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Charleston Museum 

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The Charleston Museum was founded in 1773, making it America’s first museum. War delayed the museum’s public opening, but the doors finally opened to the public in 1824. The Museum features two levels of exhibits that recount the history of Charleston and the Lowcountry by showcasing hundreds of items ranging from ancient fossils to Civil War artifacts. 

The first level is home to the Natural History section, temporary exhibits that focus on local history and the museum’s gift shop. The second level is home to eight permanent exhibits: 

• Lowcountry History Hall - Learn about the Native Americans who first inhabited the South Carolina Lowcountry as well as the colonists and enslaved African Americans who transformed the region into an agricultural empire.
• The Armory - Showcases examples of historic weaponry, dating from 1750 to the twentieth century
• Becoming Americans - Explore Charleston's role in the American Revolution
• Charleston in the Civil War - Learn about Charleston's role in the Civil War
• Early Days - See collections from around the world, including an Egyptian mummy and mummy case
  
• Kidstory - A hands-on exhibit for children where the history of Charleston comes alive
• Historic Textiles - Features regularly rotating exhibits from a rich historic textiles and clothing collection
• Charleston Silver - Showcasing the impressive work of the South’s finest silver craftsmen and women
  
  The museum also owns two historic homes, the Joseph Manigault House and the Heyward Washington House, that are open to the public. Admission for each is $12 or save money by purchasing combo tickets. Limited free parking is available, and paid public parking is available across the street. Allow approximately 2 hours to tour the entire museum.

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Charleston Museum Photos

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Charleston Museum Hours and Admission

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Charleston Museum Address and Map

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Current and Upcoming Events
at the Charleston Museum

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What: Fossil Friday with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson
When: Fridays 
Time: 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: The event is free with admission

Do you LOVE fossils? Join Matthew Gibson, Curator of Natural History, on Fridays from 2 to 4 PM in the Bunting Natural History Gallery lab. Gibson will be on hand to share projects he is currently working on and help identify your fossil finds.

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What: Kid Tours: Wriggling Reptiles
When: July 10, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: Free for Members and free with admission to the museum

Snakes, turtles, and alligators—what’s not to love?! Explore remarkable reptiles from the collection of the Charleston Museum, and craft your own silly snake! Kid Tours is a series designed to highlight artifacts from our collection that have fascinated children for years. Kid Tours meet every Wednesday during the months of June and July at 3:30 pm. This program includes a tour highlighting the weekly theme and an engaging craft project or educational activity.

FREE for Members and FREE with admission to The Charleston Museum. 

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What: Exclusive Storeroom Tour: Quilts, A Study in Pieces
When: July 11, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: Members $40 / Non-Member $55

Join Curator of Historic Textiles Virginia Theerman for an exclusive behind the scenes tour in the museum’s storeroom! This evening session will be about exploring quilts, their makers, and how they are cared for in a museum space. With a focus on scraps, portions, and quilts that never got finished, you will see what we can learn from those portions left undone.

Enjoy light refreshments starting at 5:30 pm before the tour commences.

Registration is required and space is extremely limited. Participants must be able to climb stairs. 

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What: Sweetgrass Basket Weaving Workshop
When: July 13, 2024
Time: 9:30 am - 1:30 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: Members $75 / Non-member $105

Join local artisan Sarah Edwards-Hammond for in-depth instruction on sweetgrass basketry which has been an integral part of the Lowcountry’s Gullah Geechee community since the 17th century. Edwards-Hammond comes from a long line of basket makers and has passed down the tradition to her family and others in the community. She will share a brief history of the artisanal craft of basket making.  Participants will then spend the remainder of the class making their own basket guided by Edwards-Hammond. Come learn about an extraordinary craft that has been a staple of culture, art, and history in Charleston for centuries. All materials and instruction will be provided. Space is limited. Reservations required.

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What: Kid Tours: Sunken Sub
When: July 17, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: FREE for Members and FREE with admission

Archaeologists don’t just dig, some can dive! Learn about underwater archaeology and the story of the H.L Hunley. Kid Tours is a series designed to highlight artifacts from our collection that have fascinated children for years. Kid Tours meet every Wednesday during the months of June and July at 3:30 pm. This program includes a tour highlighting the weekly theme and an engaging craft project or educational activity. FREE for Members and FREE with admission to The Charleston Museum. 

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What: Historic Cocktail and Spirits Series: Beer Tasting Workshop with Holy City Brewing
When: July 18, 2024
Time: 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: Members $40 / Non-Member $55

Guests are invited to join the Charleston Museum for a brand-new cocktail series to explore a range of spirits and wine. For the final installment in the series, join Museum Curators and Holy City Brewing for a special workshop on beer and its roots in Charleston.

Learn about the science of crafting beers, how it is brewed, and the different notes and tastes of different batches.  As you learn more about beer and its influence in Charleston history, ambassadors from Holy City Brewing will take you on a guided, specially curated tasting journey while you sample a variety of beers.  Enhance your experience with an exclusive look at items from the Museum’s History and Archaeology collections that are not exhibited for the public.

Tickets are all-inclusive and include 4 beer tastings, a full serving of beer, light bites, swag from Holy City Brewing, a Curator talk with access to special Museum collection items, and education from Holy City Brewing.

For guests 21 years of age and older. Reservations required. 

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What: Kid Tours: Wacky Whales
When: July 24, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: Free for Museum Members and Free with Admission

Millions of years ago, whales lived on land! Discover the changes whales have undergone and meet some of the whales in the Museum’s whale-y cool natural history collection. Make your own fin-tastic friend to take home! Kid Tours is a series designed to highlight artifacts from our collection that have fascinated children for years. Kid Tours meet every Wednesday during the months of June and July at 3:30 pm. This program includes a tour highlighting the weekly theme and an engaging craft project or educational activity. FREE for Members and FREE with admission to The Charleston Museum. 

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What: Succulent Terrarium Workshop with Pretty Lil Garden
When: July 27, 2024
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Where: The Dill Sanctuary
Admission: Members $55 / Non-Member $85

Join Pretty Lil Garden for a Succulent Terrarium plant class and make your very own terrarium to bring home. Your registration includes an all-inclusive terrarium build. All supplies including glassware, succulents and assorted toppers are included with the workshop. Owner of Pretty Lil Garden, Amber, will instruct the step by step process of building the terrarium and will teach the class about succulents and how to care for them moving forward! Reservations required.

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What: Kid Tours: Raising Rice
When: July 31, 2024
Time: 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Where: The Charleston Museum
Admission: Free for Museum Members and Free with Admission

Carolina Gold is not actual gold—it’s rice! Learn all about this important cash crop. Create art with rice, use a mortar and pestle to remove rice shells, and explore how rice has impacted the Lowcountry. Kid Tours is a series designed to highlight artifacts from our collection that have fascinated children for years. Kid Tours meet every Wednesday during the months of June and July at 3:30 pm. This program includes a tour highlighting the weekly theme and an engaging craft project or educational activity. FREE for Members and FREE with admission to The Charleston Museum. 

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Hotels Near the Charleston Museum

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More things to do in Charleston

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