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Top Museums in Charleston, SC
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Museums
69
Museums
Art Galleries
42
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15
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13
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6
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3
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2
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1
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We found
69 results
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Museums
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
621 reviews
#1 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Bruce (our
docent
...) was incredibly informative: he let us in on the congregation's origins, Carolina's origins, and the impacts of the Civil War.The architecture of the place is also a wonderful (if sobering...)..."
"A Fascinating bit of
Jewish history
in Charleston via film and docent tour, known as the birthplace of Reform Judaism in America"
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Fort Sumter National Monument
5,551 reviews
#2 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"It is an Awesome way to spend an afternoon, a ferry ride and a guided tour of the fort and then time just to wonder around the fort, Awesome for pictures, great
gift shop
and Park Rangers were Great."
"The
Park Ranger
that gave a brief intro to the history of Fort Sumter was very informative and had an excellent note about perspective that encouraged thoughtful reflection as we toured the island."
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See 12 Experiences
Nathaniel Russell House
1,946 reviews
#3 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Built in 1808 by slave trader Nathaniel Russell, this is recognized as one of America's best Neoclassical house (inspired by the
architecture
of ancient Greece and Rome, with porches and columns)."
"Many had origins in the Charleston area; the house is owned by the
Historic Charleston
Foundation and they are endeavoring to present the house as it was in the early 19th Century."
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See 9 Experiences
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
1,361 reviews
#4 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"The guided tour of the dungeon was interesting, with stories of events surrounding political prisoners, gun ammo storage, and English tea! Upstairs, you will see
artifacts
that date back to the 1700’s and 1800’s s..."
"Such great insight into
Charleston history
and the city’s place in both Revolutionary and Civil War history."
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See 21 Experiences
The Charleston Museum
1,026 reviews
#5 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"... definitely something for everyone to enjoy, including lots of war history, fossils and skeletons, a kids room, lowcountry/slavery history, an armory, and even some early civilization history (including a
mummy
)."
"wonderful history and diorama of the city; enjoyed textile area; and history of rice growing; many animals and birds from "old"
museum
of MANY yrs ago ; EXC staff who was so accomodating ; spent 90 min there and t..."
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See 4 Experiences
Heyward-Washington House
390 reviews
#6 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"This is a fascinating dive into old Charleston history, with vintage furniture including one of the most priceless bookcases in the U.S. The
tour guide
, who was an English lady was superb, very knowledgeable and e..."
"Cost of one adult is $12 and they have a deal where you can get tours of the
Charleston Museum
, which is awesome and your choice of the Heyward-Washington House or the Joseph Manigault house for $18."
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Edmondston-Alston House
941 reviews
#7 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Located at 21 East Battery, the three-story house was built between 1820 and 1828 and has a panoramic view of Charleston Harbor and the High Battery, the city's well known
waterfront
promenade."
"I would highly recommend touring this house which has the most incredible views of
Fort Sumter
from the second floor veranda!"
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Old Slave Mart Museum
1,449 reviews
#8 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Excellently organized and meticulously researched, this
museum
provides an honest and extremely sobering account of the slave trade in our country's history."
"The dioramas that tell the story of slavery from every sad, sordid perspective are expertly laid out and the audio histories of surviving slaves bring their
stories
to life for all of us to think about."
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Gibbes Museum of Art
118 reviews
#9 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"From their collection of 18th and 19th century paintings and
sculptures
, mini portraits, Modern and Contemporary Art, to their special exhibits and installations, there is sure to be something that will keep you e..."
"
Galleries
1 and 4 offer a look at antebellum Charleston, with portraits and furniture of wealthy Charlestonians, plus familiar Neoclassical themes (Rome, mythological scenes) as well as scenes from the Civil War."
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Robert Lange Studios
87 reviews
#10 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Gallery owners, Megan and Robert, are both incredibly talented painters, who have created a beautiful venue representing a diverse array of
artists
."
"Unlike many other
galleries
primarily or exclusively dedicated to the selling of artworks, which makes casual browsing an uncomfortable and overwhelming experience, RLS is welcoming and fun!"
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Confederate Museum
344 reviews
#11 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"In 1899, the United Daughters of the Confederacy began using Market Hall to house the Confederate
Museum
, which displayed Confederate artifacts and other items from Charleston's Civil War period."
"The artifacts
on display
cover a wide area of interests, including old photos & paintings, weapons, clothing, journals & ledgers, the list goes on."
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The Williams Mansion
1,538 reviews
#12 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"This gorgeous home is a
museum
of antiques and fine architecture, as well as a treasure trove of art by Tiffany (spanning his early years, during which Tiffany was an artisan, and including at least one of his sig..."
"There is so much detail and such an eclectic collection of
artifacts
inside, ranging from Joseph (Napoleon's brother) Bonaparte's daybed to footstools made of real elephant's feet all from the Gilded age."
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Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
201 reviews
#13 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Everyone enjoyed the art making & kinetic sand, were impressed by the mid evil
castle
& loved the grocery store & awesome water area which simulated the water cycle."
"There's the art room, where you can create freely, draw, paint, play with magnets or with colorful sand, there's a pirate room, a supermarket, a
medieval
castle, a water room that teaches evaporation, condensation..."
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The Powder Magazine
124 reviews
#14 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Since the early 1900s, it has been operated as
museum
by the National Society of the Colonial Dames of America."
"I really like all the displays and all of the historical perspective and education that is
on display
."
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Meyer Vogl Gallery
30 reviews
#15 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"I'm especially fond of the bird
paintings
."
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One Of A Kind
27 reviews
#16 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"The lady working in there is so knowledgeable and friendly, and we consider this
shop
one of our favorite stores in Charleston."
"One of a Kind features
sculptures
, art, jewelry, dolls, and home decor among a variety of other things."
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Postal Museum
25 reviews
#17 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"My children love US
history
and really enjoyed this (even though a lot of the facts are from the Civil War era, there is a fair amount of info from the Revolutionary War era, too)."
"The Postal
Museum
inside the Post Office on Broad Street is a cool place to visit and learn about history."
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City Gallery at Waterfront Park
17 reviews
#18 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"It was beautifully put together with great info on the
artists
and context for the cultural and political space of the art."
"They have a well curated art gallery with a rotating series of
exhibits
that are always worth a visit."
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The Best Friend Train Museum
22 reviews
#19 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"The Best Friend is clean and impressive (its a
replica
but still, impressive) while the information stands around it help non-Charleston residents learn about the train as well as rail transportation of the area."
"My family and I found this little train
museum
by accident or luck while exploring the area around this visitor center and the Charleston
museum
."
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Historic Charleston Foundation
38 reviews
#20 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"I needed to pick up a "Thank You" gift for the owners of the home we were visiting and thought immediately of the Foundation's
gift shop
."
"The $25 tickets are available online.The tour begins at the HCF
gift shop
--rain or shine."
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French Quarter Art walk charleston sc
19 reviews
#21 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"The closer you get to Charleston, SC., the more you see art everywhere...From the city tours by horse carriages, to the best travel anyone can enjoy—ones feet—Charleston offers artistic variations from
galleries
t..."
"It’s a great way to sss a lot of
galleries
’ works without feeling like you’re going to be pressured into buying when you walk into a gallery."
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South Carolina Historical Society Museum
16 reviews
#22 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Founded in 1855 to preserve South Carolina's rich historical legacy, the South Carolina Historical Society
Museum
is the state's oldest and largest private repository of books, letters, journals, maps, drawings an..."
"It has been featured in The Wall Street Journal because the Fireproof Building is an architectural gem of national prominence, and the compact museum brings the state's
history
to life with interactive exhibits an..."
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Mace Brown Museum of Natural History
18 reviews
#23 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"This free museum is packed with other fossils as well from stromatolites through Pleistocene Ice Age animals (think mammoth and giant ground
sloths
), and a fossil "dig" where kids can sift through sand for shark t..."
"To fully grasp the
museums
exhibits you must cross the street to the library to view the skeletal remains of a T-Rex named Bucky, amazing."
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Principle Gallery Charleston
17 reviews
#24 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Fantastic
art
show"
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Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art
11 reviews
#25 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art in Charleston, South Carolina, is a non-profit, no-collecting contemporary art institute within the School of Fine Arts at the
College
of Charleston."
"Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston is an awesome art venue and gallery that has great
displays
that run for a limited time."
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Charleston Crafts
8 reviews
#26 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Everything is handcrafted in South Carolina and sold daily by one of the exhibiting
artists
."
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Pink House Gallery
24 reviews
#27 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Built between 1694 and 1712 of pinkish Bermuda stone by John Breton in the city's French Quarter, is one of the
oldest
buildings in South Carolina and is the second
oldest
residence in Charleston after the Colonel..."
"This is the
oldest
house in Charleston and it's worth seeing."
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See 4 Experiences
Avery Research Center
9 reviews
#28 of 69 Museums in Charleston
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Rick Reinart Fine Art Gallery
8 reviews
#29 of 69 Museums in Charleston
"Charleston has been a bit of a disappointment in some respects but the locals are lucky to have so many fine art
galleries
with so many high quality paintings and sculptures to chose from."
"Friendly people and
great art
"
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Ella W. Richardson Fine Art
8 reviews
#30 of 69 Museums in Charleston
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Frequently Asked Questions about Charleston
What are the best places for museums in Charleston?
These places are best for museums in Charleston:
Fort Sumter National Monument
Nathaniel Russell House
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
Old Slave Mart Museum
The Charleston Museum
See more museums in Charleston on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Charleston for kids and families?
These are the best places for kid-friendly museums in Charleston:
Fort Sumter National Monument
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
The Charleston Museum
Children's Museum of the Lowcountry
The Best Friend Train Museum
See more museums for kids in Charleston on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Charleston for couples?
These are the best places for couples seeking museums in Charleston:
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Fort Sumter National Monument
Nathaniel Russell House
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
The Charleston Museum
See more museums for couples in Charleston on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Charleston for groups?
These are the best places for groups seeking museums in Charleston:
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Fort Sumter National Monument
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
See more museums for groups in Charleston on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best museums in Charleston for travelers on a budget?
These are the best places for budget-friendly museums in Charleston:
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Fort Sumter National Monument
Nathaniel Russell House
Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
The Charleston Museum
See more budget-friendly museums in Charleston on Tripadvisor
Which places provide the best hidden gems for museums in Charleston?
These are the best hidden gems for museums in Charleston:
Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim
Old Slave Mart Museum
Meyer Vogl Gallery
See more hidden gem museums in Charleston on Tripadvisor