Media Preview: Historic Columbia's "Heat & Hardship" Exhibit

Be among the first to experience Heat & Hardship: The Hidden Labor of Enslaved Cooks—Historic Columbia’s latest immersive exhibit which opened February 5, 2025. This exclusive media preview offers a behind-the-scenes look at how Historic Columbia is reimagining the stories told at the Robert Mills House, highlighting the hidden labor, resilience, and struggles of enslaved cooks in the 1820s.

Through first-person audio storytelling, hands-on activities, and sensory-rich interactives, the exhibit sheds light on voices that have long been overlooked. Media attendees will gain unique insight into this project’s role as a “test case” for Historic Columbia’s larger effort to reinterpret the Robert Mills House with inclusive storytelling, an initiative that recently earned the organization the National Trust for Historic Preservation’s Trustees’ Award for Organizational Excellence.

Discover why Heat & Hardship is more than an exhibit—it’s a key step in shaping the future of public history and meaningful engagement. Don't miss this opportunity to help Historic Columbia tell its story.

• 10:00 a.m. | Welcome - Suzanne Brooks, Executive Director
• 10:05 a.m. | Introduction - Rebecca Woodruff, Curator of History
• 10:10 a.m. | Self-guided tour through exhibit
• 10:30 a.m. | Opportunity for Q&A/media interviews
  

Full press kit

Press release

Talking points

High-res photos

Exhibit word mark

MEDIA CONTACT
Emily Brown
Director of Marketing & Communications
Historic Columbia
[email protected]

Host or Publisher Historic Columbia