Hampton-Preston Mansion and Gardens
One of Columbia’s oldest remaining structures, the Hampton-Preston Mansion explores the lives of enslaved workers and their planter-class owners.
Built in 1818, the Hampton-Preston Mansion has long been associated with the elite antebellum families who are its namesakes. Today, visitors learn about the experiences of all the people who lived and worked at this site during its 200-year history.
The gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion have undergone numerous enhancements and expansions over the last decade, culminating in the recently completed Boyd Horticultural Center in 2022. Modeled after the Italianate estate gardens that the Hampton and Preston families frequented on their travels, the modern re-installation of the gardens is now beginning to capture the intimate and exotic feel of the antebellum landscape.
Tours of the Hampton-Preston Mansion are available: Wednesday – Saturday at 12 p.m. and Sunday at 1:30 p.m. The Gardens of the Hampton-Preston Mansion are open to the public 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Tuesday – Saturday and 1 – 4 p.m. Sunday.