City observes National Historic Preservation Month

The City of Columbia will observe National Preservation Month during the month of May to promote history and architecture of communities big and small.  Since its inception by the National Trust for Historic Preservation during the 1970s, National Historic Preservation Month has been a way to promote historic places.

Main Street Scavenger Hunt (May 1 – 31)

The City of Columbia Preservation Staff will challenge you to test your knowledge in a Main Street Scavenger Hunt! Clues for the hunt will be released online May 1; Participants who complete the hunt and return the correct answers by May 31 will be entered to win one of three great prizes. For more information, visit columbiasc.net/planning-preservation/historic-preservation. Please direct any questions to preservation@columbiasc.net.

City Hall Exhibit (May 1 – 31)

Columbia City Hall (constructed 1875) underwent a major renovation in 2012 that included extensive plaster repair by local plasterers from Master of Plaster. Throughout the month of May, a small exhibit titled Recipe For A Plaster Flower, will be on display in the City Hall Lobby and display salvaged plaster trim pieces from the recent renovation of Council Chambers. The exhibit will also provide a brief description of the process of reconstructing the damaged ornamental plaster from 1875 that adorn the walls.

Randolph Cemetery Workshop (May 5, 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

Tour Randolph Cemetery (created 1871) and see how previous repairs by professional conservators have –or have not- lasted, and discuss proper lawn and stone maintenance and repair. Randolph Cemetery is located just west of Elmwood Cemetery, at the dead end of Elmwood Avenue with parking along the street. The workshop is FREE but please register by emailing RandolphCemetery@gmail.com. Please wear comfortable clothes and sneakers and bring sunscreen, bug spray, and a gallon of water for the hands-on stone cleaning session. For more information check outfacebook.com/events/1600722699977144/. Rain date is May 12.

Preservation Bike Ride (May 19, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.)

Join preservationists from the City of Columbia for a leisurely ride through time as we explore preservation, history, and planning in the capital city! Join us for a family friendly tour through Columbia, including stops at Main Street, West Gervais, and the Bull Street Campus. The ride will be at an easy pace but may include hills and, although the tour will largely follow secondary roads, riders should be comfortable riding on streets open to vehicular traffic. The ride is free and open to the public but is limited to 25 participants with reservations required. Please direct any questions to preservation@columbiasc.net.

Historic Melrose Scavenger Hunt (May 20, 1:30 – 3 p.m.)

The Melrose Neighborhood Association invites you and your family out for a fun-filled afternoon in a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt! The architectural scavenger hunt is designed for families to provide a chance to learn about architecture and look at buildings in a new and fun way. This family friendly event is free and open to the public and includes the opportunity to win prizes!


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