Charleston's Museum Mile Weekend 2011

Event Details

The cultural sites along Charleston's Museum Mile have come together for the third annual Museum Mile Weekend on September 23-25, 2011. This year, Friday has been added to what has been a two-day weekend, so now pass holders have even more time to enjoy the Mile. A single pass allows visitors complimentary admission to thirteen sites along and around Meeting Street in historic downtown Charleston. 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 and will be available beginning July 25 at all Charleston Visitor Center locations including the downtown location at 375 Meeting Street and in Mt. Pleasant at 99 Harry Hallman Blvd. Online purchasers will receive their passes in the mail.

"The Museum Mile Weekend Pass offers a great value and a unique opportunity for locals and tourists to visit the cultural attractions for just one price. There is so much to see and do along the Mile, and we invite everyone to participate," notes Angela Mack, Executive Director of the Gibbes Museum of Art. 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 italics)

Aiken-Rhett House - 48 Elizabeth Street
Built in 1820 and greatly expanded by Gov. and Mrs. William Aiken, Jr. in the 1830s, this house and its outbuildings have survived as a time capsule 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: 10:00 a.m. Silver, 11:00 a.m. Charleston maps, 2:00 p.m. Natural History hall, & 3:00 Threads of War. Children's crafts and scavenger hunt Saturday 10:00 a.m. - noon.

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.

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 (4:00pm), 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.

Confederate Museum - 188 Meeting Street (closed Sundays)
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.

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. Note hours of operation change: visitation each day 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Pirate storytelling with period-dressed Eric Lavender and his parrot on Friday at 1:30 p.m. (additional fee may be required for the pirate program; for more information, call 843-722-9350 or visit www.PowderMag.org). Revolutionary drum and fife presentations and musket cartridge rolling for kids Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Lecture - The Stono Rebellion with historian Michael Coker on Sunday at 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. (recommended for adults).

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. Exhibitions on view include The Charleston Story, The Creative Spirit: Vernacular Art from the Gadsden Arts Center Permanent Collection, and In Search of Julien Hudson: Free Artist of Color in Pre-Civil War New Orleans. Docent-led tours of the museum will be offered at 2:30pm on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

South Carolina Historical Society -100 Meeting Street (closed Friday)
The Historical Society is the state's oldest repository of letters, maps, and images. The Society's exhibit, "Know Your State's History," will be followed by a fun trivia game to test your knowledge of South Carolina's past. Tours of the exhibit will be given at the top of the hour. Hours are 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. SCHS is not open on Friday.

Old Slave Mart Museum - 6 Chalmers Street (closed Sundays)
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. On Friday and Saturday at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m., the director will conduct connoisseur tours of the museum and share the stories of several individuals who passed through this auction complex. Children are invited to enjoy a scavenger hunt throughout the weekend. This museum is closed Sundays.

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!

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 4:00 pm at the Heyward-Washington House.

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 to learn more about the house and garden as well as all of the people who lived and worked on the property.

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. Guided tours discuss Secessionists, Soldiers, and Slaves: The Alston Family's Civil War. Eye-Spy game available for children.

About Charleston Museum's Mile
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.

The Charleston Museum
Rachel Giesy Chesser
PR & Events Coodinator
[email protected]
(843) 722-2996 x235
Gibbes Museum of Art
Marla Loftus
Director of Museum Relations
[email protected]
843) 722-2706 x38