columbia is happy to arrange a private guided tour groups of 10 or more with advance registration. Bus tours are available. To schedule a group tour, call 803.252.1770 x 23 or email [email protected].
EDUCATION PROGRAMS:
Homeschool Friday: Entertainment & Education in Richland County
Friday, Dec. 2 | 10-11:30 a.m. | Robert Mills Carriage House
Like we do today, Columbians in the past had a variety of places to gather and learn. Homeschool students are invited to learn about unique places of the past, including the Fairgrounds, the Opera House on Main Street, local movie theaters and more. The program will identify places on historic maps and explore what movies Columbians catching a show could see in the early 20th century. Students will explore the history of local education and the variety of schools that students attended in Richland County. Homeschool Friday is $5 for members, $6 for non-members and $8 for both members and non-members day-of. The group will meet at the Robert Mills Carriage House, located at 1616 Blanding Street. Visit historiccolumbia.org, call (803) 252-1770 x. 26 or email [email protected] to make reservations.
About Historic Columbia:
In November 1961, a small group of individuals intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House from demolition officially incorporated as the Historic Columbia Foundation. 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
