Best Museums & Art Galleries in Columbia, South Carolina, United States

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Best Museums & Art Galleries in Columbia, South Carolina, United States

1. Columbia Museum of Art

Home to over 5,000 works spanning 5,000 years, showcasing a variety of cultures and artistic traditions.
  • Broad Collection: Offers a diverse range of artworks from around the world.
  • Educational Programs: Provides interactive experiences and educational programs for visitors of all ages.
  • Temporary Exhibitions: Regularly hosts temporary exhibitions featuring renowned artists.

2. Robert M. Stevens Arts Center

A modern art gallery located on the campus of USC, showcasing contemporary and experimental works.
  • Contemporary Art: Focuses on contemporary and experimental artworks.
  • Student Work: Features artwork created by students from the USC School of Visual Arts and Art History.
  • Community Engagement: Offers workshops, lectures, and other community engagement activities.

3. South Carolina State Museum

A four-in-one museum with exhibits on art, history, natural history, and science & technology.
  • Four Exhibit Areas: Combines art, history, natural history, and science & technology under one roof.
  • State's Artifacts: Showcases artifacts significant to South Carolina's history and culture.
  • Planetarium & Observatory: Features a planetarium and observatory for stargazing experiences.

4. 701 CCA

A contemporary art gallery focusing on emerging artists from the Southeast.
  • Emerging Artists: Supports and showcases emerging artists primarily from the Southeastern US.
  • Community Engagement: Provides art workshops, artist talks, and other community engagement activities.
  • Rotating Exhibitions: Offers rotating exhibitions featuring different artists throughout the year.

5. Nickelodeon Theatre

An independent art house cinema that showcases independent and foreign films.
  • Independent & Foreign Films: Screens independent, foreign, classic, and repertory films.
  • Community Engagement: Offers filmmaker Q&As, film festivals, and other community engagement activities.
  • Historic Venue: Housed in a beautifully restored historic theatre.

6. Redux Contemporary Art Center

A non-profit art center that supports contemporary artists through exhibitions, workshops, and collaborations.
  • Contemporary Art: Focuses on supporting contemporary artists.
  • Community Engagement: Provides workshops, artist talks, and other community engagement activities.
  • Collaborative Projects: Initiates collaborative projects with artists, organizations, and the community.

7. The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art

A contemporary art gallery located at the College of Charleston, featuring exhibitions, public programs, and research.
  • Contemporary Art: Focuses on contemporary art, with a particular emphasis on socially engaged practices.
  • Public Programs: Offers public programs including artist talks, workshops, and panel discussions.
  • Research & Collaboration: Engages in research projects and collaborates with artists, scholars, and organizations.

8. The Gibbes Museum of Art

A museum dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of American art, with a focus on Southern artists.
  • American & Southern Art: Focuses on American art with a particular emphasis on Southern artists.
  • Educational Programs: Offers educational programs, lectures, and workshops for visitors of all ages.
  • Rotating Exhibitions: Features rotating exhibitions showcasing different artists throughout the year.

9. The City Gallery at Cooper Square

An art gallery located in a historic city hall, showcasing contemporary works by regional artists.
  • Contemporary Art: Focuses on contemporary art, particularly from regional artists.
  • Community Engagement: Offers workshops, artist talks, and other community engagement activities.
  • Historic Venue: Housed in a beautifully restored historic city hall.

10. The Hampton-Preston Mansion & Gardens

A museum and garden offering tours of the historic home and insights into antebellum life.
  • Historic Home Tour: Provides guided tours of a beautifully preserved antebellum mansion.
  • Antebellum Life: Offers insights into the lifestyle and social structure of antebellum society.
  • Garden Tours: Features guided tours of the stunning historic gardens.

11. The South Carolina State Library

A research library with extensive collections on the history, culture, and people of South Carolina.
  • South Carolina History: Holds a wealth of resources on the history, culture, and people of South Carolina.
  • Research Facilities: Offers research facilities and assistance for academic researchers.
  • Public Access: Provides public access to its resources through on-site use and interlibrary loan services.

12. The Columbia Museum of Aviation

A museum dedicated to the history of aviation in South Carolina, featuring a collection of aircraft and memorabilia.
  • South Carolina Aviation History: Showcases the history of aviation in South Carolina.
  • Aircraft Collection: Features a collection of aircraft, including historic and modern aircraft.
  • Memorabilia Exhibits: Displays aviation memorabilia, uniforms, and other artifacts.

13. The McKissick Museum

A museum on the campus of the University of South Carolina dedicated to cultural history, focusing on the American South.
  • Southern Culture: Explores the cultural history of the American South.
  • Permanent Collections: Features permanent collections focusing on art, archaeology, and natural history.
  • Temporary Exhibitions: Offers temporary exhibitions related to its areas of focus.

14. The South Carolina Military Museum

A museum dedicated to the military history of South Carolina, featuring artifacts and exhibits from various wars.
  • South Carolina Military History: Showcases the military history of South Carolina.
  • Artifact Collection: Features a collection of military artifacts, uniforms, and weapons.
  • Exhibits on Wars: Offers exhibits focusing on various wars in which South Carolinians have served.

15. The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room & Military Museum

A museum dedicated to the history of South Carolina during the American Civil War and Reconstruction.
  • American Civil War History: Focuses on the history of South Carolina during the American Civil War.
  • Relics and Artifacts: Features relics, artifacts, and uniforms from the American Civil War.
  • Reconstruction Era: Explores the period of Reconstruction following the American Civil War.