As with much of the Carolinas, South Carolina’s capital city of Columbia, the second largest in the Palmetto State, is rich with history. Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto even traversed the area in 1540 during his expedition of the Southeast.
On the modern side of things, but with a historic twist, Columbia recently added two new contemporary hotels, one of which was converted from a historic property, to its accommodations lineup. The 128-room Moxy Marriott Columbia is in the former State Armory building across from the State House and features a rooftop bar area. The Cambria Hotel Columbia Downtown The Vista offers 144 rooms and 1,980 square feet of meeting space and is also near the State Capitol.
Many of the city’s historically important buildings can be used as event venues, adding an elegant flair to any gathering.
“Columbia is actually the country’s first planned city. We hold our hat high to that because it’s very unique,” said Emily Brown, director of marketing for Historic Columbia. “During the Civil War, a lot of the buildings in our area were burned by General Sherman, but the Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens survived that. And during the Reconstruction era, Columbia was a hub for African Americans in a time when it was not always welcoming in the South for free Blacks.”
Brown pointed out the Mann-Simons Site as an African American site of historical importance, as it was a hub for African American commerce in the post-Civil War Reconstruction era. Although not available for event rental, the building figures prominently for tours during the annual Jubilee: Festival of Black History, now entering its 45th year and which draws upwards of 7,000 people. The festival typically uses the city’s historical house museums for tours during the event.
Now in its 61st year, the nonprofit Historic Columbia manages several historic properties in downtown Columbia.
“We are the steward of six properties here in downtown Columbia, pretty much all located close to each other,” Brown said. “We have five house museums. They span 200 years of history, all the way from the 1800s, and even some current Civil Rights-era [properties].”
Following are three of Columbia’s Robert Mills Historic District venues that are sure to provide memorable settings for offsite events, as well as four house museums that are open for group tours.
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Seibels House and Garden
Dating to 1796, Seibels House is estimated to be the oldest remaining house in Columbia, and, according to Historic Columbia, was often referenced in 19th- and 20th-century travelogues due to its architecture and gardens. Besides being used for private events and weddings, the Seibels House is also home to the administrative office for Historic Columbia, thus increasing its historical bona fides.
Venue highlights include:
- A first-floor interior space with three rooms that each feature fireplaces and mantels
- A 1920s-era black-and-white-tiled sunroom
- Two covered porches and an open-air porch
- A circular garden with meandering walking paths and a fountain that provides a great focal point for outdoor gatherings
The venue can accommodate up to 300 for outdoor events and 80 (seated) and 150 (standing) for indoor gatherings, and offers a catering prep area, two bathrooms, indoor tables and chairs, and Wi-Fi access.
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Boyd Horticultural Center
Located at the Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens, one of South Carolina’s oldest urban estates, these historically inspired gardens boast majestic magnolias and live oaks towering over three garden spaces: the back lawn and the recently restored gazebo and water side gardens. All provide verdant palettes for creative event design.
Venue highlights include:
- A greenhouse dedicated to propagating plants that opened in March 2022 and is available during colder months (September through mid-March)
- A recently restored mid-1800s arboretum with paved walking paths
- A fountain garden surrounded by seating and under the canopy of the region’s iconic live oak trees
- A gazebo garden that also sits in the shadow of live oaks
The venue can accommodate 65 seated and 130 for a reception and offers a catering prep area, two bathrooms, indoor tables and chairs, and Wi-Fi access.
Historic Columbia’s Brown said that most groups rent tents here and hold large-scale parties, and that the venue is especially popular with fraternity and sorority organizations.
“The greenhouse is certainly one of our most popular rental spaces even though it’s only open those few months,” she offered. “From late October to mid-March it is one of the most gorgeous venues, and you can have any type of event. It has large windows, and the greenhouse and gardens are contiguous to each other, with fans inside.”
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Robert Mills Carriage House
The namesake property of the South Carolinian who designed the Washington Monument, this elegant abode is a classic example of Southern architecture. The tree-lined expanse features four spacious garden areas and the enclosed Carriage House, which, along with the gardens for outdoor gatherings, are the areas available for event rental.
Venue highlights include:
- A front lawn that can be set up with folding chairs and which boasts views of the impressive main house
- A back lawn set in the shadows of 125-year-old magnolia trees
- The Carriage House, which features brick walls, exposed beams, tall ceilings and large barn doors that open up into a small garden space
- The My Mother’s Garden, with grapevine trellises, open green space, walkways and a fountain
- The secluded Founder’s Garden, intertwined with winding walking paths
The venue can accommodate 400 for outside events and the Carriage House can accommodate 50 seated and 100 standing. The property also has two bathrooms, offers indoor tables and chairs, and has Wi-Fi access.
“The garden outside of the house is stunning all year,” Brown said. “You can have a reception outside and a meeting inside. We’ve had concerts there—it’s very versatile.”
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Other Columbia House Museums
Although the following aren’t available for event rentals, groups gathering in the Robert Mills Historic District can arrange for group tours of these storied buildings.
- Hampton-Preston Mansion: This historic mansion built in 1818 tells the story of all the people who lived and worked there over its more than 200 years, with impressive gardens covering four acres also open to the public.
- The Museum of the Reconstruction Era at the Woodrow Wilson House: Dating to 1871, this Italian villa-style home was the boyhood home of future U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. In 2014, Historic Columbia shifted its mission to telling the story of the Civil War Reconstruction Era (1865-’77), when African Americans made strides and held government leadership positions before being disenfranchised, and its ongoing impact on current events.
- Mann-Simons Site: Home of the Jubilee: Festival of Black History & Culture and also the same African American family for nearly 130 years, this site is dedicated to tracing the journey of the city’s Black community from enslavement through urban renewal.
- Modjeska Simkins House: This one-story cottage was built between 1890 and 1895 as the home of Modjeska Monteith Simkins, described as one of South Carolina’s greatest human rights advocates. Simkins, who lived from 1932 to 1992, played a pivotal role in the Civil Rights Movement, and the “An Advocate of the People” multimedia exhibit honors her journey and legacy.
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