Berkeley County Museum
@berkeleymuseum
Local history museum in the lowcountry of South Carolina. M-Sat: 9am to 4pm
📚 NEW in the gift shop! Director Chelsy's book, "Images of America: Goose Creek" is officially for sale. We also have more copies of works by Michael Heitzler. Stop in to find your next beach read! ☀️
International Chess Day is celebrated on July 20. @fide-chess-mirror.bsky.social was founded on #onthisday in 1924. The day has been celebrated by UNESCO since 1966. Chess evolved into its modern form about 500 years ago. These ivory chess pieces in our collection date to the late 19th century.
Though Rattlesnake Joe died in 1979 and his wife in 2001, there is still a "Snakeman Lane" outside of Saint Stephen. 2/2
🥒You know and love tomato ketchup. But what about cucumber ketchup? This recipe for "cucumber catsup" comes from a 19th-century recipe book in our collection. Find the full recipe in alt text. If you make this tasty treat, be sure to let us know! MSS1.5.1, part of the Simons family collection.
Today is #NationalIcedTeaDay! Learn more about the history of tea in the Lowcountry of South Carolina here: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...
The Berkeley County Museum is CLOSED today in honor of Memorial Day.
This #TextileTuesday celebrates the work of the Berkeley County Quilters. This quilt pattern, known as the “Burgoyne Surrounded,” is said to be inspired by the defeat of British General Burgoyne at Saratoga (1777). Burgoyne’s troops are represented by the center squares, surrounded by Americans.
Today is International Museum Day. The theme for this year is "Museums Uniting a Divided World." Museums (like ours!) often act as bridges across cultural and economic divides, as well as foster conversations and education.
#OTD in 1897, "The Stars and Stripes Forever" was first performed. John Philip Sousa had composed it the year before. The 45-star flag, flown 1896-908, would have likely been the "stars and stripes" during the performance. The 45-star flag in our archive (shown here) came in with a WWI collection.
🚨 Limited stock remaining! We have ONE blue throw blanket left in our gift shop. The blanket is also available in green and red. These beautiful pieces are $80 and available both in store and online.
The Museum is open until noon on Christmas Eve, closed December 25 and 26, and reopens with regular hours on Saturday, December 27. Happy holidays!
Our newest batch of bricks has been engraved! Miss your opportunity? Don't worry - we'll take brick orders again in the spring.
Thanks to YOUR support, the Berkeley County Museum has been named a finalist in the Best of Berkeley County awards!
#AmericanArchivesMonth Mrs. R.Y. Macbeth of Pinopolis purchased chairs and other items from Phoenix Furniture Company. The Company moved into its listed location in 1887. The building now houses Geo. C. Birlant & Co. Antiques, which purchased the building in the late 1920s. MSS02.2.11
August 19th is #NationalPotatoDay. The potato, native to the Americas, was first domesticated in modern-day Peru and Bolivia about 7,000 years ago. By 1750, potatoes were a staple crop in both Europe and the North American colonies. 🥔: Early 20th century potato ricer from St. Stephen, 94.16.6.
By the Revolution, the American colonies had been issuing paper money for over 80 years. $2 notes were first issued as "bills of credit" in 1775. These $2 notes - and other Continental currency - were functionally worthless, as they weren't backed by physical assets. 1/2
⛓️💥Here's a rusty chain found near Saint James, Goose Creek Chapel of Ease. #WorldEmojiDay
#OnThisDay in 1868, American inventors C. Latham Sholes, Carlos Glidden, & Samuel W. Soulé were given a patent for their "Type-Writer," one of the 1st commercially successful typewriters. The typewriter here dates from the interwar period & is on display in our Sheriff's Office exhibit.
Our brick drive is extended! Here is the form: drive.google.com/file/d/1k2Ex... #supportmuseums
It's not a month that has an R in it, so it's not oyster season, but that doesn't stop this exogyra shell from being our #FossilFriday this week! Exogyra was a marine oyster from the warm cretaceous sea.
June 3rd is #NationalEggDay! These two eggs came from an ostrich and a rhea farm-raised in St. Stephen. 🥚: 97.4.1. and 97.4.2
⚠️Caution! The Museum floors are being cleaned today and tomorrow (May 6 and May 7). The Museum is open but some areas are unavailable. If you are sensitive to smell, we recommend shortening your visit or visiting later this week.
🌲Happy Arbor Day! This holiday encourages the planting and celebration of trees. The first Arbor Day was celebrated in Nebraska in 1872. This photograph was taken in Pinopolis in 1939. The caption on the back reads, "Looking from Harvey's toward [the] Stoney place." 🌳MSS17.1.7
Today is Naturescope Kids Who Care! Nearly 1,000 local students will visit the Park and Museum today. Thanks to our Santee Cooper volunteer, Quincy, for his help!
Thank you, Knightsville Elementary student! #berkeleycountymuseum
Have you ever had a sample card or page of perfume? The idea of soaking a card in perfume was developed by Freeman Ballard Shedd, who worked for E.W. Hoyt in 1870. April 14 is #NationalPerfumeDay. This bottle can be dated to after 1918, when "German" was removed from the bottle.
Tomorrow is the Old Santee Canal Park easter egg hunt! This "Bunny" brand egg beater was made in England circa 1900. 23.11.6.
Have you visited our CatalogIt HUB lately? We have almost 200 items from the Museum collection available for online viewing, with more being added! Pick a category or view the every item. 👆 Click here to explore: hub.catalogit.app/9979
Thank you to the Lt. Colonel Hiram Mann TAI chapter for their generous donation. These prints will be used in development of a World War II exhibit here at the Museum.