Start your visit to the Upcountry History Museum in the Orientation Theater featuring Pocketbooks, Prayer Books and Datebooks: Stores of Ambition in Upcountry South Carolina. The history museum’s permanent exhibitions will take you on a journey through the rich history of the Upcountry’s past and present while temporary exhibits explore a variety of topics related to Upcountry South Carolina. If time permits you can browse a selection of Upcountry gifts and keepsakes in the Museum Shop.
Pocketbooks, Prayer Books and Datebooks
Watch Pocketbooks, Prayer Books and Datebooks: Stores of Ambition in Upcountry South Carolina in the museum’s Orientation Theatre. The 15-minute film explores Upstate South Carolina’s social and economic state over the years and is the perfect way to start your visit to the museum.
About Upcountry History Museum Exhibitions
The Upcountry museum’s permanent exhibitions span from South Carolina in the early 18th century to the present with focus on farming, the textile industry, early settlers, mountain culture and civil rights. Designed by Christopher Chadbourne and Associates, exhibitions combine artifacts, manual and touch-screen computer interactives, oral histories and motion-activated exhibition elements to take you on a journey through Upcountry South Carolina history.
Permanent Exhibitions
Travel back to the 1790s and learn about the divide between the Carolinas in South Carolinians Divided. See facades, shops and churches reminiscent of the 1850s in Crossroads & Transitions. Upcountry Frontier explores the geography of early Upcountry. Reconstruction/ Redemption/ Agrarian Revolt looks at the effects the Civil War had on the Upstate. Discover how Greenville’s economy was formerly based largely on textile manufacturing in Textile Capital of the World. Learn how Upcountry has shown its patriotism and business sense by serving as host to military bases for over 200 years in Camp Upcountry. In Transforming the Upcountry see how World War II, the Civil Rights Movement and land development and globalization of businesses in the area changed the Upstate.
Museum Shop
Be sure to stop by the Museum Shop to treat yourself or a loved one to Upcountry History Museum gifts and keepsakes. A selection of locally made jewelry including earrings, necklaces and bracelets, numerous books about Upcountry history written by local authors, soft toys, postcards, t-shirts, prints, bags, mugs and items specifically related to the museum’s special exhibits are just some of the items available for purchase in the Museum Shop.
- Don’t miss the Upcountry History Museum’s A Place Apart in the museum’s lobby, a display that highlights the unique features of Upcountry South Carolina.
- In addition to its permanent exhibitions, the museum regularly displays a number of temporary exhibits in the Changing and Focus Galleries.
- The Upcountry History Museum is ADA compliant.