About Us

HOURS OF OPERATION

Closed Monday but opened for appointments

Tuesday – Saturday 10 – 5 PM

Open first Sunday of every month 1-5 for Dollar Sunday

 
Closed all state holidays except Confederate Memorial Day and Veteran’s Day!
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Founded in 1896, the South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum is the third oldest museum in the state.  The museum focuses on South Carolina’s military history from the Revolutionary War to the present.

Originally housed in the SC State House, the museum relocated to the War Memorial Building adjacent to the University of South Carolina in the mid-twentieth century.  In 1998, it became an agency of the South Carolina Budget and Control Board and in 2002, moved to the Columbia Mills Building. The museum expanded in 2007, converting the old mill’s former cistern into a new gallery that showcases special, large-scale exhibitions.

Visitors to the museum can explore South Carolina’s distinguished martial tradition in exhibits covering the Revolutionary War, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, the War on Terror, and other American conflicts.

A recent  addition  to  the gallery is an exhibit featuring artifacts from the museum’s award-winning Write from the Front program. This program collects emails, photographs, and objects from South Carolinians serving in the current War on Terror.

The museum houses an expanding archival collection available to researchers by appointment.  Archival strengths are the financial papers of Confederate purchasing agent Colin J. McRae, materials from South Carolinians who served in the Spanish-American War, images of South Carolina troops stationed on the Mexican Border in 1916, and the collection of the crew of the WWII light cruiser, the USS Columbia CL-56. 

Our Mission Statement:
The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum connects people to the distinguished martial heritage of South Carolina where soldiers and civilians willingly sacrificed their lives and fortunes for liberty, home, state, and country.

The South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum offers a unique opportunity to discover and explore the state’s military history through informative and award-winning exhibits, featuring many rare and one-of-a-kind artifacts.  The museum’s evolving permanent exhibits and changing exhibit galleries make each visit a new experience!

Helpful Links

Area Museums:
South Carolina State Museum - features exhibits on all aspects of the Palmetto State
Historic Columbia Foundation - collection of historic house museums in Columbia's downtown
McKissick Museum - the University of South Carolina's museum
Columbia Museum of Art - exhibits fine and decorative art from around the world
EdVenture - the South's largest children's museum
Lexington County Museum - features 36 historic structures on seven acres in downtown Lexington

Resources:
South Carolina Federation of Museums
South Carolina Department of Archives and History
South Carolina Historical Society
South Caroliniana Library 
South Carolina State Library
Authentic Campaigner  - information on Civil War reenacting
Teaching American History in SC - professional development progra m for history/social studies teachers
www.scforwardtogether.org/ - information on WWI and collaborative exhibits
Columbia Visitor Information - Columbia Convention & Visitors Bureau website
The River Alliance
"That a Nation Might Live" - Civil War Sesquicentennial website

Plans and Reports:

FY 22 Fines and Fees Report

2020 State Auditor AUP Report

Fiscal Year 2020 – 2023 Museum Strategic Plan

FY 20 Fines and Fees Report

FY 20 Accountability Report

FY 20 Accountibility Report Spreadsheets

FY 19 Accountability Report Narrative