South Carolina State Museum, Columbia

South Carolina State Museum, Columbia (must see)

The South Carolina State Museum, located in Columbia is the largest museum in the Southeastern United States. Positioned on an old shipping canal on the Congaree River that dates back to pre-Civil War times, the museum is widely recognized as a resource for South Carolina history and lifestyle. The museum opened October 29, 1988 and is housed in what it calls its largest artifact, the former Columbia Mills Building. When the mill opened in 1894, manufacturing cotton duck cloth (a canvas-like material), it was the first totally-electric textile mill in the world. It was also the first major industrial installation for the General Electric corporation. On certain levels of the museum, the original flooring has been kept intact, distinguishable by hundreds of textile brads and rings that became embedded in the floor while it was still being used as a mill.

The museum represents four disciplines: art, cultural history, science and technology, and natural history. Exhibits include life-size replicas of the Best Friend of Charleston, the first American-built locomotive, and the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat. The second floor is notable for its recreation of a Megalodon suspended mid-air just around a corner, which has scared countless groups of young children. The museum has an "Official" Story Chair (named Sammy) designed and donated by Storyteller Mike Miller for the benefit of children and storytellers.
Image Courtesy of ww.
Sight description based on Wikipedia.

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South Carolina State Museum on Map

Sight Name: South Carolina State Museum
Sight Location: Columbia, USA (See walking tours in Columbia)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Columbia, South Carolina

Create Your Own Walk in Columbia

Create Your Own Walk in Columbia

Creating your own self-guided walk in Columbia is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Columbia Introduction Walking Tour

Columbia Introduction Walking Tour

Columbia is a beautiful city, the largest one in South Carolina, with a great history and beautiful landmarks. It has a large number of old houses that are now museums and that represent a whole part of the history. All these houses have been named after famous personalities and families from years ago. Take this tour and discover the beauty of downtown attractions.

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 5.6 Km or 3.5 Miles
Historical Churches Walking Tour

Historical Churches Walking Tour

Columbia has a variety of religious buildings, new and old that have an important cultural, historical and religious value in the entire South Carolina district. Most of them were renovated due to wars and natural causes but almost all of them tried to preserve the initial style elements that make them unique and attractive to tourists. This tour will guide you to some of the most famous churches...  view more

Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.4 Km or 1.5 Miles