The State Museum
Some people in the Upcountry complain about the Columbia area. They say it’s too hot, there’s too much concrete and other trivial things. I admit I used to be one of those people. When Maxi and I met six years ago she was convinced she could make me like Columbia. I was convinced she was wrong. Now I admit I not only tolerate Columbia but have a deep appreciation for the area. Columbia has some of the best attractions in the state and arguably the best restaurants outside of Charleston. On August 7-8, 2009 Maxi and I made a visit to our capital city. We ate some barbecue, wished Smokey the Bear a Happy 65th at Congaree National Park and dropped by Finlay Park. While our main focus on this installment is the State Museum, I thought I’d share a few words about the places we visited Saturday.
For many months I have heard tales of mouth watering barbecue at Big T’s in Gadsden. Maxi and I had to get a few more pictures for an upcoming feature on Congaree National Park so it was a great opportunity to see what Big T had to offer. Located four miles from Congaree, they claim to have the best barbecue plate in South Carolina. We haven’t been to all the classics in Lexington and Williamsburg Counties yet, but I will say it was fantastic. Big T has the best macaroni and cheese we have ever consumed and the hash over rice was out of this world. The barbecue pork was hot, delicious and put smiles on our faces. Topped with the expected mustard based sauce of the Midlands the Big T Plate was $7. The portion was so large I made two meals out of it, which is a true feat for me.
After we waddled out of Big T’s we went to take a few more pictures at Congaree National Park. I recommend going to the park before, not after you eat barbecue! When we arrived at the park we learned that it was Smokey the Bear’s 65th Birthday. The park rangers were encouraging all the young children to make birthday cards for Smokey. Well, all the children and yours truly. After I finished coloring, one of the friendly rangers told me my card might win the birthday contest. To think, it only took me twenty three years to out color a seven year old. The next day we went to downtown Columbia to visit beautiful Finlay Park. The park, overlooking downtown, is a great place to get away and enjoy the outdoors. Finlay features waterfalls that cascade into a pond at the base of the park. I look forward to going back in the fall when the weather has cooled some.
Our main focus on this trip was one of my favorite attractions in South Carolina, the State Museum. Located in the old Columbia Mills Building in downtown Columbia, the museum opened in the fall of 1988. Completed in 1894, the mill was the first totally electric textile mill in the world. The State Museum offers four floors of countless enjoyment that includes art, natural history, science & technology and cultural history. Every time we frequent the museum we allow ourselves two or three hours and still don’t see all the exhibits. The museum is vast and gives you glimpses of the past, present and perspective of future possibilities.
On this trip we started with the fourth floor, dedicated to South Carolina’s cultural history. There is a short film on our state history that is presented each half hour. The narrator tells the Palmetto State’s story to a group of young children around a candlelit backcountry cabin. His demeanor reminds you of a wise grandfather that makes history come to life. At the conclusion of the film you wind your way through exhibits chronicling the state’s history. You will learn of the cruelty that the Native Americans experienced when DeSoto came through their capital of Cofitachequi in 1540. Other exhibits tell of the joy those first permanent settlers felt when they arrived at Albemarle Point. South Carolina’s colonial days came to a climax with the bloody American Revolution. Many South Carolinians fought for liberty while some remained loyal to the English Crown. When the dust settled the American Colonies had won their freedom. While most were overjoyed, many South Carolinians were not free.
Thousands of Africans were sold into slavery, taken from their homeland forever. A display shows their pain, working tirelessly on a sun scorched plantation. You can listen to Gullah being spoken on a recording, a language African Americans used to keep their heritage alive. Antebellum life shows the many changes in South Carolina from the Nullification Crisis in 1832 to our eventual secession in 1860. Confederate flags, weapons and uniforms are kept in mint condition. One of my favorite replicas in the museum is the H.L. Hunley, the first submarine to sink an enemy ship in combat. When the Civil War ended slavery was gone forever. South Carolina had tough times ahead. Reconstruction and the following decades saw the state struggle financially. A one room schoolhouse shows rural Spartanburg County life in the 1870’s and a country store shows humble times at the turn of the century. All of these displays remind us that history shapes who we are today. Through good times and hardships we can learn from our past to make life better for future generations.
With me being such a history fanatic I don’t spend as much time on the other floors as I would like. The third floor is all about science and technology. There are many exciting hands on exhibits on this floor. A replica of the “Best Friend of Charleston” is housed here. Check out our photo gallery to see me sitting inside my favorite train. Maxi enjoys the optical illusions, but I’ll admit I never have the patience to accomplish the objective. Nobel Prize winning scientist Charles Townes’ accomplishments are featured here. Townes won the Nobel Prize for his efforts on the development of the laser and maser in 1964. The Clemson airplane hangs high as if ready to take to the skies. This plane, constructed in 1928, was the first to be built by college students. Science exhibits and principles show South Carolina’s contribution to science and space exploration. A diorama shows the progress of railroads around a small mill town. Children love this exhibit and some of them watch the train for several minutes. Automobiles from the first half of the 20th Century showcase the good ol’ days. When we brought my Grandmother last year her face lit up when she saw the old cars that took her back to that simple time.
The museum’s second floor tells of our natural history. This floor is interesting in many ways, especially when you consider our diverse landscape from the mountains to the sea. Five dioramas showcase South Carolina’s different habitats. These habitats include a mountain cove, piedmont stream, sandhills habitat, river bottom swamp forest and a beach/ salt marsh. Creatures from the Cenozoic and Pleistocene Eras are favorites here as children can experience animals that have been extinct for many years. The Megalodon scares children every time as they round the corner in this area. I think it has taken us by surprise as well. The life sized replica of the Mastodon is life like in every sense. This distant cousin of the elephant has curving tusks that measure ten feet in length. There is also a model of a 43 foot white shark that makes “Jaws” look diminutive. Also located on the second floor is the museum’s restaurant, the Crescent Cafe. Here you can indulge yourself in refreshing lunches that include sandwiches, soups and salads. The State Museum also holds movies on this floor dealing mostly with natural occurrences.
On the first floor you will find the Lipscomb Art Gallery. This 7,800 square foot gallery houses some of the finest works from artists across the state. These exhibits change twice annually. Located near the museum’s entrance is the Cotton Mill Exchange. This gift shop houses the most extensive collection of Palmetto themed merchandise in South Carolina. Any Sandlapper item you can possibly imagine is available for purchase here. We are going to do most of our Christmas shopping here. As a bonus to the museum you can view the Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum for two additional dollars. The collection includes various flags, uniforms and weapons used in our nation’s bloody struggle that pitted brother against brother. One artifact I found particularly interesting was a wedding dress worn on the day Sherman’s troops made a “friendly” visit to Columbia. While exhibits come and go the State Museum consistently delivers quality features that both educate and inspire. Visits to the museum are always memorable for first time visitors and members alike. Columbia’s current slogan might be “famously hot”, but here at the State Museum it’s always a pleasant seventy degrees.
Admission: Adults 13-61- $7 Seniors 62 & Over- $5 Children 3-12- $3 Infants 2 & Under-FREE
301 Gervais Street Columbia, South Carolina 29201 (803) 898-4921
To see more photos of the State Museum click here. For more photos of Richland County click here.
I finally was able to read about your trip to Columbia. Love the picture posted at the beginning of the article and the descriptions of all the places you visited made me want to re-visit our capital.