In November 1961, a small group intent on saving the Ainsley Hall House from demolition officially incorporated as the Historic Columbia Foundation. Over the next five decades the organization, which was founded on the premise of preservation and education, would take on the stewardship of six historic properties in Richland County. Today, the organization serves as a model for the preservation and interpretation of local history. Its mission is to support and protect the historical and cultural heritage of Columbia and Richland County through advocacy, education, and preservation.
Hanbury Preservation Consulting prepared a revolving fund feasibility study for Historic Columbia, focusing on capacity, and leveraging the resources and experiences the organization had accumulated through its years of owning and maintaining historic sites.