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Experience the holiday season with Historic Columbia on a guided holiday tour of the Robert Mills House and the Hampton-Preston Mansion!Guests are invited to see a variety of holiday decorations and experience traditions in both historic homes between Wednesday, November 12, 2025, and Sunday, January 4, 2026. Tour guides will provide stories of holidays past in Columbia and discuss how families decorated and entertained during the 19th century.
At the Robert Mills House, guests will see how a home of its size might have been decorated in the 1820s during the time before Christmas trees were popular. Across the street at the Hampton-Preston Mansion, Christmas of the 1850s was very different from today, but some current holiday traditions have their roots from this time. Eggnog, poinsettias, and Christmas trees were all part of the Victorian era holidays. Guests will have the opportunity to view artifacts and learn about holiday traditions involving Christmas, Hanukkah, and New Year celebrations.
Holiday House Tours are offered November 12 – January 4
Wednesday – Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.
HOLIDAY CLOSURES:
There will be no tours on Thursday, November 27; Friday, November 28; Thursday, December 25; Friday, December 26; and Thursday, January 1.
Tickets may be purchased in advance online up until midnight the day prior to the tour, OR tickets may be purchased the day of the tour at Historic Columbia's Welcome Center. All tours begin at the Welcome Center, 1616 Blanding Street; please plan to arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled tour time. Tours are guided and last approximately 75 minutes.
Please note there will be no standard tours of the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion during holiday tour dates. The holiday tour is your only option for these two homes.
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Event Venue & Nearby Stays
1616 Blanding St, Columbia, SC, United States, South Carolina 29201
Concerts, fests, parties, meetups - all the happenings, one place.
