diff --git a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/text.py b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/text.py
index 0fbb0de78de..c2e71444cf1 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/datatypes/text.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/datatypes/text.py
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ class Biom1(Json):
     MetadataElement(name="table_type", default="", desc="table_type", param=MetadataParameter, readonly=True, visible=True, optional=True, no_value="")
     MetadataElement(name="table_id", default=None, desc="table_id", param=MetadataParameter, readonly=True, visible=True, optional=True, no_value=None)
     MetadataElement(name="table_columns", default=[], desc="table_columns", param=MetadataParameter, readonly=True, visible=False, optional=True, no_value=[])
+    MetadataElement(name="table_column_metadata_headers", default=[], desc="table_column_metadata_headers", param=MetadataParameter, readonly=True, visible=True, optional=True, no_value=[])
 
     def set_peek(self, dataset, is_multi_byte=False):
         super(Biom1, self).set_peek(dataset)
@@ -252,10 +253,19 @@ class Biom1(Json):
                                          ('table_columns', 'columns')]:
                     try:
                         metadata_value = json_dict.get(b_name, None)
+                        if b_name == "columns" and metadata_value:
+                            keep_columns = set()
+                            for column in metadata_value:
+                                for k, v in column['metadata'].items():
+                                    if v is not None:
+                                        keep_columns.add(k)
+                            final_list = sorted(list(keep_columns))
+                            dataset.metadata.table_column_metadata_headers = final_list
                         if b_name in b_transform:
                             metadata_value = b_transform[b_name](metadata_value)
                         setattr(dataset.metadata, m_name, metadata_value)
                     except Exception:
+                        log.exception("Something in the metadata detection for biom1 went wrong.")
                         pass