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South Carolina STATE MUSEUM

SC State Museum Columbia is home to the South Carolina State Museum. It allows visitors to experience the Palmetto State from the mountains to the sea in one building! Four very large floors of exhibits cover South Carolina's art, history, natural history, and science and technology. The museum is located inside its largest artifact -- the historic Columbia Mills building, which opened in 1894 as the world's first totally electric textile mill.

The museum officially opened on October 29, 1988 and now averages between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors each month. Visitors have come from all 50 states and 39 foreign countries. With approximately 98,000 square feet of exhibit space, the State Museum is one of the largest museums in the Southeast. Plans are to expand exhibit space during the coming years to 101,000 square feet. The State Museum has been honored as an outstanding tourism attraction and also for its adaptive use of the former historic textile mill building.


The Lipscomb Art Gallery on the first floor is a constantly changing area, as a variety of temporary exhibits shows off the wide diversity of art in modern - and historic - South Carolina.

The second floor is all about the Natural History of South Carolina. Visitors have a chance to touch a 30 million-year-old tooth from the Giant White Shark, explore South Carolina natural habitats from the mountains to the sea and much more.

Science and Technology are featured on the third floor. Permanent exhibits include the first American-built locomotive, laser demonstrations, and South Carolina's contribution to space exploration. A featured exhibit on telescopes and astronomy will run through November 1997.

South Carolina's History is documented on the fourth floor. Featured are Civil War exhibits, a one-room schoolhouse and a turn-of-the-century country store.


Location: 301 Gervais Street in downtown Columbia - next to the Gervais Street Bridge over the Congaree River (approximately 8 blocks from the State House).

Hours:
Tuesday-Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday & 1-5 p.m.
Open daily except New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Admission:

Adults: $5
Seniors 62 and over, Military and College Students(w/ID): $4
Students ages 13 to 17: $4
Children 3 to 12: $3
Children 2 and under: FREE

Free auto and bus parking.

For more information:
Call: (803) 898-4921

External link: South Carolina State Museum Home Page


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