May is National Historic Preservation Month and the City’s Preservation staff has several activities planned to commemorate the event. Since its inception by the National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1973, National Historic Preservation Month has been a way to promote historic places. The City’s Planning staff is promoting a number of activities and events throughout the month of May that focus on the history and architecture of Columbia.
Lunch + Learn: Protected or Not
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 | 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. | All Good Books, 734 Harden St.
Conservation District, Protection Area, Landmark, Historic District. You’ve probably heard these terms around town, but what do they really mean, and what do they protect? Why aren’t some of the city’s most beloved buildings protected when others are? Bring your lunch or grab a drink at All Good Books and learn the hows and whys of Columbia’s preservation protections. Registration encouraged; visit www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html to register.
Blower Door Demonstration + Window Workshop
Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. | Historic Melrose
Join CCHD and City preservation staff for a window repair workshop and blower door demonstration to learn how to improve the energy efficiency of your house. A Blower Door test helps to determine how “leaky” a building really is, and how to get the best bang-for-your-buck when making repairs. The workshop will be led by a certified weatherization technician who will use a variety of diagnostic tools to show how energy is being used in a house, where leaks are happening and how to fix them. The concurrent window workshop will include the basics of historic window/wood repair and maintenance. The workshop will be held at a private home in Historic Melrose. Registration limited to 20 participants- so sign up today at www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html!
Preservation Bike Ride: Cottontown, Earlewood, and Elmwood
Sunday, May 18, 2025 | 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Hop on your bike and join City preservation staff on a bike tour of recent projects in the Elmwood, Earlewood, and Cottontown historic districts. The tour will include behind-the-scene tours of recently completed or in construction historic renovation projects and a look at new construction projects. Limited to 15 participants. Registration, bikes, and helmets required. Register at www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html
Masonry Repointing Workshop
Thursday, May 22, 2025 | 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. | Cottontown
Do you own a brick building that needs a little TLC? Come learn the basics of masonry repointing and repair with an expert mason. The event is free thanks to the Coalition of Columbia’s Historic Districts but registration is required (register at www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay.html). Limited to 15 participants. All tools will be provided on site.
More information about planning for historic preservation in the City of Columbia can be found at https://planninganddevelopment.columbiasc.gov/historic-preservation/.
Visit www.columbiacompass.org/celebratemay for more information on all of these great events, as well as additional events still being planned for May!