The last Lanterns and Tombstone tour of 2026 will be held Friday at 7 p.m. at the Columbia City Cemetery. Historians Mike Watson and Dave Thomas will lead attendees through the cemetery sharing historical information and interesting stories about some of the residents at the cemetery. Attendees are advised to park in the Judicial Center parking lot.
On Saturday, Sept. 12, Watson will host a historical walking tour of downtown Columbia beginning at 6 p.m. at the Adair Genealogy and History Research Center. “We will walk down around the square and off in several directions for short excursions,” said Watson. “Of course it is still local history and architecture.”
Watson said in order to commemorate the 250th Anniversary of the United States, they are going to tie most of the stories to the Revolutionary War soldiers who settled in Columbia.
These tours will conclude the yearly series as preparations are made for a month-long celebration of Silent City’s 20th anniversary in October. There will be weekly events, including “Dine with the Dead,” a scavenger hunt, Silent City, and the return of the highly popular Shot, Stabbed, Hanged and More walking tour on Friday, Oct. 23.
