Columbia's Cultural Resources' Booklet | Historic Preservation

Cultural resources are a vital part of everyday life in Columbia. Columbia is poised to harness the power of its arts and heritage to drive social and economic change. The City already functions as a regional hub for innovation and creativity. The cultural resources section considers City government’s continued role as the custodian of civic and cultural heritage, and as the key facilitator of innovation, creativity and cultural enterprise.

Our focus this week is on the theme conserve and preserve, which focuses on how the City, businesses, and citizens can lighten our impacts and plan responsibly for future needs. Did you know that Columbia has been planning with historic preservation in mind since the 1960s? Columbia’s first historic districts, landmarks, and the Historical and Cultural Buildings Commission were created in the mid-1960s. This was in advance of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the first national legislation for preservation which created State Historic Preservation Offices and the National Register of Historic Places. The cultural resources element of Columbia Compass addresses historic preservation planning in Columbia today. Check out the cultural resources chapter at the website.