South Carolina State Museum
The South Carolina State Museum is a place perfect for both locals and tourists to visit.
Located in a renovated old mill building makes for a vast museum to display its history, art, natural history, science and technology exhibits.
My favorite aspect of the museum is the connection to South Carolina.
Included are prehistoric creatures that walked the land here.
Artifacts found.
Gems mined here.
Petrified wood.
Also included are day to day items from the past like this device.
What the heck is that, you may wonder. That was what a woman would sit under, completely attached to, when having her hair done in the beauty salon. This one had been used at the Brookland Beauty Shop on State Street in West Columbia.
How we listen to music keeps changing.
At the point we are at now with internet radio, homes don't have much more than a tiny speaker these days.
I am thankful for how televisions have evolved.
It must have been a little painful when finger missed the keys on the typewriters from the 1800s.
I would love to have see more photos like this one blown up at the museum. It is such a great way to imagine a moment in time!
One got some exercise back in the day when making a phone call since hand cranking was involved.
There is a fantastic display of transportation options.
There is a great display of what the earth here provides such as shale that is used in various products.
The beautiful woods nature has to offer.
Being an old cotton mill, there is a bit on this industry's history.
A disturbing display of factory photos are here filled with children working.
Here is a train that visitors can sit in.
A hand carved canoe.
U.S. War history buffs would really enjoy the extensive displays from the Revolutionary War and Civil War.
Even the astronomy lover would be happy here with the wide display of telescopes including an 1849 Henry Fitz.
This is just a sampling but there is so much more to see!
General admission is only $8.95.
For an added fee, there is also a 4-D theater and planetarium experience.
In addition, there is the Boeing Observatory open Tuesday evenings. Take a look at the amazing night sky through a 1926 Alvan Clark 12 3/8 inch refracting telescope.
Hours are:
Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 8pm
Wednesday thru Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 6pm
Sunday noon - 5pm
Located at:
301 Gervais Street
Columbia, SC
I hope you enjoyed our visit!
Thank you for stopping by! ~Val
I really did enjoy the visit, Val, and your commentary links everything so well. I hope that communities around the world will continue to support such institutions so that we can get a glimpse into the past, and that the public never loses its curiosity and visits them often.
ReplyDeleteThank you David. Viewing the past is entertaining and eye opening, helping us appreciate what we have today.
DeleteThe building looks beautiful and big.
ReplyDeleteIt is great to imagine how life in the past by seeing artifacts of technology and transportation :)
Have a great weekend, Ms Val!!
Thank you Evi! Happy weekend to you too!
DeleteLooks like it has a little bit of everything! I didn't know there were huge prehistoric armadillo-like dinosaurs.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know about those big creatures either! They were cool looking!
DeleteThis was a good visit and I really enjoyed it, Val. It makes sense and is smart for anyone relocating to a new state or community to visit spots like this that tell some of the stories and background of their new places. SC sure is interesting and I love the diversity of the museum.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jeanie. It is quite a neat place and also has fun, changing exhibits to bring locals back!
DeleteI like to know histories thank to that :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kinga.
DeleteUna entrada estupenda ! Gracias por la información! 👌👌👌 Me alegro verte por mi blog , espero verte por allí muy pronto! Feliz domingo! 💓💓💓
ReplyDeleteGracia Carolina!
DeleteWhat a great place! I cannot imagine using that contraption to do my hair though!!!
ReplyDeleteMe neither! It looks so barbaric!
Deletewow, my kind of place. I really enjoyed seeing all those old and interesting things. Wow, I would have never got my hair done at that salon ...well i rarely get it done anyway. This was fun to see.
ReplyDeleteThank you Sandy. I rarely get a haircut these days and stopped coloring a few years ago. I am all about low maintenance so I completely agree with you there!
DeleteOh very nice place quiet and interesting
ReplyDeletexx
Thank you!
DeleteI haven't been to the SC State Museum in a few years. I've been numerous times when I was a child and for my college formal.
ReplyDeleteIt is a great city gem!
DeleteI haven't been to a museum in years. Would love to visit one this year.
ReplyDeletecollections so attractive....love it
ReplyDeleteThank you Tanza! They do have amazing collections here!
DeleteI love museums....and I would love to visit this one. Those prehistorical animals look really cool.
ReplyDeleteThank you Ivana. This museum is very entertaining!
DeleteIt's always so interesting to visit museums … I do like the prehistoric animals, I can just imagine our youngest Grandson enjoying them too.
ReplyDeleteAll the best Jan
Prehistoric animals are definitely fun for all ages. :)
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