The Charleston Museum
Founded in 1773 and often called “America’s first museum,” it presents the natural history of the Lowcountry, colonial and Civil War artifacts, and a collection of silver.
The Charleston Museum was founded in 1773 by the Charleston Library Society and is often called the first museum in America. Its galleries trace the history of the Lowcountry in chronological order: Native peoples, colonial settlement, the rice economy, slavery, the Civil War, and modern times. The collections include whale bones, fossils, Southern silverware, and clothing. Admission is about $15–18, and combination tickets are available with the Joseph Manigault House and the Heyward-Washington House. The Joseph Manigault House is located directly across the street.
Opening hours
Mon–Sat 09:00–17:00; Sun 12:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Aiken-Rhett House
- Mother Emanuel AME Church
- King Street
- International African American Museum
- South Carolina Aquarium
- Charleston City Market
- Gibbes Museum of Art
- St. Philip's Church