Family looks at 3 pieces of art displayed on a wall, including a portrait of Marilyn Monroe
Permanent Exhibition

First Floor Galleries

The first floor features the admissions area, museum store, the planetarium and the Lipscomb Art Gallery.

Museum Hours

Open today from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

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First Floor Highlights

Guests visiting the South Carolina State Museum will find a welcoming entrance lobby with an area to purchase tickets, shop, sit and relax with friends in the Experience Columbia information space and discover more about South Carolina State Parks and South Carolina ETV. Also located in the main lobby is the The Palmetto Gate, a unique piece of ironwork created for the museum by Charleston artist Philip Simmons.

The Lipscomb Art Gallery is host to a rotating selection of changing exhibitions featuring work by South Carolinians and the digital dome planetarium will take guests to the edge of the universe and beyond! 

 

Curator of Art stands in from of a group of children, some raising their hands, seated on the floor in the Lipscomb Art Gallery.

Museum Art Curator with class in Gallery

Large black iron gate on display featuring scrollwork and representations of egrets on each side

Philip Simmons Gate

Individuals viewing art work in a gallery

Guests viewing work in the Lipscomb art gallery.

Looking down on a group of students standing in the planetarium lobby with paper mobile artwork hanging from ceiling

Group of students in the planetarium lobby.

Blonde woman holds up light green ceramic tea pot on sale in the museum store

Shopper in the museum store, The Cotton Mill Exchange.

Curator of Art stands in from of a group of children, some raising their hands, seated on the floor in the Lipscomb Art Gallery.
Large black iron gate on display featuring scrollwork and representations of egrets on each side
Individuals viewing art work in a gallery
Looking down on a group of students standing in the planetarium lobby with paper mobile artwork hanging from ceiling
Blonde woman holds up light green ceramic tea pot on sale in the museum store

 

Lipscomb Art Gallery (Closed for renovations)

Home to the museum's rotating schedule of art focused exhibitions, this space is currently closed for renovations. But don't worry, there is still lots of South Carolina art to see and experience through the second, third and fourth floor galleries - and even outside! 

 

The Cotton Mill Exchange

The museum store is temporarily housed on the second floor as main location is being renovated after recent flood damage. The store is the perfect place to find unique, South Carolina themed gifts from jewelry to books, Certified SC food products, and more. Plus, purchases help support the State Museum!

 

Planetarium

The 55-foot digital dome BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Planetarium takes guests on journeys to the deepest reaches of space and beyond.

 

Main Lobby

The museum is the perfect venue to host a variety of events from large evening receptions and weddings to business meetings, workshops, birthday parties, and more. The Main Lobby is a unique and flexible space featuring modern design mixed with historic elements. Learn more about this space and how to host your special event at the museum!