Support Us Button Widget

Cheers to 200 years

old picture of columbia

Image via National Gallery of Art

Table of Contents

#TBT: 200-year-old trivia

This is part of our #TBT collaboration with Historic Columbia.

Historians love to ask questions — it’s kind of our thing. How old is that broken headstone? Who invented shoelaces? Why do so many people hate Brutalist architecture? Usually we ask these questions in libraries. Sometimes we ask them in classrooms. But where we’d really like to ask them is over a beer. 🍻 (Enjoyed responsibly, of course.)

Lucky for all of us, Historic Happy Hour returns tomorrow, 5:30 p.m. at Seibels House. Think: drinks, trivia, birthday cake. Birthday cake? It’s the 200th anniversary of the Hampton-Preston Mansion. They grow up so fast.

HP was opened in 1818 to much fanfare. It was very much the HGTV Dream Home of its day for original owners Ainsley and Sarah Hall. They only lived at 1615 Blanding St. for five years before relocating almost overnight in 1823. Why? That’s a very good question — almost like it’s for trivia night or something.

A lot has happened in the last 200 yearsso much so that we made a whole Buzzfeed quiz about it. (Polio was eradicated, man walked on the moon, the girdle was invented, then phased out, then made popular again on Instagram.) Click below to test your knowledge. ⬇️

buzzfeed history quiz

And ICYMI: Are you basically the mayor or barely a Soda Citizen? Find out with COLAtoday’s historical Buzzfeed quiz on Columbia below. ⬇️

buzzfeed cola quiz

How did you do?

We’re not ones to give hints, but it might behoove you to swing by the Hampton-Preston Mansion before Happy Hour. Studying up never hurt anybody…

Lois from Historic Columbia + Sam


More from COLAtoday
It’s the season of the pumpkins, so we’re rounding up a list of places to go picking. Check out these patches, farms, and nurseries.
The number eight symbolizes South Carolina’s history — from the eight Lords Proprietors and colonial rulers to becoming the nation’s eighth state.
Bookmark this guide for a curated list of events taking place each month that we’re most looking forward to.
Columbia, SC has 230+ years of history. In this guide, we’re diving into the city’s oldest streets and how they got their names.
This year’s theme, Harvesting Happiness, sets the stage for rides, foods, music, and competitions at the SC State Fair.
If you’re short on time this season, this may just be the perfect solution.
Dining in Columbia is always a fresh experience, with new restaurants popping up all the time — and more on the way.
From toddlers to retirees, explore local schools and programs that keep Columbians learning and playing music.
Discover Columbia’s late-night dining spots, from Tex-Mex and pizza to pub fare and desserts, perfect for post-11 p.m. cravings.
Check off each of these bucket list items to make the most of the fall season in the Midlands.