We have only observed the gardens. Peaceful and well maintained! Theres a little maze behind the house. Dont get distracted by the ugly radio tower nearby 😉

I toured all four of the Historic Columbia houses, and I started with the Robert Mills house, though the Hampton Preston across the street is my favorite of all four. Robert Mills is my next favorite - fantastically restored and preserved, and I love how they have it all set up - especially down stairs in the kitchen, with biscuit flour and a cracked egg on the floor (all pretend, of course.) Theres a beautiful symmetry and curves to Mills work (hes the architect, no one family actually lived there in the end, though it was used for other things.) I love the curved front hall and rooms.I think the tours pre-covid were more guided. The guides told me that they were supposed to stand in the hall while visitors read the plaques, but most of them couldnt help themselves and stood in the door and told me all about everything anyway. Plus, I was the only person on three out of the four tours I took, so I think they were generally more casual.Also, you get a discount the more tours you take - they came to recognize me over the week I visited, so I paid anywhere from $7-10 for each of my tours.EDIT - dont sleep on the monthly garden tours, they are really informative and interesting!

An 1820s neo classical style home, centered with the City of Columbia SC! Beautiful!

Of the historical houses Ive visited, this one is one of the most nicely maintained interiors. Our guided tour took roughly an hour which was just right.

Went to the Native Plant Sale held here. Lots of beautiful plants available to buy. Very helpful, informative gardners willing to share information and tips to grow healthy plants.

Cute little place near the Township. Small garden with gravel lined walking path. Small indoor brick built venue with great catering and bar service. Very intimate and would absolutely go to an event here again.

Robert Mills House has a lot of history and the gardens are beautiful. A great place to visit.

Wedding day, family and friends enjoy the beautiful place

One of the highlights of visiting Columbia South Carolina. The house has a rich history involving Robert Mills, the architect of the house and most famous for designing the Washington monument. The guide was very informative and always asked if we had questions. Great Costomer service all around. The price for a guided tour is $10 a person and well worth it.

Beautiful houses and gardens. The tours are very interesting and informative.

Site visit today for an upcoming rehearsal dinner ! Thanks to Shelby for being so great !! We (American Floral) LOVE working here !!

This handsome, historic house and museum at 1616 Blanding Street in Columbia, South Carolina was built in 1823, preserved by the Historic Columbia Foundation and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974.It was designed by South Carolina native architect Robert Mills, notable for not just one but two Washington monuments.Tours are offered regularly, providing insight into the history of the building and grounds reflecting the symmetrical Early Republic, Federalist architectural style.The backyard formal garden is a beautiful highlight of the visit, mirroring the graceful elegance of the antebellum era.

Lovely grounds and buildings, beautiful interior. Our guide was very knowledgeable and charming.

Great place for the family! Great tour guides! We took my family who is down from Omaha, Nebraska and they loved it! Thank you again...

Nice

Attended a wedding here outside. Nice grounds but lacking in facilities for an event. House is beautiful as are the gardens.

Absolutely worth the time to tour this historic landmark when you come to Columbia, SC. The tour guides are extremely knowledgeable and friendly.

Very beautiful house! Classic example of architecture from famous architect, Robert Mills. He believes in absolute balance of features even if it meant adding a door with just bricks behind it! My tour guide, Margie, was excellent! The gardens are also spectacular! The roses in particular are thoughtfully chosen. Old roses from that time period that flourish in a warm climate; noisettes, chinas, teas. Some were classics like Old Blush and some were rare and unique. Altogether, an amazing experience!

Fascinating! Robert Mills was a famous architect. He built this home though no one ever lived in it. Mills designed the Washington Monument. This house gives you a feel of life in the south in the early 1800s.

ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!!! Perfect venue space for intimate events

One can find great deals on a stay at the Mills House, located in the heart of old Charleston. When you count the cost of staying elsewhere and the accessibility of this historical establishment, theres little reason to stay elsewhere. We especially enjoyed visiting with friends on the outside patio at night. A very safe and beautiful location too.

The Easter Extravaganza was Awesome. My family and I enjoyed the fun and games and meeting the mayor and his beautiful wife the judge. We also enjoyed the snacks the vendors gave out. Overall great day this was our first time visiting and since this was their 9th annual celebration. We plan on making it next year.

Lovely house and grounds. Art event was very enjoyable.

Beautiful place to take a walk.Beautiful gardens and house!

It was the venue for a wedding reception. Beautiful grounds and a nice place for a reception.

We visited for $1 Sunday and got to tour the River Mills House! Our tour guide was very nice and informative!

Very beautiful house

Beautiful scenery. Great for pictures.

Great place for events outside

Nice scarecrows

Beautiful landscape

The gardens are beautiful.

Very beautiful piece of Southern history.

We are members of Historic Columbia and have visited the Robert Mills home on several occasions. The lecture we had w last time was very informative. The site is immaculate and definitely reflective of a stately home with period furniture. Last summer I gave 8 passes to a group of friends while they were visiting Columbia. They were very impressed.

Went for the holiday tour which includes Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion. The holiday tours include the history of celebrating the holiday season in the Southern United States from the 1820s through the mid-Victorian Era (1850s). Both homes are decorated in the style of their respective time periods, although, the tours do not include the regular full home tours. To experience the entire tour including upper levels of the residences, plan to come back after the holiday season. I especially enjoyed the history of how celebrating the New Year holiday led to observing Christmas and exchanging gifts. For example, did you know that Christmas decorations that we use today are inspired by natural decorations brought in from a homes garden mixed with exotic fruits? I also appreciated how Historic Columbia integrated experiences of enslaved people at these and similar Southern properties. Learn these facts and more by participating in a holiday tour at the Robert Mills House and Hampton-Preston Mansion!

Lovely gardens

Oh snap, the day I went to see this historic home it was closed. Im giving it 5 stars since the grounds were open to the public. I felt like a looky Lou peeking in the windows, but it fueled the imagination of what would possibly be inside. All in all a beautiful historic property and definitely a stop when Im back in Columbia...when its open of course.

Beautiful! Very nice tour guide as well. Very friendly and welcoming. Good people, beautiful place.

Lots of history great to still be able to see it. Very nicely taken care of.

Great way to spend the day learning about Columbia and quality time with my mom.

Keith Mearns, Director of Grounds, gave a wonderful presentation on the plants for each of The Historic Columbia properties.

Loved the grounds and experience!

Beautiful place for a wedding

Theres not that much to see. It works if you need to kill time for an hour or so. The gift store is small. Gardens are nice, with good seating areas, but they need better maintenance.

Amazing history in downtown Columbia. This place is awesome for a brief visit or for a few hours. The guides are excellent. Add to that the fact that there are tons of events that happen on the grounds and the Robert Mills House is well worth a visit.

The mansions are a wonderful place to visit and learn about the history of Columbia. They always have family oriented events and the personal are very cotesious and helpful. Please make the time to visit, you wont regret it.

The tour was perfect and the kids really learned a lot.

Enjoyed oysters. Wish greater selection! Understand venue doesnt have alot of space but musical acts wouldve been great also hours. Closed too soon.

Very informative tour. Period-correct Christmas decorations were displayed, which added to the experience.

Tour guide was very nice and knowledgeable. House was beautiful for not having ever been lived in. Must see for all including historians like yours truly.

We went for the citys Easter egg hunt. It was a pretty good time.

Customer service is amazing! They take the extra steps to make you feel welcomed while you tour history!

History at its best in Columbia, SC. Although recently the docents arent friendly...and the tour feels prerecorded and not open to questions.

Beautiful historic property. Perfect place to get married or have an event.

Beautiful building with a fascinating history.

What a fun festival! Everybody please come out and enjoy music,food and crafts.MK OriginalsNovember 20th 2016

Had a great tour. We took advantage when it was the $1 monthly choice. Very informative.

Steven was an excellent guide, very knowledgeable and made the tour enjoyable. The home is beautiful ly restored. Robert Mills was ahead of his time

It was raining but it was still awesome. The guide was very knowledgeable.

Bobtailed down here to visit this home. Excellent break, friendly knowledgeable volunteers this place is well worth the visit

Being a Lifelong fan of HISTORICAL Settings, whether its Main Street in Columbia, or touring these Fabulous Homes, and envisioning the simplicity, yet behind the scenes of everyday life, inspired me MANY years ago to join The Historical Society of Columbia. My husband and I own a house in Brevard, NC, and have since 2002. What impressed me most was that they don’t destroy their heritage, the jump through hoops with Building Inspectors to try and preserve as much as possible of the way Brevard “grew up”. Our Historical Society is trying to do the same. There’s so much history in Columbia, that WE ALL need to contribute to preserve our Heritage for future Generations. DBH

Great tour! Our guide was very knowledgeable and the home was beautiful.

Our docent was knowledgable and engaging. The home was a very different look at Mills work.

Average

Beautiful historic home. A very enjoyable experience!

Beautiful! And I learned so much from the staff, I definitely reccommend!

Was here for the oyster festival - nice setting.

Simply beautiful place. Great for weddings or romantic walks

These guys are fabulous at everything they do and the summer camp for kids further emphasized that. My daughter does summer day week camps all summer and has for years and this is the best weve ever seen. Super creative ideas and soo much fun in a beautifull setting. Not just a few activities and lots of freetime. Here the play is educational activities but such fun and great ones. Plus the counselors are fantastic... Laid back but organized. Highly highly recommend. Cant wait for next year!

Very interesting history. Very knowledgeable guide.

The tour is pretty quick but still nice to go through

Very beautiful with an open atmosphere that is welcoming to everybody.

Learned a lot about sc history and Robert mills

The grounds are beautiful and well kept, the Historic Columbia event there was informative and fun

One of the most interesting structures in Columbia! Dont miss!

Great History. African American community

Very nice. Loved the gardens!!

Ok. Nothing spectacular. A little disappointing.

The tour is very informative and the house is beautiful

Fascinating to history lesson from a first class guide.

Well keep grounds. Was here this day because there was a kids festival held here.

Beautiful Historic Home...a must see!

This place was great the service was good the decor was excellent

Interesting place to visit.

Starting point for tours including several hour long tours of very large historic homes.

Very informative and interesting !

This place is beautiful in the spring time

They host fun special events!

Very nice place.

Glad they keep it up

Interesting history and architecture from the 1800s.

Beautiful grounds and gardens.

Beautiful grounds and friendly staff

Fun at the oyster roast

Southern hospitality and history

Just parked on the street.

Best historic house in Columbia

Great history

Great place

Lovely grounds