Best museums in Charleston that are worth your time

Renowned as one of the country's oldest cities, Charleston has plenty of history and culture to offer. It even boasts America's oldest museum and attractions that have played a critical role in South Carolina and American history. From Civil War-era forts to Antebellum plantations, Charleston's museum scene includes a treasure trove of American history.

If you're looking for famous museums in Charleston, you'll find the top sites and exhibits below. These include centuries-old museums like the Gibbes Museum of Art, alongside cutting-edge gallery spaces fostering contemporary voices. There are family-friendly exhibits and alternative options to make your trip to Charleston unique.

Best history museums in Charleston

1. Charleston Museum

One of the USA's oldest museums, the Charleston Museum is a treasure trove of local and regional history. It was founded in 1773 and contains everything from whaling and slaving artifacts to secession-related displays.

Highlights:

Book a city tour and museum combo for entry into the museum following a bus tour of Charleston. Admire architectural highlights like the Battery Seawall and get a deeper knowledge of the city's fortifications in the museum.

Address and opening hours:

360 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States. The museum is open Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, and Sundays, 12:00 PM-5:00 PM.

2. Fort Sumter

The first battle site of the American Civil War, Fort Sumter, was attacked by Confederate forces on April 12, 1861. You can explore the island fort's ramparts and centuries-old canons.

Highlights:

Get a Fort Sumter entry and ferry ticket to the island. Check out the informative museum on Liberty Square before or after you use the ferry.

Address and opening hours:

South Carolina 29412, United States. Open daily, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.

3. Edmondston-Alston House

This fine example of a Federal-style home was built in 1825 and revived in 1837 under Charles Alston. The Alstons were among Charleston's elite, with family members serving as governors, legislators, and plantation owners in South Carolina.

Highlights:

Take the Edmonston-Alston House walking tour for access to both the house and the surrounding Battery strip. Learn of the Alstons and their link to the Civil War through their well-preserved furnishings.

Address and opening hours:

21 E Battery, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. Open Monday, 1:00 PM-4:00 PM, and Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 AM-4:00 PM.

Best art museums in Charleston

4. Halsey Gallery of Contemporary Art

Situated at the College of Charleston School of Arts, this contemporary space specializes in up-and-coming and overlooked artists. You'll discover recent curations and residence programs spanning sculpture, painting, photography, and more.

Highlights:

Get access to the museum as part of a Strong Women of the South history tour. It's the perfect excursion for those seeking the alternative side of Charleston.

Address and opening hours:

161 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. Open during exhibitions, Monday-Saturday, 11:00 AM-7:00 PM.

5. Gibbes Museum of Art

This ornate Beaux-Arts gallery is in the heart of Charleston's Historic District. It houses a varied collection of Southern artworks with a Charleston and Lowcountry focus.

Highlights:

The Gibbes Museum of Art boasts rotating exhibits with a contemporary focus alongside a fine permanent collection. Highlights include miniatures by Charles Fraser and Mary Roberts, as well as abstract works by local icon William Melton Halsey.

Address and opening hours:

135 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. Open daily, 10:00 AM-5:00 PM.

6. Robert Lange Studios

With a delightful location in Charleston's bustling French Quarter, Robert Lange Studios is both a gallery and an artist's residence. It's beloved by locals and visitors alike for its unique and contemporary art showcases.

Highlights:

Get hands-on with family-friendly interactive exhibits at Robert Lange Studios. You can also view the live studio workspace or browse purchasable work by exciting new artists.

Address and opening hours:

2 Queen St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. Open daily, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. Evening events are also hosted.

Best design museums in Charleston

7. Philip Simmons House and Workshop

Renowned for his craft in blacksmithing, Philip Simmons is one of Charleston's most famous artisans. You can tour the home and studio where he created many iconic iron gate designs found across Charleston today.

Highlights:

Gain insight into the legendary artisan with the African-American History & Simmons House Tour. You'll also discover Charleston's Black history with a 2-hour tour of key streets and sites.

Address and opening hours:

30 1/2 Blake St, Charleston, SC 29403, United States. Open daily, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM.

8. Magnolia Plantation

Encompassing a sprawling plantation from 1676, this bucolic estate houses manicured gardens with themed designs. The house itself contains period decor and decorative art from the 19th century.

Highlights:

Book the Magnolia Plantation tour with pickup from Charleston to explore the gardens. Magnolia Plantation is renowned for containing America's last large-scale romantic-designed garden and many hidden trails to explore.

Address and opening hours:

375 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA. Tour dates vary. Departure is at 9:30 AM.

9. Rainbow Row

A living museum to Charleston's heritage, Rainbow Row is among the city's most picturesque streets. Rows of pastel-painted houses offer both a time capsule of the 18th century and the street's colorful restoration in the 1930s.

Highlights:

Get a museum-like deep dive into the street's significance with a historical walking and storytelling tour. Tours take in Rainbow Row's history as a trading wharf from the 1730s.

Address and opening hours:

83-107 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. Tour times and dates vary.

Best science museums in Charleston

10. Patriots Point Naval and Maritime Museum

This iconic naval museum in Charleston's scenic suburb of Mount Pleasant houses a number of exciting displays on the science of seafaring. One of its star attractions is the USS Yorktown, a large aircraft carrier from the Second World War.

Highlights:

Get a unique perspective of the museum with the Patriot's Point Haunted USS Yorktown tour. You'll learn some seafaring ghost tales and other haunted secrets with exclusive access to the museum and ship at night.

Address and opening hours:

40 Patriots Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States. Tour dates vary, starting from 7:00 PM.

11. Mace Brown Museum of Natural History

Created from a large collection of natural history artifacts assembled by Mace Brown, this curious museum is a welcome treat for families. Hands-on exhibits of fossils, skeletons, and casts allow you to get a grip on evolution up close.

Highlights:

The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is free to enter from its cozy location on the College of Charleston campus. Highlights include attractive displays of dolphins and whales that outline the evolution of the flipper.

Address and opening hours:

202 Calhoun St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. Open Thursday-Tuesday, 11:00 AM-4:00 PM. Closed on Wednesdays.

12. South Carolina Aquarium

With a focus on local maritime life, this charming aquarium offers great insight into South Carolina's wildlife. Exhibits re-create coastal, forest, and salt marsh ecosystems to show how rattlesnakes, otters, and alligators contribute to marine ecology, too.

Highlights:

Located near Charleston's scenic Liberty Square, the aquarium is the perfect excursion before a historic harbor cruise. The aquarium's highlights include a touch tank, a sea turtle care center, and a great ocean tank.

Address and opening hours:

100 Aquarium Wharf, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. Open daily, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.

Alternative museums in Charleston

13. Provost Dungeon

Built in 1771 as a Palladian-style customs house, British forces transformed Provost into a prisoner of war camp during the Revolutionary War. Its interiors are suitably soaked in history, including cramped dungeon corridors that kids will love to creep around in.

Highlights:

While the interiors are a must-visit, so are its surrounding alleys. Book a ghost- and dungeon-themed walking tour for an atmospheric evening in Charleston's haunted historic center.

Address and opening hours:

122 E Bay St, Charleston, SC 29401, United States. The Museum is open Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, and on Sunday, 11:00 AM-5:00 PM. Tour times and dates vary.

14. Boone Hall Plantation

Renowned for its breathtaking Avenue of Oaks, planted in 1743, Boone Hall Plantation estate engages with its history and connections to slavery. There are sobering displays and a cultural outreach program that includes Gullah culture, songs, and performances.

Highlights:

Book this Boone Hall Plantation day trip from Charleston to explore the gardens, estate, and original cabins, and hear the eye-opening and tenacious stories preserved by the Gullah people.

Address and opening hours:

1235 Long Point Rd, Mt Pleasant, SC 29464, United States. Boone Hall is open Monday-Saturday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM, and Sunday, 12:00 PM-5:00 PM. Tours depart Charleston daily at 11:15 AM.

15. Middleton Place House Museum

This 1741 plantation was once among the largest and remains one of the oldest landscaped gardens in the country. While its main estate was burned by Union soldiers in 1865, a 1755-built wing survives and houses a well-preserved museum.

Highlights:

Explore the estate's expansive grounds and canals with a Middleton Place day trip from Charleston. Explore the museum's original furnishings and antiques used by the Middleton family in a pre-war setup.

Address and opening hours:

4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, United States. Tour times and dates vary. Middleton Place is open daily, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM.

FAQs

What are the must-visit museums in Charleston?

Charleston's vibrant Museum Mile is the go-to spot for essential Lowcountry culture. You'll find The Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston Museum, Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry, Aiken-Rhett House Museum, and Joseph Manigault House all along this scenic downtown stretch. Other must-visits include Fort Sumter, The Powder Magazine, and Provost Dungeon, among other landmarks from Charleston's wartime history.

Are there any free museums in Charleston?

Yes. The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History is the best free science museum in Charleston's center. Other free-to-access institutes include Karpeles Manuscript Museum, Charleston Postal Museum, and City Gallery at Waterfront Park.

Are there any museums in Charleston that are suitable for children and families?

For those visiting Charleston with young ones, the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry provides fun zones exploring South Carolina history, from pirate playgrounds to touch-and-feel science displays. Other highlights include South Carolina Aquarium, Fort Sumter, and the Maritime Museum at Patriots Points.

For which museums in Charleston are guided tours recommended?

Some captivating lived-in spaces like Joseph Manigault House offers a Historic City and Southern Mansion combo tour to enrich your experience. A historical walking tour of Charleston unveils hidden details and context that adds extra wealth to your museum experience.

Are there any museum passes or discount cards available for visiting multiple museums in Charleston?

A Charleston Tour Pass with 40+ Attractions offers access to attractions with discounts. The Charleston Museum also runs Joseph Manigault House, Heyward-Washington House, and Dill Sanctuary, offering combo tickets for entry to all sites.