The Best Museums in and Around Charleston, SC

Lying beside some of the nation’s most desirable beaches is a South Carolina community rich in natural, military, and cultural heritage. Experience Charleston’s incredible past and wonderful innovations throughout time. Visit these must-see museums in Charleston, South Carolina.

The Charleston Museum

Address: The Charleston Museum, 360 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC

The Charleston Museum is a main attraction, with exhibits that are so engaging and comprehensive that a full day is recommended for exploration. Founded in 1773, this prized establishment is considered America’s very first museum. Amid the multiple rooms and two distinctive historic home tours, visitors will explore exhibits that immerse them into Charleston’s wartime, agricultural, and colonial roots.

Popular artifacts include tools, quilts, pottery, uniforms, and armaments from the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The army permanent collection displays historic weaponry back to the 17th century. Another permanent exhibit details Charleston’s role in American history and becoming a nation. The natural history hall tells the story of the Lowcountry through fossils and preserved animals.

The museum’s two historic houses are a comprehensive step into the past. The colonial era Heyward-Washington House showcases furnishings made right in Charleston and the lifestyle of a Declaration of Independence signer. At the Joseph Manigault House, guests experience how wealthy rice plantation families lived in the 18th century.

For the little ones, the Charleston Museum has an exhibit for children with interactive displays related to the Lowcountry’s history. The hands-on exhibit replicates what it was like to be a lighthouse keeper on the harbor, a pirate during the Nineteenth century, and games played in the colonial era. Hear stories from the Native Americans and Gullah people.

Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Address: Patriots Point, 40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC

By far, one of the world’s most unique exhibits awaits at Patriots Point in Mount Pleasant, SC. Wear comfortable clothes and good walking shoes, and bring a camera before jumping on board the WWII aircraft carrier USS Yorktown. Yes, you can step onboard a decommissioned Navy destroyer. Walk the flight deck and see historic aircraft like Tomcats and Phantoms. The museum has an outstanding collection of combat aircraft.

But this is only the beginning of the military history you’ll experience at Patriot’s Point. The naval craft includes the USS Laffey Destroyer and the Medal of Honor Museum. Another highlight for visitors is the opportunity to look closely at the original Apollo 8 capsule. Learn more about its journeys through dozens of interactive exhibits. The ships, vessels, and Vietnam Experience exhibit are fully open to the public.

While there, satisfy well-earned hunger with a hot lunch on the aircraft carrier or get a quick bite at the snack bar between tours.

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon

Address: The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, 122 E Bay St, Charleston SC

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon has been in Charleston since 1771 and was once utilized by British forces to house American POWs, enslaved individuals, and British soldiers. Today, this historic site focuses on colonial Charleston and its role in the American Revolution.

Even more fascinating is that The Old Exchange is one of only three remaining structures where the US Constitution was originally ratified. Charlestonians entertained President George Washington here during his southern tour.

Today, visitors can freely tour the top two floors and book half-hour guided tours of the cellar dungeon. Learn about how the Old Exchange was used between the American Revolution and the Civil War.

The Museum at Market Hall

Address: The Museum at Market Hall, 188 Meeting St, Charleston SC

The thousands of men rolling into town to sign up for service in the Civil War were sent to this recruiting station above the historic Charleston City Market. Here, they collected their supplies and weapons and received their orders. Remarkably, through the cooperation of numerous historical societies, many soldiers returned these wartime belongings, along with diaries, flags, and more, to this museum that opened in 1899. It’s known today as the Confederate Museum. It displays the effects of these soldiers.

Fort Sumter National Monument

Address: 340 Concord Street, Charleston, SC 29401

Fort Sumter National Monument in Charleston Harbor carries deep historical significance. The fort is situated on an artificial island at the entrance of the Harbor. Its purpose was to guard the harbor against potential naval attacks. That purpose narrowed into focus when the first shots of the Civil War were fired here. Today, the national monument commemorates the role played by Fort Sumter in the American Civil War.

Fort Sumter is only accessible by boat, and tours depart from Liberty Square in downtown Charleston. Private boats are not allowed access, so you’ll need to book a ticket to visit. The boat ride itself offers scenic views of Charleston Harbor and the surrounding area. Once at the fort, visitors can walk through the historic structure and see the remains of the original cannons and historic weaponry. Imagine the intensity of the conflict that unfolded on these grounds.

Old Slave Mart Museum

Address: 6 Chalmers St, Charleston, SC, 29401

Established in 1938, the Old Slave Mart Museum stands as Charleston’s pioneering institution dedicated to African American history. It is the first museum in the United States to focus on the history of slavery. Located in the heart of downtown Charleston, the museum occupies a significant historic site, once part of the city’s last major slave market and collection of buildings known as Ryan’s Mart. Today, under the stewardship of the City of Charleston, the Old Slave Mart Museum is committed to educating the public about the domestic slave trade. It shares a powerful and essential narrative that honors the resilience and contributions of African Americans. Through its exhibits and programs, the museum plays a crucial role in preserving and sharing this vital aspect of American history.

Aiken-Rhett House Museum

Address: 48 Elizabeth Street, Charleston, SC

The Aiken-Rhett House Museum is a well-preserved historic house built in 1820 and significantly expanded in the 1830s. It’s a prime example of Greek Revival architecture. The property includes the main house, slave quarters, outbuildings, and a yard. A walk through its rooms captures what urban life in antebellum Charleston was like. The Aiken family owned the home for over 140 years, and when ownership transferred to the Historic Charleston Foundation it was preserved “as-is.” Experience the original fixtures and see the full complexities of antebellum life, such as the treatment of African Americans in running the household.

Gibbes Museum of Art

Address: 135 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC

The Gibbes Museum’s collection includes over 10,000 works of art spanning four centuries. It features a wide range of media, including paintings, sculptures, prints, photographs, and decorative arts. The city’s only art museum has permanent exhibits focused on the rich artistic heritage of Charleston and the American South. See works from the Charleston Renaissance, when the arts scene boomed between the World Wars. It has the largest collection of American portrait miniatures, something that began in Charleston. The museum is housed in a historic Beaux-Arts building designed by Frank Pierce Milburn. The building itself is a work of art. It features classical architectural elements and modern amenities following a major renovation completed in 2016.

South Carolina Historical Society Museum

Address: 100 Meeting Street, Charleston, SC, 29401

The interactive exhibits in this landmark museum highlight the rich history of the Carolina Colonies and its role in shaping our nation. See early maps of the Carolinas and its role in the American Revolution. Galleries look at the early agricultural empire that shaped the antebellum period and the contributions of African Americans. Exhibits cover the Civil War era and the Charleston Earthquake of 1866. Learn about the diverse cultures that make up from South Carolina in the 19th and 20th century.

The building itself is a National Historic Landmark known as the Fireproof Building. It’s believed to be the first of its kind in the United States and constructed of stone masonry and iron. It’s one of the few building to escape the Charleston earthquake mostly undamaged.

Museums in Charleston

In addition to these historical museums, Charleston, South Carolina, has many art galleries and other places to explore the best of the past and present. Find many clustered around the Museum Mile, a stretch of Meeting Street with six museums, five historic houses, and four scenic parks. Tour the historic downtown by carriage, or use a curated guest guide for a walking tour of the city’s iconic architecture.

Updated July 2023