Events

State Museum Marks 35th Anniversary with Birthday Celebration on November 4th

Published

1 year ago

October 12, 2023

Press Release

The South Carolina State Museum will celebrate its 35th anniversary on Saturday, November 4 with a special day featuring free general admission, live music and dance performances, behind-the-scenes tours of collections storage, a new exhibition and much more.

During the day, guests can enjoy pop-up performances including the Claflin University Concert Choir, The Wilder Flower, an all-female bluegrass trio, Dancing on Air, a breakdancing team, performances from the Palmetto Swing Association and the Capital City Shag Club, Women of the River Drum Group and local jazz musicians, Weatherproof featuring Mark Rouse and Friends.

“Since we first opened in 1988, the State Museum has shared South Carolina’s history, art, technology and natural wonders with the public,” says Amy Bartow-Melia, South Carolina State Museum Executive Director. “We invite those from across the state to celebrate with us as we reflect on the past and look forward to our future.”

Opening on November 4, the museum’s newest exhibition, The Story of Us: Sharing Our Past, Building Our Future, highlights the history of the State Museum and explores its future. The exhibition will feature 50 objects, including a recently acquired 1815 Bible once owned by a Charleston abolitionist William Turpin. The historic Bible contains a list of 31 names of enslaved persons emancipated by Turpin. The Story of Us will also answer many frequently asked questions about the museum such as, “What was the first artifact collected?” “What’s the oldest object?” and “How does the museum decide what to add to its collection?” Guests will also discover how the museum plans to highlight more of South Carolina’s stories in the future through its Reimagine the Experience project.

This special event will also mark the re-opening of The Cotton Mill Exchange in the Main Lobby. Guests are invited to shop for unique SC-themed gifts in the newly renovated space, just in time for the holiday season.

Guests can enjoy an outdoor cash bar with a variety of non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverages, including a specialty craft beer designed for the museum called “Finns Up,” created by Columbia Craft Brewing Company, and food available for purchase from the museum’s Crescent Café by The Food Academy and a variety of local food trucks