Welcome to The Chesnut Cottage, located in the beautiful and historic capital city of Columbia, SC. The Cottage was the home of Mary Boykin Chesnut who lived here when she wrote A Diary from Dixie. The Chesnut Cottage Bed and Breakfast offers five comfortable, elegant rooms, each with it's own special character and history. Explore The Cottage through our site and contact us about your stay. We look forward to your visit to The Cottage and to the capital city. The Chesnut Cottage, circa 1850, is one of the most historically significant homes in the Southeast. During the War Between the States it was the home of General ...