10 Historic Sites in Columbia That You Shouldn't Miss

June 17, 2021 Brain Ambrose

Columbia is South Carolina's capital and home to the University of South Carolina. Along Columbia's wide avenues are historic sites ranging from an antebellum mansion to the former home of a slave who bought her freedom, plus museums, galleries, music venues, theaters and shops. Columbia's three rivers, lake, canal, national park and several city parks offer opportunities for recreation and relaxation. Among the kid-pleasing destinations are a zoo and the largest children's museum in the south.
Restaurants in Columbia

1. First Baptist Church

1306 Hampton St, Columbia, SC 29201-3316 +1 803-256-4251 http://www.nationalregister.sc.gov/richland/S10817740009/
Excellent
62%
Good
24%
Satisfactory
14%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 21 reviews

First Baptist Church

A historic building built in 1859.

2. Robert Mills House & Gardens

1616 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201-3440 +1 803-252-7742 http://www.historiccolumbia.org/robert-mills-house-and-gardens
Excellent
56%
Good
34%
Satisfactory
8%
Poor
2%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 62 reviews

Robert Mills House & Gardens

One of only five National Historic Landmarks within Columbia, the Robert Mills House exemplifies the skill of the first architect born and trained within the United States who designed some of the nation's most prominent buildings, including the Washington Monument. Today, the structure stands as a testament of its designer's architectural ability and the preservation efforts of generations of Columbians. --- Historic Columbia is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving Columbia and Richland County's historic and cultural heritage.

3. South Carolina State House

1100 Gervais St 1100 Gervais St, 29201-6215, Columbia, South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29201-6215 +1 803-734-2430 http://www.scstatehouse.gov/studentpage/Explore/hours.shtml
Excellent
64%
Good
30%
Satisfactory
5%
Poor
1%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 629 reviews

South Carolina State House

A beautiful building with wonderful architectural detail.

Reviewed By Wanderer536102

If you really want to know about the history of South Carolina - visit the gift shop. Easy, pleasant beautiful building - great tour! I have done it several times.

4. Governor's Mansion

800 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201-2397 +1 803-737-3000 http://www.scgovernorsmansion.org/index2.htm
Excellent
61%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
4%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 28 reviews

Governor's Mansion

5. First Presbyterian Church

1324 Marion St, Columbia, SC 29201-3310 +1 803-799-9062 http://www.firstprescolumbia.org/
Excellent
60%
Good
40%
Satisfactory
0%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.5 based on 5 reviews

First Presbyterian Church

6. Mann-Simons Site & Outdoor Museum

1403 Richland St, Columbia, SC 29201-2519 +1 803-252-1770 [email protected] http://www.historiccolumbia.org/mann-simons-site
Excellent
17%
Good
50%
Satisfactory
33%
Poor
0%
Terrible
0%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 6 reviews

Mann-Simons Site & Outdoor Museum

Located in the heart of Columbia's downtown, this property was home, work place, spiritual center and a source of pride for members of the same African American family from 1843 through 1970. Formerly enslaved Charlestonians, Celia Mann, a midwife, and Ben Delane, a boatman, became the first generation of family members to live on the property and laid a social and material foundation that allowed successive generations to pursue a variety of businesses and social undertakings. Although only one house stands today, the Mann-Simons Site was a collection of commercial and domestic spaces owned and operated by the same African-American family from at least 1843 until 1970. The property and its multiple buildings changed considerably over time to better accommodate the needs, tastes, and aspirations of this remarkable family. The Mann-Simons Outdoor Museum features five "ghost structures," frames of buildings that once stood on the site, including a former lunch counter, grocery store, outhouse and residences. Interactive interpretative signage tells the story of these former structures. This outdoor museum is a first for South Carolina and one of a handful of exhibits of its kind nationwide.

Reviewed By SAExplorers - San Antonio, United States

Fascinating family! A must visit to learn how this unique family overcame being enslaved, the civil war, reconstruction and a variety of other challenges faced by the black community. It was a unique view of the time period.

7. Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens

1615 Blanding St, Columbia, SC 29201-3439 +1 803-252-7742 http://www.historiccolumbia.org/tours/house-tours/hampton-preston-mansion-and-gardens
Excellent
45%
Good
37%
Satisfactory
12%
Poor
4%
Terrible
2%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 51 reviews

Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens

One of Columbia's oldest remaining structures, the Hampton-Preston Mansion explores the lives of enslaved workers and their planter-class owners. This site is available for tours and as an outdoor rental space.

Reviewed By Dave2015Joan - Key Largo, United States

Our tour guide, Heather, was pleasant and very informative, sharing the history of the home, the families that lived there, the restoration of the buildings and grounds, and some information on the enslaved people who lived here, based on limited availability of that type of data from the era. The house itself is in fantastic condition, and is somewhat unique in that it was not burned during the Civil War. This tour was time and money well spent.

8. Adluh Flour Mill

804 Gervais St, Columbia, SC 29201-3126 http://www.adluh.com/index.php
Excellent
44%
Good
22%
Satisfactory
22%
Poor
11%
Terrible
1%
Overall Ratings

4.0 based on 9 reviews

Adluh Flour Mill

9. Woodrow Wilson Family Home

1705 Hampton St, Columbia, SC 29201-3419 +1 803-252-7742 http://www.historiccolumbia.org/woodrow-wilson-family-home
Excellent
21%
Good
36%
Satisfactory
18%
Poor
18%
Terrible
7%
Overall Ratings

3.5 based on 28 reviews

Woodrow Wilson Family Home

The home of former President Woodrow Wilson.

Reviewed By BKinTexas - Columbia, United States

When we visited the house, our tour guide was a graduate history student studying at USC. Along with the history of the Woodrow family, she told us about Restoration and how Woodrow Wilson was shaped by the era when he was raised. The house was beautiful; however, the tour was more than we expected.

10. Site of the Surrender

River Drive, Columbia, SC 29201
Excellent
19%
Good
19%
Satisfactory
19%
Poor
13%
Terrible
30%
Overall Ratings

3.0 based on 16 reviews

Site of the Surrender

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