columbia walking tours

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Campus Visits

Sometimes there’s no substitute for firsthand experience. We find that’s true of New York City in general, but especially true of Columbia. A visit to Morningside Heights is your chance to engage with our diverse, dynamic community , explore our one-of-a-kind campus , imagine the life you’ll build here—and dream big about where a Columbia education could lead you.

We continue to offer several virtual programming options, including information sessions, Q&A chats and other special events, in addition to on-campus opportunities. You can explore our  virtual events calendar  and  campus tour calendar to see a full list of visit opportunities. Visit programs are not offered during University holidays, so please visit the calendar and register for an event before making travel arrangements.

Campus Tours

Tours of Columbia's campus last one hour and check in at the Columbia Visitors Center, temporarily located at the Hepburn Lounge, Uris Hall, for the Spring 2024 and Summer 2024 semesters . Tours are one-hour walking tours, primarily outdoors with stairs and limited indoor stops, and occur rain or shine, so please plan your attire accordingly. Prior registration is strongly preferred.

Register for a campus tour

General Campus Tours

General Campus Tours are conducted by current undergraduate students who are members of the Columbia Undergraduate Recruitment Committee. The tours provide a general overview of academic and student life at both Columbia College and Columbia Engineering and feature the guide’s personal anecdotes and experiences as a member of the undergraduate community.

Engineering Tours

Engineering Tours are conducted by current undergraduate students who are members of the Columbia Engineering Recruitment Committee. The tours provide an overview of academic experiences at Columbia Engineering, including information on the engineering curriculum, research opportunities and engineering-specific spaces on campus.

Group Tours

Groups from schools and community-based organizations can request a general tour of Columbia's campus. High school and college organizations can request a student-led walking tour of Columbia that features information on the undergraduate experience at Columbia College and Columbia Engineering, including academics, student life and campus resources. An interactive campus scavenger hunt is available for elementary and middle school students.

Request a group tour

Other campus visit options

There’s nothing quite like visiting Columbia to experience the campus, the neighborhood and the City for yourself. Please feel free to visit the campus anytime. Stop by our Visitors Center, temporarily located at the Hepburn Lounge, Uris Hall , during business hours for a copy of the self-guided tour, available in four languages. 

Learn more about visiting Columbia's campus

Visitors Information

For more information on wheelchair accessibility, please call Disability Services at (212) 854-2388 .

Please refer to these printer-friendly PDF maps to navigate around campus on your visit . Many campus and neighborhood attractions are also easy to locate using Google Maps.

There are a number of hotels close to campus on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Columbia University has negotiated deals with several local options for campus visitors. Please visit the Travel Portal and click on NYC Hotels (in the Visiting Columbia section) for more information on specific Columbia rates and instructions on how to make reservations at participating hotels.

Budget Accommodations Near Campus

Teachers College Guest Housing 517 West 121st Street (212) 678-3235

Hostel International New York 891 Amsterdam Avenue (and 104th Street) (212) 932-2300

Information on parking near the Morningside Heights campus may be found on the Visit Columbia website .

For more information, please contact the Visitors Center at (212) 854-4900.

Campus Directions

Five bus lines (M4, M5, M11, SBS-M60, M104) and one subway line (the No. 1 local) serve the Columbia neighborhood. The M60 Select Bus Service is a direct link between the campus and LaGuardia Airport. The Columbia stop for the buses and the subway is Columbia University/116th Street.

Please note: if you begin your subway journey on the #2 or #3 express train, be certain to transfer at 96th Street to the #1 train, as the #2 and #3 trains turn away from Manhattan’s Upper West Side before 116th Street.

Maps of bus and subway routes are available on the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website . Fares on subways and local buses are $2.90 per ride, with free transfers available; riders can purchase a MetroCard at all subway stations or use contactless payment.

Train service to New York arrives at Grand Central Terminal or Penn Station; bus service arrives at the Port Authority Bus Terminal. From any of these locations, public transportation or taxicab service is available to the campus.

LaGuardia Airport is the closest to the campus; a taxi ride is about $45 (not including a 18% tip), and the M60 Select Bus Service goes directly from LaGuardia to the campus every half hour for $2.90. For visitors arriving at any area airport (including Newark International Airport), public transit is available to the Port Authority Bus Terminal (see paragraph above). Coach service and taxicabs are another option; for example, a taxi directly to campus from Kennedy Airport costs approximately $65 (not including a 18% tip).

The GPS address of the Visitors Center, Morningside Heights campus, temporarily located in Uris Hall  for the Spring 2024 semester, is 3022 Broadway, New York, New York 10027​.

• From Riverside Drive and West 95th Street Go north on Riverside Drive to 116th Street. Turn right and go two blocks to Broadway and the University’s main gate (which is not open to traffic).
• From the North Take the New York Thruway (I-87) or the New England Thruway (I-95) south to the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95) in the direction of the George Washington Bridge. Take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south (last exit before the bridge). Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. The university main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic. Alternatively, take the Saw Mill River Parkway south to the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Cross the Henry Hudson Bridge into Manhattan. (Please note that this bridge is run by the MTA and therefore does not accept cash for tolls; click here for more information on how to pay.) Exit the Parkway at West 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 116th Street. The university main gate is on the left. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.
• From the South or West Take the New Jersey Turnpike north or I-80 east to the George Washington Bridge. After crossing the bridge, take the exit for the Henry Hudson Parkway south. Exit the Parkway at 125th Street. Merge onto Marginal Street (0.2 miles). Turn left onto 125th Street (0.2 miles). Turn right onto Broadway and continue south to 114th Street. Make a U-turn and continue to 116th Street. The university main gate is on the right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic. Alternatively, drivers can enter New York City via the Lincoln Tunnel. Take I-280 north to I-95 north. From I-95, take Exit 16E toward the Lincoln Tunnel/NJ-3 ($12.50 cash toll heading into New York; westbound to New Jersey is always free). Keep left at the fork and merge onto NJ-495 east. Leaving the tunnel, take the exit toward 42 St./I-495 E/New York 9A; bear to the left and continue under the underpass onto Dyer Avenue. Turn left onto West 41st Street. Turn right onto 12th Avenue, the Henry Hudson Parkway. From the Parkway, take the West 96th Street exit. Merge onto 96th Street and turn left onto Broadway. Continue to West 116th Street. The university main gate is on the right. The main gate is not open to vehicular traffic.
• From Long Island Take the Long Island Expressway or the Grand Central Parkway west to the Cross Island Parkway north. Cross the Throgs Neck Bridge onto the Cross Bronx Expressway (I-95 south) and proceed as in “By Car from the North.”
• From LaGuardia Airport Take the Grand Central Parkway east to the Whitestone Parkway (I-678). Follow it across the Whitestone Bridge and onto I-95 south. Follow directions above for  "From the North."
• From Kennedy Airport Take the Van Wyck Expressway (I-678) to the Whitestone Bridge and across. Take I-95 south and follow the directions above for "From the North."
• From Newark Airport Follow directions above for "From the South or West."

Columbia Walking Tour

Columbia market house.

Walking Tour Stop

Meet j. w. yocum:.

Welcome to the Columbia Market House. This magnificent brick building was constructed in 1869, replacing the bustling open air market that was here since 1811. Under the authority of Robert Crane, a railroad engineer, a market house council was formed and plans for construction were presented and approved. The committee was formed by Messrs S. S. Detweiler, Robert Crane, W. W. Upp, and David Muller who was later replaced by Alex Craig.

The building contract was awarded to Michael Liphart on August 1st, 1868 for $17,000 and was overseen by the borough regulator, Samuel Wright. Isaac Hobbs and Samuel Sloan were the influencers behind the design of the large open interior, spanned with arched Howe trusses which were often a popular feature of railroad bridges at the time.

With unexpected changes to the proposed plan, the allowances for extra work increased the total cost of construction to nineteen thousand, six hundred fifty six dollars, and seventy seven cents ($19,656.77). On September 17th, 1869, a year and one month after construction began, the edifice was deemed complete and the committee overseeing the process was dismantled. At 118 feet long and 80 feet wide, the finished market house accommodated 180 indoor vendor stalls, and 37 outdoor stalls under a projecting roof overhang.

In the late 1800’s, Columbia Borough converted the basement of the Market House to accommodate a few concrete wall and dirt floor municipal jail cells which still exist in their original form today. It wouldn’t be uncommon to find petty thieves or town drunks sleeping off their alcohol induced stupor downstairs. Meanwhile, a lively scramble of petticoats and tophats were exchanging goods and services right above.

A farmer’s market style environment was a success here for many years, invoking folks from connecting towns and neighboring counties to purchase and trade homemade and home grown products. It was a favorable addition to the town and continues to flourish even now. If you happen to be buzzing by on a Wednesday or Saturday, I encourage you to stop in and look around. But for now, I suppose you must be on your way. I believe Miss Lillian Evans is expecting your company. Allow me to point you in the right direction of her homestead.

15 S. 3rd St, Columbia, PA 17512

Columbia Market House was built on April 17, 1868. The beautiful building stands 118 feet long, 80 feet wide, and is furnished with 180 stalls inside and 37 under the projecting roof outside. 

The design of the Columbia Market House is attributed to Isaac Hobbs and Samuel Sloan, with Michael Liphart as the builder. The large open interior space is uniquely spanned with arched Howe trusses, reinforced with iron tension rods. 

The Columbia Borough funded construction of the Market House, which was unusual at the time. Many of the market buildings in the state were privately funded. After years as a successful farmers market, the Market closed in 2017 due to slowing business, but reopened again in 2021. 

You can visit the year-round market today and find many different vendors and local goods on Wednesdays from 10 am – 6 pm and Saturdays from 7 am to 3 pm.

Questions on this location?

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Columbia, PA

Historic Crossroads Unlike Anywhere Else

Best things to do and see in Bogotá

Bogota is one of the cities that will most surprise the tourists and travelers who decide to visit the Colombian capital. People say that this city is what Athens is for Europe, having the nickname the City of Music and being an authentic paradise for those who appreciate top-notch cuisine on a trip. Along with Medellín, Cali and Cartagena, these are the two cities that receive the highest number of tourists each year. 

On a free walking tour in Bogota, you will see lots of amazing sites, but our advice is that you choose a route that includes a climb up to Cerro de Montserrate where you can get lost in the narrow streets of the Old Town, letting you be awed by the beautiful street art of La Candelaria (Candlemass) then spend some time admiring the museums (Gold Museum, Botero Museum…) and get to know the symbolism of Journalist’s Park and finish by checking out the T Zone. If you decide to do a guided tour in Bogota , you can find many alternatives, like doing one in the morning, afternoon, or evening, or tours that fit it all into 3 hours touring around the downtown, or choosing one of the many themed tours that will take you on a focused look at this great city. 

No matter what you choose, being able to visit a place like this with a local guide will give you a wealth of knowledge and information that you couldn’t easily find otherwise. You can also check out the opinions and reviews of other walkers who have already done these tours in Bogota on the webpage.

Free walking tour near Bogotá

Others cities to visit after bogotá, find other guruwalks in bogotá, where are you traveling to.

Authentic Walking Tours

Expert and knowledgeable guides, discounts and benefits.

WELCOME TO THE BEYOND EXPERIENCE !

We are authentic guides connecting Colombia since 2013, 10 years sharing passion at every step !

We've just created a new travel tool for you, our  local digital Free Walking Tour Maps. Click the city below and explore:

Medellín -  Cali - Bogotá - Cartagena

Access to all our local recommendations, seasonal discounts and tours in Colombia that we have for you!

DISCOVER BEYOND Bogotá

Explore Bogota’s rich cultural heritage, stunning architecture and vibrant food scene!

DISCOVER BEYOND Cali

Discover the rhythm of Cali and dance your way through Colombia!

DISCOVER BEYOND Cartagena

Find out the enchanting colonial architecture and stunning beaches of Cartagena , Colombia's Caribbean gem!

DISCOVER BEYOND Medellín

Experience the thriving art, culture, and nightlife scene of Medellin , Colombia's most innovative city!

Our most popular tours in Colombia

Do you want to explore Colombia with our best recommendations for Tours in the main cities of the country? You are very much invited to join our tours available in Bogotá, Medellín, Cartagena and Cali.

Free Colombian Conflict Tour: War, Drug Trafficking & Peace

Travel through the history of the Colombian armed conflict!

Monday to Sunday at 10am

Villa de Leyva Magic Town Day Tour

A full day tour at Villa de Leyva Magical Town!

Monday to Sunday at 7am

Full Day Tour

Zipaquira salt cathedral and guatavita lake day tour.

Full day tour to the Salt Cathedral of Zipaquira and Guatavita lake!

Tuesday to Sunday at 8am

Ciudad Bolivar Transmicable Social & Art Tour

Experience Bogotá's transformation on a social tour in Ciudad Bolívar and Transmicable!

Monday to Sunday at 8am

Social Tours

Exotic fruit tour at paloquemao market.

Healthy, delicious and fun exotic fruit experience!

Monday to Saturday at 10am or 2pm

History and Culture Tour

Zipaquira salt cathedral & andres carne de res in chia.

Experience Colombia's underground wonder and savor Colombian culture at Andrés in Chía!

Tuesday to Sunday at 2pm

Night Tour and Party

Free getsemani artistic district tour.

Discover the untold history of the famous Getsemani neighborhood!

Monday to Friday at 4pm

Free Great Center Tour: Walled City & Getsemani (weekdays)

Explore both historical districts in one tour!

Monday to Friday at 9am (in spanish)

Free Great Center Tour: Walled City & Getsemani (weekends)

Saturday and Sunday at 10am & 4pm

Free San Diego & Gabriel G. Márquez Tour

The magical Cartagena from Gabo's perspective!

Wednesdays to Fridays at 4pm

San Basilio de Palenque Town Day Tour

Visit the first town in the Americas to be founded by free Africans!

San Felipe Fortress & Walled Old City Tour

Visit the largest Spanish fort in the Americas!

Cartagena's Best Pub Crawl in Getsemaní

A night that you won’t remember but never forget!

Wednesday and Friday at 9pm

Free El Poblado District Walking Tour

A guided tour without taboos through the most exclusive neighborhood of Medellín!

Monday to Saturday at 4pm

Free Violence & Post-conflict of Medellin Tour

Everything you need to know about the violence dynamics in Medellín before, during and after the Cartel!

Monday to Saturday at 2pm

Free Walking Downtown Tour Medellin

Get to know one of the most important and relevant cultures in the history of our country: The paisas!

Monday to Saturday at 10am (ENG & ESP) and 2pm (ENG)

Guatape & Peñol Rock Day Tour

Discover Guatape's magic on our thrilling tour!

Beyond Colombia Team

Coffee Farm Experience in Santa Elena

Immerse in our enchanting Coffee Farm Experience!

Nature Day Tours

Comuna 13 & Aurora Cable Car Tour

A must-do experience through a vibrant, resilient and transformed neighborhood!

Monday to Sunday at 9am

Free Alameda Market Food Tour

Dive into the best food market of Cali!

Tuesday to Saturday at 10:30am

Free Cali Salsa & Resistance Street Art Tour

Embark on a unique experience with the salsa rhythms and urban art creativity.

Monday to Saturday at 3pm

Free Historic Downtown Cali Tour

Enjoy the fresh, rich and beauty of Caleños culture!

Siloé Comuna 20 Tour

Experience Siloé's heart on our social tour!

Guatavita El Dorado Lake & Casa Loca Tour

A great half-day tour to the amazing Guatavita Sacred Lake!

Nemocon Salt Mine Day Tour

Full day tour to a cool and active salt mine near Bogotá!

Chicaque Natural Park Tour Hike

Visit one of the closest National Natural Parks near Bogotá!

Afro Cartagena Cultural Tour

A journey through our Colombian Afro Caribbean history in the most colorful historic center!

Bike Tour Medellín & Pueblito Paisa

Bike Tour Medellín & Pueblito Paisa

Monday to Sunday at 9:30am and 3:00pm

Awards and honours

We have obtained international recognition for our work, thanks to the efforts of our team and the support of our traveling friends.

Travelers, experiences and real comments

Would you like to know what other travelers have said about our experiences? Come with us, live, explore and take home authentically local memories. You're invited!

I loved the Medellin Free Walking Tour with Beyond Colombia. Super interesting all the stories and the setting of the city center. Deisy was super descriptive with all the details of the history of Colombia since colonial times and recounted the moments for us in a very authentic and personal way. She felt like being guided by a great friend who knows everything about Medellin. We always feel safe, entertained and happy.

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Keyla took us everywhere and to Gethsemane which I didn't know about. She is very informed and welcoming and remembered all of our names.

Portland, USA

Very nice walking! It's worth doing it! Lucho (Luis) was an incredible guide. He did an amazing job presenting and discussing peace and war from the beginning of the republic until today.

Belo Horizonte, Brasil

Cali's tour with Isabel was great! She is very pleasant, clear and involved. It was a good balance between discovering the history of Cali, its culinary specialties and its culture in general. I recommend it ! The 3 hours pass quickly.

Gothenburg, Germany

I did the tour with Rafa, and the truth is that he was excellent, very willing, the information he gave us was excellent, he answered the millions of questions I asked him and at no time did he seem annoyed by so many questions. Super recommended, very good walk!

Montevideo, Uruguay

Our guide Artu was such a fun character. He was very knowledgeable about Cartagena and gave us a lot of local tips. He was very engaging and fun to be with which made the 2 hour tour go by quickly in the Cartagena sun. Highly recommend it!

Sidney, Australia

I think this Free Tour Medellin was the best walking tour I ever did. We were only three people in our group and our guide was able to dig really deep into the stuff we were interested in. With some personal stories and experiences we were able to understand at least a little how the situation was and how it came to it. He told us how proud they are about the development the country is making but never forgot to also state the dark sides that still exist. Really really amazing!

Stuttgart, Germany

This was an informative, fun, and multi-fascited tour of the Old City section of Getsemani. From history, to art, to the current struggle to maintain its unique culture, the guide is very knowledgeable and interactive. Our guide was Braulio Monsalve. He easily shared in Spanish and English while keeping the group engaged. Learning a cultural dance at the end of the tour was fantastic!

New York, USA

Free walking tours with passionate and knowledgeable local guides (you tip the guide on completion). An informative & fun way to explore the cities of Colombia; tragic truths of war & peace tour, political violence, foods, indigenous history, art & lifestyle. All up, I walked six tours in three Colombian cities and all were excellent.

We work with trusted national allies that we recommend. These are some of our allies and trusted friends that we recommend for your stay in Colombia.

LET'S GET IN TOUCH

Tourist in your own city: 8 walking tours of Columbia

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Photo by @andreamensink

8 walking tours of Columbia 🚶‍

Columbia’s weather is in this really weird place that we love the most: spring in the morning, summer in the afternoon + back to spring at night. So, what do you do about it? Take advantage of it before it’s 100º at 7 a.m. + 7 p.m. – and get outside to do some walking tours of Columbia .

From arts and food to history and nature, there’s a walking tour of our city for every interest. And you don’t have to be a tourist to try these. Get reacquainted and start a summer romance with your city.

(Disclaimer: As always, this is not a complete list. Email us your favorite tours of the city.)

📜 Historic Heart of Columbia | Weekend Strolls + Group Tours | Admission varies

Learn all about the history of Cola during this 60 minute walking tour that takes you through the State House, Governor’s Mansion + UofSC’s campus . With the summer sun coming back in full force, take advantage of the beautiful walks through campus before it’s too hot to be outside.

🍝 Columbia Food Tours | Saturdays, 1:45 p.m. | $45 per person

A tour dedicated to food, what could be better than that? This 2.5-3 hour walking tour of Downtown Cola lets you try plates from 5-7 of the best restaurants the city has to offer – like The Oak Table, Lula Drake + il Giorgione. Bring on all the carbs.

🌲 Congaree National Park Nature Discovery Walk | Saturdays, 9:30-11:30 a.m. | free

Join a park volunteer naturalist on a guided, 2.5-mile round trip boardwalk walk to explore our hidden gem of a national park, only ~15 mins from downtown. Looking + listen for animals like snakes and butterflies and see really giant trees. Perfect Saturday morning, if you ask me.

🏛 Columbia SC 63 Civil Rights Walking Tours | Second Sundays , 4-5 p.m. | free

In 2012, to honor the 50th anniversary of the height of the American Civil Rights Movement in 1963, mayors of 7 cities came together to find ways to highlight the iconic movement. In Columbia, a group of community leaders, educators, students + other Soda Citizens created the Civil Rights Walking Tours of Main St. – where noteworthy + moving stories of Civil Rights protests, sit-ins + other acts happened in the ‘60s at the State House, the Kress building + more.

Photo by @columbiasc63

🖼 Columbia Museums and Galleries Tour | self-guided | free tour; admission to sites varies

This self-guided online tour takes you through nine of Cola’s museums + art galleries, from the Columbia Museum of Art and the South Carolina State Museum to City Art gallery. This one’s for all you arts + culture enthusiasts. Also, who knew Cola had a Fire Museum?

🏠 Woodrow Wilson Family Home house tour | Tuesday-Saturday, 11:30-2:30 p.m. + Sunday, 2:30 p.m. | $8 for adults, $5 for children, free for Historic Columbia members; buy tickets at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills

Photo by @impeachcobbler

The history geek in me is coming out. Woodrow Wilson’s home is the only standing presidential site in the state , making it something that you must see. Plus, the Italian villa-style home certainly qualifies for a 10/10 Instagram photo backdrop.

🍴 Two Gals and a Fork Food Tours | one Saturday/month | $38-50 per person

Founded in 2014 , best friends Gloria Freeman + Janet Jordan brought the Brunch & Munch + Sites & Bites walkable food tours to Cola – a new concept to hit our city. When I found out they offer custom tours like a Pub Crawl + Walking & Tasting Food Tour, I immediately texted my friends + booked a tour.

🌇 City Orientation Walk | self-guided | free tour; admission to sites varies

Who needs a tour guide? This all-things-Cola walking tour will take you to all the key historic + cultural sites that you can’t miss out on the next time you have a free weekend.

A couple of other, non-walking tours that we want to try this season include: 🐻 Park Ranger tours at Riverfront Park (this month, they’re doing Sundays with Lily guided kayaking tours; free); 🛶 Wilderness Canoe Tours of Cedar Creek at Congaree National Park on Fridays/Saturdays ( $1.50 ); 🍻 Columbia Brew Bus tours of Cola’s breweries, distilleries + wine shops (Saturdays/Sundays; $45 for 3 stops with tastings); and 🚲 SC Pedal Parlor pedaling tours (7 days/week; $20-22 per person – TBH, we’ve already tried this ; it’s wheely fun).

What walking tours are you taking in Soda City? Respond to this email and let us know.

– Lauren + Sam

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An accessible weekend in columbia sc, sally salamander.

Everyone, meet Sally! She's a yellow-spotted salamander placed throughout downtown Columbia. She teaches youngsters and adults alike all about different historic and interesting places in Columbia SC through a walking tour. If you've ever wandered down Main Street  and seen a bronze statue of the South Carolina state amphibian, that's why! The statue and accompanying plaque are placed at 20 different locations around town that are notable for their history. So grab your walking shoes, your kiddos, and your adventuring spirit to find all variations of her. When you spot her along your journey, feel free to give her a pet! Like our locals, she is friendly and full of Southern grace. 

Download our (free!) pass below to have all the information at your fingertips and check in at every stop. For brochures, stickers, and any further information you may need, swing by the Columbia SC Visitors Center (it's stop number 1). And don't forget to snap those salamander selfies! 

Interested in a Guided Tour?

Please book a tour with us for our Main Street Civil Rights Walking tour by reaching out to our office. We strive to use Main St. as our classroom as we work to raise awareness and understanding of a truly pivotal chapter in American history. We have a 5-person minimum for groups wanting to book a private tour.

Together, we will explore the remarkable accounts of strength, determination, and sacrifice that define how and why “Our Story Matters” – historically and for the future – to South Carolina and to our nation.

Our Story Matters

Columbia’s Main Street was the stage for a number of defining moments during the Civil Rights Movement of 1963. A young domestic worker was ejected from a city bus for trying to exit off the front instead of the back at the corner of Main and Washington; sit-ins occurred regularly at lunch counters like Kress near the corner of Main and Hampton; and marches and protests filled the SC State House grounds at the state’s seat of government, which anchors Main Street.

Capturing and sharing a city’s story not only allows for locals to better understand their community’s historical significance, but gives visitors the opportunity to see below the surface and experience a destination from the inside out.

Columbia SC 63’s Main Street Tour takes visitors on a journey through some of Columbia’s Civil Rights noteworthy and moving stories. Currently, eight markers, and various other installations, serve as reminders of pivotal incidents that occurred along Main Street. As Columbia SC 63 continues to uncover more stories, additional markers will be added in an effort to remember, but not repeat.

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Historic Columbia is closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day. All tours are canceled, and both gardens and administrative offices are closed. 

Historic Columbia

African American History

African American

History Tours

Learn the names, places, and stories of those whose legacies have shaped our community. Historic house tours offered daily Wednesday - Sunday; online tours available at any time.

African American History Tours

Since its establishment in 1786, Columbia has included a population of free Blacks, enslaved Africans, and African Americans whose labor, skills, and vision have been integral in the city’s physical, spiritual, and social evolution. 

Over four centuries, the city’s Black community transformed itself from that of a predominantly enslaved population to a society whose members overcame the restrictions of Jim Crow and charted the course of the Civil Rights era. The story of this journey is now captured and shared at the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House and Mann-Simons Site on the Journey to Freedom Tour , The Museum of the Reconstruction Era Tour , and Hampton-Preston Mansion Tour .

Journey to Freedom Tour

Historic Columbia is offering a combined tour of both the Mann-Simons Site and the Modjeska Monteith Simkins House to learn more about Black history in Columbia. 

Wednesday - Saturday: 1:30 p.m. Sunday: 3 p.m. Buy Tickets Learn More

The Museum of the Reconstruction Era

at the Woodrow Wilson Family Home

The nation's only museum dedicated to interpreting the post-Civil War Reconstruction period and South Carolina's only remaining presidential site, this distinctive circa-1871 Italian villa-style residence was home to a 14-year-old boy named "Tommy" Woodrow Wilson.

Wednesday - Saturday: 10:30 a.m. Sunday: 1:30 p.m. Buy Tickets Learn More

Hampton-Preston Mansion

One of Columbia's oldest remaining structures, the Hampton-Preston Mansion explores the lives of enslaved workers and their planter-class owners.

Wednesday - Saturday: 12 p.m. Sunday: 1:30 p.m.

Buy Tickets Learn More

House Tours are Supported by

Online Walking Tours

Explore our online tours of neighborhoods and districts central to Columbia’s African American history. Tours can be done on your computer or turn it into a walking tour using your mobile device. Select any of the neighborhoods below and begin your tour.

African American Heritage Sites

Over the course of four centuries, Columbia’s black community transformed itself from that of a predominately enslaved population to a society whose members overcame the restrictions of Jim Crow and charted the course of the Civil Rights era. The story of this journey remains today within the home places, workplaces, and resting places of Columbia’s African American community.

Explore Columbia’s African American Heritage Sites

Barhamville-Kendalltown

Established in the 1890s as the small African American suburb “Kendalltown,” this neighborhood was developed on land previously associated with Barhamville Academy, a female school in operation during the mid-eighteenth century.

Explore Barhamville-Kendalltown

Lower Richland

Established as an agricultural area more than three centuries ago, Lower Richland features important sites documenting African American and American Indian experiences, including Congaree National Park.

Explore Lower Richland

Lower Waverly

Lower Waverly boasts diverse architectural styles and is protected as an architectural conservation district by the City of Columbia. This neighborhood was home to many professional and working-class African Americans who emerged as activists, educators and community leaders in the Civil Rights Movement.

Explore Lower Waverly

Waverly is listed as a Historic District on the National Register of Historic Places and is protected as an architectural conservation district by the City of Columbia. By the early twentieth century, this neighborhood became known as a self-contained, self-sustaining black community featuring many middle- and upper- class African American residents, among whom were leaders within spiritual, business, academic and professional circles.

Explore Waverly

• 17th Century
• 18th Century
• 19th Century/ Early
• 19th Century / Late
• 20th Century
• Rollin Morse History
• Susanna Wright
• Stephen Smith
• William Whipper
• John Houston Mifflin
• Joseph Fisher
• Godfrey Keebler
• N. B. Wolfe
• Thomas Welsh
• Hugh North, Sr. & Jr.
• Jasper Green
• Stephen Atkins Swails
• Lloyd Mifflin
• Lilian Welsh
• Edward Shannon
• Reginald Wright Kauffman
• Jimmy Sheckard
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Walking Tour: GHOSTS OF COLUMBIA Hear the haunted history of Columbia, Pennsylvania. Stories like the fireman who still watches over the Burning Bridge Antique Center, or the legend of the Bitner Hotel where six people perished by fire, including a newlywed who saved his bridge. 
When: Friday and Saturday evenings April – November 
Cost: $15 per person Group rate for ten or more: $12 per person. Under 12: $10 per child. Time: 7PM to 9PM (arrive by 6:45 PM). Where: 
 Columbia Historic Preservation Society      
21 North Second. Street 
 Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512 Call: 
717.572.7149 for reservations or information. All participants must sign a ‘Waiver and Release of Claims’ form before starting the tour. A minimum of 5 people is required for tours. We require a 24-hour advance reservation.

Walking Tour: COLUMBIA’S UNDERGROUND RAILROAD Take a walk into the past where fugitive slaves sought asylum in their quest for freedom. Get to know such figures as Stephen Smith, Thaddeus Stevens, William Whipper, and William Wright. Learn how the burning of the bridge was not only to delay the advancement of the Confederacy, but to aid the emancipation of slavery. 
When: Saturday and Sunday afternoons April – November 
Cost: $10 per person Group rate for ten or more: $8 per person. Under 12: $5 per child. Time: 1PM to 3PM (arrive by 12:45 PM). Where: 
 Columbia Historic Preservation Society      
21 North Second. Street 
 Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512 Call: 
717.572.7149 for reservations or information. A minimum of 5 people is required for tours. We require a 24-hour advance reservation.

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.............................. Location 19-21 North Second Street Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512 Hours of Operation Saturdays & Sundays 1pm–4pm Closed during winter months

Contact christopher vera 717. 684. 2894 / office 717. 572. 7149 / cell email, .............................. officers christopher vera / president jerry wasche / vice president deborah wasche / treasurer peter green / secretary directors richard gantz robert herr john hilt celeste leslie travis moody tony segro mark stewart, website reformatted & edited by jerry king musser / april 2024 ..

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Try this: Camas car show, walking tour, rose show Updated 2 days ago

Five things to do this week.

Start your engines

Downtown Camas will host its 17th Annual Car Show from 2 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Stroll around Camas and enjoy classic and custom cars, awards, raffles, live music and food. The entry fee is $20 for cars but free for spectators. Cars can cruise into the car show area at noon. Goodie bags go to the first 100 cars and dash plaques to the first 250 cars. Proceeds support the Camas-Washougal Treasure House Food Bank. Spectators should bring donations for free raffle tickets. Learn more at downtowncamas.com or call Leah at 360-953-1326.

Walk the walk

The Clark County Historical Museum offers the Wander Clark County Summer Walking Tour Series , Saturdays through Sept. 7. These guided walks highlight the county’s neighborhoods and city centers. Rain-or-shine tours start at 9 a.m. and cover up to a mile with frequent stops to view buildings, tell stories and answer questions. Tours are best suited for ages 13 and older. There are no restroom stops. Tickets are $10. Register at cchmuseum.org . Questions? Call 360-993-5679 or email [email protected] . Saturday’s tour is Vancouver’s Old City Cemetery.

Women’s wisdom

Magenta Theater presents “ Wine, Women and Song ” on Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 1108 Main St., Vancouver. This musical revue includes Broadway hits and other music about women: their struggles, heartbreaks, achievements and relationships to friends and family. Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday. A matinee is offered at 2 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $20 at magentatheater.com .

Vancouver’s Water Resources Education Center will host the Summer BioBlitz from 9:30 a.m. to noon Saturday to track species in our area. Volunteers will use the iNaturalist app to catalog plants, insects, birds, moss, lichen and animal tracks. Guided walks are open to anyone age 6 and older. Terrain may include paved paths, gravel paths, grassy areas, dirt trails or sandy beach trails. Register at forms.office.com/g/MmAT17QKUe . For more details, contact Water Resources Education Center at 360-487-7111 or [email protected] .

Rosy outlook

The Fort Vancouver Rose Society will hold its 69th Annual Rose Show, “Spotlight on Roses,” from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday in the large gymnasium at the First Evangelical Church, 4120 N.E. St. Johns Road, Vancouver. This event is free and open to the public. Attendees will find juried exhibits of Northwest-grown roses including hybrid teas, floribundas, grandifloras, old garden and shrub roses, climbers, miniatures and mini-floras. Arrangements of large and miniature roses will also be on display as well as a juried photography show. Learn more at fortvancouverrosesociety.org .

For more details about these and other events — like Rendezvous Days in Yacolt , Friday Night Cruise-Ins at Alderbrook Park and the Orphan Train performance at Slow Fox Chili Parlor — visit events.columbian.com .

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