Dollar Sundays are a great way to learn Columbia’s history

Woodrow Wilson is a historical figure for several reasons.

He was the 28th president of the United States, from 1913-21.

He led the United States into World War I in 1917.

He championed the Versailles Treaty, despite it failing in the Senate.

And he spent a brief part of his childhood in Columbia.

So the last part isn’t as widely chronicled as the others – except in Columbia. Regardless, Sunday, Richland and Lexington County residents can learn more about Wilson’s time in Columbia for $1.

The third Sunday of the month is Dollar Sunday at Historic Columbia, when residents of the two Capital City counties can tour one of the historic house museums for $1.

“The site varies month to month so residents can see all of the sites over the course of several months,” said James Quint, director of Education for Historic Columbia.

“Historic Columbia takes pride in telling stories about all types of individuals in the past and we want to ensure that all individuals in our community today have an opportunity to learn and share this experience. Our 19th century buildings have 21st century air conditioning so this is the perfect activity for the family during Columbia’s famously hot summers!”

This Sunday, it’s the Woodrow Wilson Family Home.

Here are five interesting things to know about Wilson and his time here:

▪ Woodrow Wilson, known as Tommy at the time, lived there from 1871-74. Wilson was born on Dec. 28, 1856.

▪ Wilson’s time in Columbia was six years after the Civil War, which ended in 1865. That put him here during Reconstruction. His White House biography refers to Columbia during Wilson’s time here as a “charred city.”

▪ Wilson’s father was a Presbyterian minister, who taught at Columbia Theological Seminary.

▪ Note that this is the Woodrow Wilson Family Home. It is not the Woodrow Wilson House. That would be Wilson’s post-presidential home in Washington, D.C. The Woodrow Wilson Boyhood Home is in Augusta, Georgia. The Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library and Museum, and Birthplace, is in Staunton, Virginia.

▪ The Italian villa-style home is South Carolina’s only presidential site.

Sunday’s $1 tours leave at the top of the hour from 1-4 p.m. Purchase admission and meet for tours at the Gift Shop at Robert Mills, 1616 Blanding St. Richland and Lexington County residents must present valid ID for the $1 admission.

For other deails, see www.historiccolumbia.org.

Lezlie Patterson, Special to The State