First National Bank Museum

04/30/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DqKALMu7t/

How does your garden grow? Are you a gardener living in Columbia with a passion for cultivating beauty in your own back yard? Will you be celebrating ‘Columbia 300’ in your garden with red, white, and blue colors? Create Columbia would like to hear from you! Send us a snapshot of your Columbia garden pride! It will be posted here publicly from the Create Columbia page with no names or exact locations. If you would like our ‘Art in the Gardens’ Committee to consider your garden for our annual tour, please let us know via [email protected] or a Facebook message. If you are an artist or musician that would like to volunteer to sketch, paint, or perform in one of our gardens on tour, contact us and we will add you to our list. Thank you to the gardeners and artists that make our tour possible!

04/14/2026

Every time I mention reducing parking, someone brings up people with mobility issues.

I get it. Accessibility matters. But let’s look at the actual numbers.
Up to one-third of the population can’t drive. Kids under 16. Elderly people who’ve lost their licenses. People who can’t afford a car. People with certain disabilities. People who’ve had their license suspended. People who simply choose not to drive. Meanwhile, about 12% of the population has mobility issues.

So car-dependent places are actually excluding three times more people than the group we’re supposedly protecting.

In car-dependent sprawl, if you can’t drive, you’re completely isolated. You can’t get to the store. You can’t go to work. You can’t participate in your community. You need someone to drive you everywhere or you’re stuck at home.

In walkable places, people who can’t drive can still function. They can walk to the corner store. Take the bus. Get around their neighborhood. Live independently.

And here’s what people miss about mobility challenges, walkable places are often better for people with disabilities too.

Everything is closer together, so there’s less ground to cover. Sidewalks are maintained and level, which matters for wheelchairs and walkers. Ground-floor retail means no stairs or elevators. Transit and paratransit systems actually work in dense areas. You don’t have to navigate massive parking lots where cars are backing up and pavement is uneven.

I’m not saying we eliminate every parking space. But the idea that car-dependent sprawl is more accessible than walkable neighborhoods? The data doesn’t support it.

Car dependency works for one group, people who can drive and can afford a car.

Walkable places work for everyone else.

04/13/2026

Boat tour season is almost here and we couldn’t be more excited! 🎉
Boat Tour Tickets are on sale now! ⚓️

Start planning your time on the water! Climb aboard the Chief Uncas to soak in the views, spot wildlife, and hear the stories that make the Susquehanna special.

More tour options will be launching soon once the boat is back on the water, so stay tuned! Grab your tickets TODAY: https://susqnha.org/explore/boat-tours/

04/13/2026

04/13/2026

Marietta Art Alive will host this year's River Towns Plein Air event from April 18 through May 3 in and around Marietta, Columbia and Wrightsville, beginning with an Artist Quick Draw competition on April 18.

"This year's quick draw is sponsored by the Marietta Area Business Association and will take place during the Annual Cherry Blossom Festival on Front Street in Marietta," artist Marita Hines explained. "The competition invites the public to see the Cherry Blossom Festival from an artist's perspective. Artists age 18 and older will be stationed throughout the event with their easels and art supplies, painting festival scenes. Their entire artwork must be completed within a limited time frame."

Learn more at https://townlively.com/where-art-meets-the-outdoors/

MERCHANDISER | Donegal

04/13/2026

A funny thing I have noticed throughout the years working with communities.

Everyone vacations in walkable places.

Charleston. Savannah. New York. Chicago. Europe. Any historic downtown.

They love it. Post photos. Talk about how nice it is to just walk around and not worry about driving. How charming everything is.

Then they come home and demolish a building for parking.

They’ll spend thousands of dollars to visit walkable places but won’t allow them to exist in their own town.

You already know what works. You pay to experience it every year.

Stop tearing it down at home.

04/12/2026

First block of Locust Street circa 1860? Thank you Cle Berntheizel 😎

04/12/2026

Saturday morning sunlight on our spiral staircase with our kitty, Sammy, April 11, 2026.

04/09/2026

Thank you to this fabulous group of Lancaster Downtowners for joining me for a delicious lunch at Griddles and then trying to work off some of the calories with a very fun and interesting 2 hour stroll around Historic Columbia! And special thanks to St. Paul's Episcopal and Cle Berntheizel for allowing us to come inside for an exclusive tour of your beautiful properties! Also, Rick Fisher and Bonnie Link for showing us the Columbia Market House and Dungeon!
Send a DM or call if you would like to schedule your walking tour!

11/27/2025

Learn how to save your historic windows.

10/24/2025

The demolition of the East Wing of the White House represents a collective loss—a serious affront to United States history and architectural heritage. While some may argue that modernization justifies this project, the country cannot overlook the profound cultural significance of the East Wing and its role within the White House complex. Its loss results in the irreplaceable erasure of a rich chapter in our national narrative.

Dating to the early 20th century, the East Wing has facilitated the initiatives of countless First Ladies, promoted public engagement, and welcomed millions of visitors, embodying the principle that government belongs to the people. Tearing down this vital space limits future opportunities for civic involvement and increases the risk of a lost connection between the presidency and the public.

Historically, the East Wing adapted to social changes and reflected the country’s evolving values. Each renovation symbolized progress; however, the decision to demolish at this time signals a troubling trend that prioritizes modern construction over preservation – and one without appropriate review at that! Citizens of the United States must critically assess what this communicates about its current society’s values.

Cultural landmarks like the White House are essential for community identity. The loss of the East Wing signifies a broader disengagement from our country’s roots, threatening the coherence and unity that historical sites provide. The White House has connected generations, and demolition without meaningful public input and review ruptures that continuity.

This horrific demolition of the East Wing demands immediate attention. The DC Preservation League questions what is gained by sacrificing the country’s collective history for vanity. Preserving the East Wing was not about nostalgia; rather, it signified a vital commitment to honoring Americans’ shared heritage.

And so today, DCPL calls on Americans everywhere, all across the country—because we, the citizens of DC, are taxed without representation—to reach out to your elected officials. Advocate for historic preservation, call for changes in policy, and demand oversight of the architectural integrity of the White House to ensure that this significant legacy endures for future generations.

Support Preservation Advocacy Here: https://dcpreservation.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/dcpreservation/donation.jsp

(Image courtesy of the Library of Congress)