1314 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020

803-425-6050
Monday-Friday 8am - 5pm and 1st and 3rd Sunday 1-5 pm
Admission Charged.
This 98-acre museum complex is the site of the original town of Camden. Camden is the oldest inland town in South Carolina, built in 1730 under the direction of King George II. The archive includes manuscripts, city records, books, pamphlets, photographs, maps, newspapers, and reference materials relating to the history of Camden, Kershaw County, and South Carolina in particular. Spend the day exploring the many historic buildings. The museum complex also has a shop, nature trail, and picnic area.

Columbia Museum of Art

Main Street at Hampton

Downtown Columbia

803-799-2810

Tue-Sat, 10am- 5pm; Sun 1- 5pm

Admission Charged except first Saturday of each month.

The Columbia Museum of Art is the largest fine art museum in South Carolina and has a world-class collection of American and European fine and decorative art that spans centuries. Highlights of the permanent collection include works by Monet, Botticelli, Canaletto and Remington. Changing international exhibitions, concerts, gallery talks and family and children's programs are scheduled throughout the year. Other amenities include a museum shop, art library, teacher resource center, and education wing. The museum is conveniently located downtown near lodging, restaurants and public transportation.

Cayce Historic Museum

Cayce-West Columbia – Airport

1800 12th St., Cayce

803-739-5385

Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm; Sat & Sun: 2pm-5pm

Admission Charged

The Cayce Historic Museum chronicles the history of the first European settlement in the Midlands of South Carolina. The museum exhibits display periods of Colonial trade, agricultural development, and transportation from the 18th Century to present. Native American artifacts date back thousands of years.

Columbia Fire Department

1800 Laurel St, Columbia

803-733-8350

Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm; weekends by appointment only

Admission Free

The front portion of the building is dedicated to preserving Columbia Fire Department memorabilia. The museum educates the public about the importance of the Columbia Fire Department and the professional men and women within its service. Museum attractions date back as far as the mid-1800's and include a 1929 American LaFrance fire engine and 1903 horse-drawn steamer, interactive exhibits, equipment from days gone by, pictures of the six fire chiefs that have served Columbia since the early 1900's and a photo history of firefighting in Columbia.

Fort Jackson Museum

Bldg 4442 Jackson Blvd., Fort Jackson, SC 29207-5100

803-751-7419

Tues-Fri: 10:00am-4:00pm; Sat: 1:00pm-4:00pm; Closed all Federal Holidays

Admission Free, visitors must show a picture ID, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.

The museum was established in 1972 with an initial collection of 20 artifacts. The collection has grown to over 3,800 pieces of military weapons, uniforms, and vehicles from World War I to present. The museum uses an assortment of military weapons, uniforms and other equipment to illustrate how the American soldier has been trained to perform his duties in peacetime and war. Theses displays are supplemented by exhibitions that deal with special areas of interest, such as the installation's namesake (President Andrew Jackson), women who have served on post, and the major units that have trained at Fort Jackson since World War I. Several typical military vehicles and artillery pieces from World War I to the present are displayed outside the museum building, which is adjacent to a small picnic area.

Historic Columbia House Museums

Downtown Business District

Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding Street, Columbia SC 29201

803-252-1770, ext.24

Tuesday - Saturday: 10am-4pm, last tour begins at 3pm; Sunday: 1-4pm, last tour begins at 4pm.

Admission Charged. Single admission (per person per house) or Combination Tickets (tours of all four house museums) are available. Purchase all tickets for the four house museums at the Robert Mills Welcome Center and Museum Shop.
Historic House Tours are offered every hour on the hour. Parking is available off Henderson Street between Blanding and Taylor Streets.

Historic Columbia was founded in 1961 by a group of preservationists determined to save the Ainsley Hall House, known today as the Robert Mills House. More than four decades later, Historic Columbia now manages four historic house museums and their associated artifacts.

Kensington Mansion

Columbia Southeast - Ft. Jackson

Located on Highway 601 approximately 6 miles south of Highway 378,

803-353-0456 (Information or Reservations)

Thurs, Fri, and Sat, 9:30am, 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm. Tours are available year round (except major holidays).

Admission Charged

Built in 1854 by Matthew R. Singleton, this estate reflects life that was typical of pre-war Southern aristocracy. After being abandoned and falling into disrepair in the early part of the century, Kensington Mansion is now on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been restored and refurbished under the guidance of the Sumter County Museum and Archives. When you go, be sure to notice the beautiful domed ceiling with ornamental plasterwork in the dining room.

McKissick Museum

Downtown Business District

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208

803-777-7251

Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm (open until 7pm on Thursday); Sun: 1-5:00pm

Admission Free

The McKissick Museum is a general University museum with galleries exhibiting displays in the natural sciences, arts, material culture, history, and permanent galleries on the gem and mineral collections.

South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum

Downtown Business District

301 Gervais Street

Columbia, SC 29201

803-737-8095

Tuesday - Friday: 10am-5pm; Open 10am-5pm the first and third Saturday of each month

Admission Charged for 21 and older

The Confederate Relic Room & Museum is one of the best museums of its type. It was established in 1895 to honor South Carolina's Confederate veterans. There is an excellent presentation of uniforms, flags, naval artifacts, weapons, monies, personal possessions and a torch used by Sherman’s army to burn Columbia. The collection annually attracts Civil War enthusiasts from all over the world.

South Carolina State Museum

301 Gervais St

803-737-4921 or 803-898-4935

Tuesday - Saturday 10am-5pm, Sundays 1 - 5 p.m. Closed: Mondays, New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Admission Charged

The old Columbia Duck Mill, a massive four story factory, was the first mill to use hydropower and electricity in America. The mill is now the home of the South Carolina State Museum which has four floors of exhibits about South Carolina. The first floor features Lipscomb Art Gallery and a great hands-on discovery area with lots of things to try out. The second level features the state's natural history and traveling exhibits. The third level focuses on science and technology while the fourth floor showcases the state's history.

US Army Adjutant General Corps Museum (Fort Jackson)

Columbia Southeast - Ft. Jackson

Bldg. 4392, Strom Thurmon Blvd Fort Jackson, SC 29207

803-751-1747

Mon.-Fri: 8am-4:30pm; Exhibit Gallery: Wed and Thurs, 10am-4pm. Open by appointment on Mon., Tues, and Fri.

Admission Free

The U.S Army Adjutant General’s (AG) Corp Museum is available to the public for research on the history of the Army AG Corps and general information on the history of the US Army. The US Army Adjutant General’s (AG) Corp Museum is one of over 60 Army museums located across the country and around the world. The museum was established in 1996 to preserve, study, interpret the material culture and tell the story of the AG Corps from 1775 to present. The Museum is located in Building 4392, on the corner of Strom Thurmond Boulevard and McGruder Street, Fort Jackson, South Carolina. The Museum is open to the general public, however, visitors must show I.D, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.

US Army Chaplain Museum

Columbia Northeast - Ft. Jackson

US Army Chaplain School 10100 Lee Road Ft. Jackson, SC 29207

Tuesday - Thursday 1-4:30 and by appointment, closed Federal Holidays and weekends

Admission Free

Established in 1957, this specialized and extensive collection of artifacts and archival material chronicles the men and women who have aided and served the Army both spiritually and militarily. Exhibits span from the establishment of the Chaplain Corps in 1775 to a piece of the destroyed Pentagon wall from 9/11.

US Army Finance Corps Museum (Fort Jackson)

Columbia Southeast - Ft. Jackson

Building 4392 Strom Thurmond Blvd Fort Jackson, SC 29207

803-751-3771

Wed & Thurs: 10am-4pm (closed 1pm-2pm)

The Museum is open to the public, however, visitors must show I.D, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.

Admission Free

The US Finance Corps Museum traces the 221-year history of the Finance Corps, one of the Army’s oldest branches. Exhibits cover military pay and how it affects military life from the American Revolution to the present.