Full size train replica of The Best Friend of Charleston at the State Museum. Shows green train with red wheels and black smoke stack.
Permanent Exhibition

Third Floor Galleries

Discover the history of science and technology in South Carolina, learn about the development of transportation and enjoy changing exhibition spaces. 

Museum Hours

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

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Third Floor Highlights

*** Renovation Work Underway! ***

Exciting things are happening at the museum, including ongoing renovations in portions of the third-floor galleries. That means some areas are currently closed to the public, but mark your calendars for new exhibitions coming soon.

 

The museum's third-floor galleries offer guests the opportunity to discover stories revealing the impact of innovation and industry on South Carolina and learn more about the people who contributed to its advancement. 

Available on the third floor is a fascinating look at the history of the mill industry in South Carolina, including information on the museum's largest artifact - our building! Once home to the first all electric textile mill in the world, the museum's building was first known as the Columbia Duck Mill which produced a canvas like material called duck cloth. 

Full size train replica of The Best Friend of Charleston at the State Museum. Shows green train with red wheels and black smoke stack.

Full size train replica of The Best Friend of Charleston

Three adults stand to the left of a display of a large hollowed out canoe on exhibition
White biplane with red trim and nose that reads 'Clemson' on the side hangs from ceiling on display at the State Museum

Clemson Airplane

Colorful illustration of a large rectangular four story building with large windows and the Columbia Canal in the foreground

1905 Postcard of Columbia Duck Mill

Full size train replica of The Best Friend of Charleston at the State Museum. Shows green train with red wheels and black smoke stack.
Three adults stand to the left of a display of a large hollowed out canoe on exhibition
White biplane with red trim and nose that reads 'Clemson' on the side hangs from ceiling on display at the State Museum
Colorful illustration of a large rectangular four story building with large windows and the Columbia Canal in the foreground

 

The Best Friend of Charleston

This full-size train replica depicts America’s first passenger steam locomotive. Discover how the development of railroads and steam power transformed industry in the state, plus find out why The Best Friend of Charleston met an untimely end after only six months of use.

 

Textile Mill Industry

Learn more about the importance of the mill industry in South Carolina with displays including original machinery, multimedia content, hands-on features and more.

History of the Columbia Mills Building

Learn more about the textile mill once housed in the museum's building and how it eventually became the South Carolina State Museum.

Read More About the Columbia Mills Building
Black and white image of Columbia Mills interior showing loom machinery