10 Must-See Museums in Charleston

Gibbes Museum of Art

Climb aboard a WWII aircraft carrier. Uncover the history of the H.L. Hunley. Take a visit to America’s first museum. Whether you’re interested in art, science, manuscripts or fossils, Charleston has the perfect museum just waiting to be explored. Scroll through to check out 10 must-see museums in the Lowcountry.

Want to learn more about Charleston’s deep-rooted history? Discover 21 spots every history buff needs to visit in Charleston.

Children's Museum of the Lowcountry

Grab the family and climb to the top of a medieval castle, take the helm of a Lowcountry pirate ship or create a masterpiece in the museum’s Art Center!

Patriot's Point Naval & Maritime Museum

Step aboard the historic aircraft carrier the USS Yorktown to visit the Medal of Honor Museum at Patriots Point, which aims to tell the story of the brave Americans who have served and protected the United States of America. The Medal of Honor Museum pays tribute to those who have served in the Civil War all the way to the War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Gibbes Museum of Art

Step inside this Beaux Arts building that is as fetching as the 10,000 works of Southern art it houses. Since 1858, the Gibbes Museum has hosted exhibitions with a regional connection, while its permanent collection includes many pieces of merit from the 1915 – 1940 Charleston Renaissance.

Charleston Museum

Celebrated as America’s first museum, this downtown institution masterfully interprets the cultural and natural history of the Charleston area with hands-on exhibits that include fossils, colonial clothing and more.

Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art

The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of Arts features two interlinked museum quality exhibition spaces showcasing numerous works of art by emerging artists. The Institute also hosts a year-round schedule of screenings, panels, lectures and exhibitions.

South Carolina Historical Society

The South Carolina Historical Society Museum is housed in a National Historic Landmark building and features interactive exhibits on the people, places and movements that shaped both the state of South Carolina and the nation.

Friends of the Hunley

In 1864, the Confederate submarine H.L. Hunley sank the USS Housatonic off the coast of Charleston and made history as the first submarine ever to sink an enemy ship. The Hunley then vanished along with its crew of eight and was lost for over a century. Visit The Friends of the Hunley museum to learn more about the discovery and history of the Hunley.

North Charleston Fire Museum

Home to a variety of priceless firefighting artifacts, including 18 historic engines, this hands-on museum puts you as close to a fire as possible without getting burned.

International African American Museum

Spend the afternoon at the International African American Museum. Explore exhibits featuring historic figures and events from slavery to the civil rights movement to the present before visiting The Center for Family History, a groundbreaking resource that will help individuals advance their understanding of their family history and the role their ancestors played in shaping American history. *Opening 2023

Old Slave Mart Museum

This museum explores the history of Africans who where forcibly brought to America, and the hardships they endured.

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