Historic Columbia

Preservation South Carolina, the South Carolina Department of Archives and History and the Governor’s Office, are proud to recognize Historic Columbia with the inaugural 2026 Organizational Excellence Award in recognition of more than six decades of leadership in historic preservation, education, advocacy, and heritage tourism throughout Columbia and Richland County.

Founded in 1961 by a group of citizens committed to saving the Robert Mills House, Historic Columbia has grown from a single-site preservation organization into the region's leading advocate for the preservation of historic places and community history. Today, the organization stewards six historic properties, including the Robert Mills House, Hampton-Preston Mansion, Seibels House, Woodrow Wilson Family Home, Mann-Simons Site, and Modjeska Monteith Simkins Site.

Through the preservation, rehabilitation, and interpretation of these historic sites, Historic Columbia has created opportunities for education and heritage tourism while ensuring that important places remain accessible to the public. Over the past two decades, the organization has completed major restoration and reinterpretation projects across its properties, many of which have previously been recognized with South Carolina Historic Preservation Awards. These efforts have expanded public understanding of South Carolina's architectural, cultural, and social history through research-based exhibits, restored historic landscapes, and improved visitor experiences.

Historic Columbia's impact extends well beyond the properties in its care. Through advocacy, educational programming, community partnerships, and digital resources, the organization has promoted preservation throughout Columbia and Richland County. Initiatives such as Connecting Communities through History have documented and interpreted the histories of neighborhoods and historically underrepresented communities through oral histories, interpretive signage, walking tours, and public programs. Additional projects, including the Building Richland County (BRiC) database and a growing collection of GIS-based Story Maps, have made local history more accessible to residents, researchers, and visitors.

The organization has also advanced preservation through its annual Historic Preservation Awards program, which celebrated its fiftieth anniversary in 2026, recognizing more than 300 preservation projects and individuals for their contributions to protecting South Carolina's historic resources. Historic Columbia has further strengthened preservation efforts through research, including commissioning an economic impact study on historic preservation, and by working with community leaders and elected officials to support preservation policy and investment.

For nearly sixty-five years, Historic Columbia has demonstrated sustained organizational leadership through preservation, education, research, and advocacy. Its continued commitment to protecting historic places while expanding public understanding of Columbia and Richland County's history has established the organization as a model for preservation throughout South Carolina. The inaugural Organizational Excellence Award recognizes Historic Columbia's lasting contributions and its ongoing commitment to preserving the state's historic and cultural resources.