From Mill to Museum

Since opening its doors in 1988 the South Carolina State Museum has welcomed millions of visitors and generations of students from across the state and the world. However, the history of the museum goes back much further - all the way to 1971, when a committee formed by Governor John C. West concluded, “...if we want our children and citizens to know something of their heritage, the assets of our state and the direction of South Carolina’s progress into the future, a state museum is essential for these purposes.”

The South Carolina State Museum Commission was established shortly afterwards in 1973 to “create and operate a State Museum reflecting the history, fine arts, and natural history of the state.” Through the guidance and leadership of dedicated individuals such as Guy Lipscomb, Dr. Leo Twiggs, Tony Ganong and Governor Richard Riley, the museum would become a reality 15 years later, opening on October 29, 1988 in the historic Columbia Mills Building that once housed the first fully electric textile mill in the world.

Old, sepia toned photograph shows canal in the foreground with large brick building on a rise above the canal

Columbia Canal with power station and the Columbia Duck Mill in the background, c. 1894.

Black and white image of a man with a hat and pocket watch standing next to what looks like a very large piece wheel shaped machinery that is more than twice as tall as the man standing next to it.

This is one of two 500kw generators installed at the Columbia Canal in 1893.

Black and white photograph shows train tracks in the foreground with a large brick, four story building in the background

Columbia Duck Mill pre 1910.

Illustration of large rectangular brick building at night with four floors and windows stretching end to end. The Columbia Canal is visible in the foreground of the illustration.

1905 Postcard of Columbia Duck Mill.

Columbia Mills interior showing loom machinery.

Large group gathered outside with side of textile mill building to the left with decorative patriotic banners on the windows

Large group gathered outside the Columbia Mills Building, World War II era.

Arial views shows large 'L' shaped brick building with canal alongside it

Arial view of the Columbia Mills Building before it was the South Carolina State Museum.

The Columbia Duck Mill first opened in April 1894 and was powered by seventeen 65 horsepower motors, which were suspended from the ceiling because there was no space on the floor. The mill would grow to employ nearly one thousand workers by World War II, during which time it operated 24 hours a day, seven days a week, producing 1,500,000 yards of duck cloth per week that was used to make tents, tarpaulins, hatch covers, boat covers, gun covers, truck covers, collapsible pontoons, raft stretchers, cots, knapsacks, uniforms and shoes.

In the fall of 1980 the mill, now under the ownership of Mt. Vernon Mills, Inc., announced that it was closing because of a declining market for duck cloth. Also at this time, a small group of historians, artists and leaders were working on a plan to create a museum for South Carolina or - "A State Museum."

Black and white image of long, four story textile mill building under renovation. A sign is posted in front promoting the 5.6 million dollar project.

Museum under construction. Image courtesy of The State Newspaper.

Black and white image of long, four story textile mill building under renovation. An man in a hard hat is visible in the lower left corner.

State Museum under construction before opening in 1988.

Black and white image of long, four story textile mill building under renovation. A sign is posted in front that reads "South Carolina State Museum Opening Windows to Our World".

Museum under renovation before opening in 1988. Image courtesy of The State Newspaper.

Black and white image of long, four story textile mill building under renovation. A sign is posted in front that reads &quot;South Carolina State Museum Opening Windows to Our World&quot;.

The concept for the South Carolina State Museum was first discussed in the 1960s with interest growing throughout the decade and into the 1970s. This resulted in the formation of the South Carolina State Museum Commission in 1973.

Early State Museum staff consisted of less than a dozen people who were tasked with a very big job - create a multidisciplinary museum reflecting South Carolina's history. They began with rough plans and watched as several initial concepts and locations fell through - including one that would have placed the museum near today's Riverbanks Zoo. However, the closing of the Columbia Mill in 1980 brought with it a new option - use its large space to house the new State Museum in a historic building.

At the request of then Gov. Richard W. Riley, the Museum Commission began to study the feasibility of using the mill for this purpose and on Dec. 7, 1981 Mt. Vernon Mills, Inc. donated the building to the state with the provision that it would be used for the South Carolina State Museum.

Black and white shows very large metal skeleton of a Megalodon shark in a workshop-like space

Finn the Megalodon under construction. Image courtesy of The State Newspaper.

Life size antique train engine car is suspended on a lift as it is moved from the back of a flatbed truck to the ground.

Best Friend of Charleston train replica arrives at the museum in 1988.

Giant Megalodon replica sits on the back on a National Guard flatbed truck in a parking area

"Finn" the Megalodon arrive at the State Museum in 1988.

Large, life size of a Mastodon which looks like a furry elephant with large white tusks. Two small children stand and pose next to it.

Mastodon display under construction.

With the location settled, the museum's staff then had to find clever and cost-effective ways to make the century-old mill structure into the ideal museum space. This included concealing the numerous existing support posts behind and inside new walls - and even turning them into pretend "street lights" to fit in exhibition spaces.

Next came some of the State Museum's most iconic objects and displays, from "Finn," the massive Megalodon replica suspended over the second floor, to the full-size reproduction of the Best Friend of Charleston train on the third floor, and, on the fourth floor, the CSS Hunley model with its life-size mannequins that have been turning the historic submarine's crank (and scaring guests) for more than 30 years.

Group of people walking up stairs towards a large brick building with a banner over the entrance that reads "We're Open! Welcome!"

Opening Day at the South Carolina State Museum in 1988. Image courtesy of The State Newspaper.

Black and white images shows 4 adults (1 man and 3 women) cutting through a large ribbon with an oversize pair of scissors.

Ribbon Cutting at the State Museum's Grand Opening on Oct. 29, 1988 with Gov. Carroll Campbell. The ribbon itself was made from cotton duck, the same material manufactured in the former Mount Vernon Mills building, which was known as the “duck mill.” Image Courtesy of The State Newspaper.

Large, four story brick building with large windows from end to end on each floor.

Front of State Museum in 1988.

Large shark replica suspended above an open gallery space. The shark is wearing a blue and green polka dot birthday hat.

Finn the Megalodon celebrates the museum's anniversary.

Group of people walking up stairs towards a large brick building with a banner over the entrance that reads &quot;We're Open! Welcome!&quot;

Finally Opening Day arrived with great fanfare on October 29, 1988 which included sky divers, a live performance of "Memory" from the hit Broadway show, Cats, and Governor Carroll Campbell cutting the ribbon with a giant pair of ceremonial scissors. South Carolina finally had their State Museum.

In the three decades since, the South Carolina State Museum has hosted over 300 exhibitions and grown to house a collection of more than 1 million objects, artworks, fossils and specimens. In 2014 the museum expanded - literally - with the addition of a state-of-the-observatory, 55ft digital dome planetarium and a 4D theater. As we plan for the next era and Reimagine the Experience for future generations, the State Museum remains committed to preserving and showcasing the culture, history, art, and natural wonder of South Carolina.

All images featured in this article are from the collection of the South Carolina State Museum unless otherwise noted.