Charleston's Museum Mile Weekend

Event Details

Fourth annual Museum Mile Weekend. A single pass allows visitors complimentary admission to thirteen sites along and around Meeting Street in historic downtown Charleston over the course of the three-day weekend. Many of the cultural institutions will also offer special programs during Museum Mile Weekend. The Weekend Pass is only $25 for adults and $10 for children 12 and under. If purchased separately, adult admission for the participating sites would cost over $100 for adults and more than $50 for children.

Museum Mile Weekend passes are available now at www.charlestonsmuseummile.org or by calling (843) 722-2996 x235. Passes can be purchased in person at all official Charleston Visitor Center locations including the downtown location at 375 Meeting Street, in North Charleston at 4975-B Centre Point Drive and in Mt. Pleasant at 99 Harry Hallman Blvd.

Launched in 2008 as a cooperative marketing effort among non-profit organizations, Charleston's Museum Mile features the richest concentration of cultural sites open to visitors in downtown Charleston. Along and around the one-mile section of Meeting Street, visitors can discover six museums, five nationally important historic houses, four scenic parks and a Revolutionary War powder magazine. Once a year during Museum Mile Weekend, the attractions collaborate to offer admissions with a single pass.

"The Museum Mile Weekend Pass provides the perfect opportunity for visitors and locals to explore a rich assortment of superb sites for the low cost of just one ticket. Individuals and families will love the museums, parks and historic houses along the Mile, and we invite everyone to experience the history and beauty for themselves," says Kitty Robinson, Executive Director of Historic Charleston Foundation, which operates the Nathaniel Russell House and the Aiken-Rhett House museums. For more information, visit www.charlestonsmuseummile.org or call 843-722-2996 x235.
Participating Sites on Friday, Saturday and Sunday:
(special programming and any special Museum Mile Weekend hours are noted in bold)

Aiken-Rhett House - 48 Elizabeth Street
The Aiken-Rhett House was built in 1820 and then expanded by Gov. and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s. The house and its outbuildings have survived virtually unaltered since 1858. Children are invited to enjoy a scavenger hunt throughout the weekend as they explore the house, grounds and outbuildings and learn more about the people who lived and worked on the property.

The Charleston Museum - 360 Meeting Street
America's first museum showcases the cultural and natural history of South Carolina's Lowcountry. On Friday, a series of curator-led collection tours are offered: 10 a.m. Historic Textiles Gallery, 11 a.m. Charleston during the Civil War, 2p.m. Charleston Silver. Children's crafts and scavenger hunt occur Saturday 1-3 p.m..

Children's Museum of the Lowcountry - 25 Ann Street
The Children's Museum of the Lowcountry offers eight hands-on interactive learning environments for children 3 months to 10 years.

Confederate Museum - 188 Meeting Street
Since 1898, the Daughters of the Confederacy have operated the Confederate Museum, which contains flags, uniforms, swords and other Confederate memorabilia. This museum is closed on Sundays.

Edmondston-Alston House - 21 East Battery
The Edmondston-Alston House was one of the first dwellings built on Charleston's High Battery in 1825. View a fine collection of family furnishings, books, silver and paintings. See an exhibit of original family Civil War letters.

Gibbes Museum of Art- 135 Meeting Street
Experience Charleston's history through art! Explore stories of the Lowcountry as seen through painting, miniature portraiture, sculpture, photographs and more. Enjoy opening weekend of the special exhibition Sound and Vision: Monumental Rock & Roll Photography and docent-led tours of the museum every day at 2:30 p.m.

Heyward-Washington House - 87 Church Street
Built in 1772, "Charleston's Revolutionary War House" was the townhome of Thomas Heyward, Jr., Revolutionary War patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence. In addition to regular house tours, special Revolutionary War focus tours are offered Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 4 p.m..

Joseph Manigault House - 350 Meeting Street
"Charleston's Huguenot House" was built in 1803 and is a premier example of Adam-style, or Federal, architecture. Friday, Saturday & Sunday at 4 p.m., focus tours at the Joseph Manigault House will give a glimpse of the house's fascinating World War II history, in addition to regular house tours.

The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon - 122 East Bay Street
Completed in 1771 as the New Exchange and Custom House, visitors can explore Charleston's colonial, Revolutionary and Civil War past while retracing the steps of presidents, patriots and pirates!

Old Slave Mart Museum - 6 Chalmers Street
The Museum's exhibits focus on the domestic slave trade from the perspectives of historically-documented slaveowners, slave traders and enslaved African Americans, and speak to their stories, contributions and legacies. This museum is closed on Sundays.

The Powder Magazine - 79 Cumberland Street
South Carolina's oldest public building, The Powder Magazine (circa 1713) served as an arsenal within the old walled city and was utilized through the American Revolution. Musket drilling and musket cartridge rolling for kids will be offered Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Nathaniel Russell House - 51 Meeting Street
Visitors are invited to admire the grand Federal style townhouse of Charleston merchant Nathaniel Russell, built in 1808. Children are invited to enjoy a scavenger hunt and family-focused guided tours throughout the weekend.The scavenger hunt will include "clues" related to the museum's newest exhibit, The Russell Family and the Enslaved, which emphasizes the African-American experience at the Nathaniel Russell House and features revealing period artifacts.

South Carolina Historical Society -100 Meeting Street

The Historical Society is the state's oldest repository of letters, maps and images. In addition to special tours of the Fireproof Building, SCHS presents a digital exhibit, Eliza Lucas Pinckney: A Renaissance Woman in Colonial America. Friday's tours are at 1pm, 2pm, and 3pm and Saturday's tours at 11am, 12pm and 1pm. This site is closed on Sundays.