Set in a renovated textile mill on the banks of the Congaree River in downtown Columbia, a mile from the state's capital, the South Carolina State Museum is home to an observatory, a dome planetarium, a 4-D interactive theater and four floors of permanent and rotating exhibits that tell the history of the Palmetto State. The museum's collection includes more than 70,000 artifacts divided into four main disciplines: Cultural History, Natural History, Science & Technology, and South Carolina Art.
Best and worst time to go to the S.C. State Museum
The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, except major holidays, with a slightly extended closing time on Saturdays (6 p.m.) and a noon opening on Sundays. If you'd like to go in the evening, the museum extends its hours to 8 p.m. on Tuesdays at a special rate ($10 general admission for two after 5 p.m.).
Must see/do at the S.C. State Museum
Don't miss the museum's natural history collection, which includes arthropods more than 500 million years old, 70-million-year-old dinosaur bones, 40-million-year-old whales, a mastodon replica, a model of a giant prehistoric megalodon shark, and displays of animals that currently live in the Palmetto State. Journey to the fourth floor, where the cultural history collection has more than 45,000 artifacts that date to Native American settlements 14,000 years ago and through colonial times, the Revolutionary War and Civil War. Among the displays: Indian pottery, a late 19th-century schoolhouse and a replica of the CSS Hunley, a Confederate submarine. The museum's 55-foot-tall digital dome planetarium includes a 145-seat theater that has daily programs such as astronomy and laser light shows.
Admission to the S.C. State Museum
General admission is $9 to $10 for adults, with slight discounts for children (ages 3 to 12), seniors (62 and over) and military. Children 2 and under are free. General admission allows guests into the four floors of permanent collections but does not include entry into the 4D theater, planetarium shows or "blockbuster" temporary exhibits. Explorer passes that include entry to the three optional attractions may be purchased for an additional $3 per attraction. Annual memberships are also available ($50 for individuals to $100 for families) that include unlimited general admission, one-time blockbuster exhibit tickets, 4D theater and planetarium tickets or discounts, cafe and gift shop discounts, and member appreciation events.
Parking and public transportation to the S.C. State Museum
Ample free parking is available on site. The COMET, Columbia's public transportation system, has a daily route -- the 26 West Columbia -- that has a stop at the intersection of Gervais and Huger streets, less than a five-minute walk from the museum. Visit the COMET website to view connecting routes and times from various sections of the city.
Food at the S.C. State Museum
The on-site Crescent Cafe has an extensive menu that includes salads, soups, fresh fruit and a variety of sandwiches, snacks and desserts. The cafe is open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. most days, with extended hours on Saturdays.
Insider tip for visitors to the S.C. State Museum
The museum's "Second Shift Twosdays" is an enticing date-night option for couples, as the museum keeps its exhibits, planetarium and 4D theater open until 8 p.m., with frequent special concerts, theater shows and laser light shows. Check the museum website for the upcoming Tuesday schedule. In addition, the observatory is typically open until 10 p.m., with a live sky tour where planetarium staff identifies constellations, planets and other celestial objects in the skies above South Carolina.
Author's bio: Kevin Adams, a freelance writer who is a South Carolina native, has had travel articles appear on USAToday.com and in Golfweek magazine.