The Robert Mills Historic House and Park is an intriguing structure with décor and furnishings evoking 19th-century life. It is part of a 4-acre (1.6-hectare) complex including scenic grounds with woodland paths. Take a tour of the residence to learn about its rich history.
Admire the elegant façade of the house, which contains a lower colonnade and a pair of terraces and thin arches. Examine the displays of decorative arts from the early 1800s in the museum. Objects used for food storage and preparation are displayed in the former service rooms in the basement. The lower part of the house also contains temporary art and history exhibits.
Explore the intriguing structures and features in the complex, such as the Carriage House, My Mother’s Garden and the Founders’ Garden. Landscape gardens blend designs from the 1970s with contemporary styles and 19th-century English garden touches. Peruse souvenirs and other items for sale at the gift shop.
Note that the house takes its name from its famous architect Robert Mills, a Charlestonian who is best known for designing the Washington Monument. At the behest of merchant Ainsley Hall, this site became one of the few residential homes the architect designed. The site is available to rent for weddings and other ceremonies.
Hear how the house served as an educational sector of the Presbyterian Synod of South Carolina and Georgia for most of the 19th century. It eventually fell into disrepair and was saved from demolition in 1961. It opened as a museum in 1967.
Buy your entrance ticket from the gift shop. Get discounts for youths and free entry for toddlers. Take one of the guided tours that are offered a few times daily Tuesday through Sunday.
Find the Robert Mills Historic House and Park in the heart of Columbia. It is in the downtown district of the city, less than one block from the Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens. Visit other nearby landmarks, such as the Woodrow Wilson Family Home, Finlay Park and the Columbia Museum of Art. Arrive by bus at a stop in the neighborhood.
