The South Carolina Historical Society

The South Carolina Historical Society More than a museum, library, or archives: a treasury of knowledge to be discovered.
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As the state's oldest historical society, our mission is to expand, preserve, and make accessible our invaluable collection, and to encourage interest in the rich history of our state.

Stop by the Fireproof Building June 23 – July 4 for free children's activities on the patio! We'll have flag making, col...
06/23/2026

Stop by the Fireproof Building June 23 – July 4 for free children's activities on the patio! We'll have flag making, coloring sheets, and more — plus free graphic novels to take home.

📍 100 Meeting Street, Charleston
🕙 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
🗓 Tuesday, June 23 - Saturday, July 4

Check out the newest episode of From the Vault, live now!This episode features two of our own: Virginia Ellison, COO and...
06/22/2026

Check out the newest episode of From the Vault, live now!

This episode features two of our own: Virginia Ellison, COO and Director of Collections, and Senior Archivist Molly Sillman. They sat down with host Sydney Derrick to share their favorite items from our collections related to the American Revolution. They also discuss how potential researchers can use the archives.

🔗 Link to listen is in our bio!

Happy Father's Day! Pictured: Joshua and his Grandaddy in Sumter, 1981. This photograph is part of the Visual Materials ...
06/21/2026

Happy Father's Day!
Pictured: Joshua and his Grandaddy in Sumter, 1981. This photograph is part of the Visual Materials Collection, McLaughlin Family Papers, 1900–1990.

Happy First Day of Summer! 🌊☀️🌾🐚⛵️
06/20/2026

Happy First Day of Summer! 🌊☀️🌾🐚⛵️

Juneteenth marks the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to order the final enforcement ...
06/19/2026

Juneteenth marks the day when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas on June 19, 1865, to order the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in that state. It has since become a day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States, which happened gradually after President Abraham Lincoln first made his proclamation in 1863.

This document, held in the Bowman Family papers collection in our archives, is a list of the names and ages of the enslaved people "R.A. Bowman freed" on June 21, 1865 in the Orangeburg District.

250 years later, you can see where it all began. In celebration of South Carolina's 250th, we're hosting a rare opportun...
06/18/2026

250 years later, you can see where it all began. In celebration of South Carolina's 250th, we're hosting a rare opportunity to view the original 1776 South Carolina Constitution, on generous loan from the South Carolina Department of Archives and History. SCDAH historians will be on-site to provide context and answer questions.

Free and open to the public.
📅 Saturday, June 27
🕙 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
📍 100 Meeting Street, Charleston

This is an 1801 copy of the 1786 plat recording 550 acres of marshland granted to Frances Middleton, situated along the ...
06/17/2026

This is an 1801 copy of the 1786 plat recording 550 acres of marshland granted to Frances Middleton, situated along the banks of the Santee River within St. James Parish. The handwritten annotations and boundary markings on documents like this offered surveyors and clerks alike a canvas for their flourishes.
This plat is held in our Manuscript Collection as part of the John McCrady Plats and Deeds Collection.

June is Pride Month, a time to recognize the history, contributions, and ongoing efforts of the LGBTQ+ community. Pictur...
06/16/2026

June is Pride Month, a time to recognize the history, contributions, and ongoing efforts of the LGBTQ+ community.
Pictured is the March 1981 cover of Gay Charleston, a local LGBTQ newspaper that operated for a short time from 1981 to 1982. It's part of the Historical Society's Pamphlet Collection, which includes other early LGBTQ publications from South Carolina.

At the South Carolina Historical Society, we are committed to preserving and sharing the stories of all South Carolinians. By collecting and caring for materials like these, we help ensure that the experiences and voices of LGBTQ+ individuals remain part of our state's historical record.

We wish everyone a happy !

Beat the Charleston heat this Carolina Day weekend! Stop by our free Hydration Station at the Fireproof Building, where ...
06/14/2026

Beat the Charleston heat this Carolina Day weekend! Stop by our free Hydration Station at the Fireproof Building, where we'll be serving refreshing mocktails. Come relax, recharge, and stay cool with us!

Dates: Friday, June 26 and Saturday, June 27
Time: 10:00 am to 4:00 pm
Location: 100 Meeting Street, Charleston

06/12/2026

A replica of George Washington’s Revolutionary War headquarters tent has arrived in Charleston as part of the First Oval Office Project! Visitors can also explore a special exhibition inside Addlestone Library featuring rare Revolutionary-era materials from our collections alongside items from the College of Charleston Special Collections and the Avery Research Center.

We’re proud to share treasures from the SCHS archives that help tell the story of South Carolina’s role in the American Revolution and connect local experiences to the nation’s founding. Visit the exhibit inside the library before or after touring Washington’s Tent on Rivers Green.

📍Addlestone Library & Rivers Green, College of Charleston
June 13-14, 10 am-6 pm
Free and open to the public

Address

100 Meeting Street
Charleston, SC
29401

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm

Telephone

+18437233225

Website

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