Berkeley County Museum

@berkeleymuseum

Local history museum in the lowcountry of South Carolina. M-Sat: 9am to 4pm

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Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· 21d

📚 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! ☀️

Four copies of a book titled 'Images of America: Goose Creek.' The cover is a sepia-toned photograph of a person standing on a dock.

Eight books by Michael Heitzler. They discuss various parts and places of Berkeley County and one of Charleston County: Button Hall, Hayes-Ingleside, Bowen's Corner, Otranto, Wassamassaw, Woodstock, Steepbrook, and Windsor Hill.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· 23d

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.

22.10.85. Eight ivory chest pieces sit on a green background above a ruler. They are mostly rooks, with one knight and one larger piece.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· 27d

Though Rattlesnake Joe died in 1979 and his wife in 2001, there is still a "Snakeman Lane" outside of Saint Stephen. 2/2

Cover of a Rattlesnake Joe "price catalogue," 1972. MSS10.1.3. The cover is faded blue with red and black text. There is an image of a white man holding a large alligator.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jul 9

🥒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.

Cucumber Catsup
3 large cucumbers (a little yellow) - peel them & rasp [grate] them. Put a half pint of vinegar, a tablespoon full of salt and a teaspoon full of black pepper. [Add] some chopped onion & celery or celery seed. [Recipe of] Mrs. A. L. Sinkler

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jun 10

Today is #NationalIcedTeaDay! Learn more about the history of tea in the Lowcountry of South Carolina here: www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=...

A tea plant in the foreground and an indigo plant in the background. Both are green and thriving in the sunshine.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· May 25

The Berkeley County Museum is CLOSED today in honor of Memorial Day.

A graphic with an American flag on a blue background. The text reads:
MEMORIAL DAY

On May 1, 1865, in Charleston, the city's Black population held a parade to honor 257 dead Union soldiers. Some historians call this the first Memorial Day.

An official day of remembrance dates back to 1868 and was originally known as Decoration Day.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· May 19

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.

A red, white, and blue quilt. The pattern is known as "Burgoyne Surrounded," displaying red squares encircled by blue lines.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· May 18

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.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· May 14

#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.

A 45-star American flag lays folded on a wooden table.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Mar 18

🚨 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.

Woven throw blankets sit on three shelves. The blankets are green, blue, and red.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Dec 24

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!

A Christmas ornament featuring the Museum is hanging on a tree. Text overlaid says, "Happy Holidays from the Berkeley County Museum."

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Nov 17

Our newest batch of bricks has been engraved! Miss your opportunity? Don't worry - we'll take brick orders again in the spring.

An angled photograph of engraved bricks and yellow leaves.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Nov 6

Thanks to YOUR support, the Berkeley County Museum has been named a finalist in the Best of Berkeley County awards!

An ad celebrating the Berkeley County Museum's finalist position in the Best of Berkeley County (South Carolina) awards.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Oct 1

#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

A receipt dated May 17, 1907 from the Phoenix Furniture Company of King and Clifford Streets, Charleston, SC.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Aug 19

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.

A cast-iron potato ricer on a green background.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jul 23

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

The back and mirrored front of a US $2 bill sits above a 1976 US quarter.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jul 17

⛓️‍💥Here's a rusty chain found near Saint James, Goose Creek Chapel of Ease. #WorldEmojiDay

A rusty chain lays across a green background.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jul 17

Here's a ❤️ to get y'all started #WorldEmojiDay

A straight pin with a ceramic heart on one end. The heart is white with blue flowers. The pin is on a red background.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jun 23

#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.

A black typewriter with ivory-colored keys. It sits on a brown desk.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jun 16

Our brick drive is extended! Here is the form: drive.google.com/file/d/1k2Ex... #supportmuseums

A brick walkway with text: Buy a Brick in the BCM Path!

For only $100, you can secure your place in local history by purchasing a brick at the Berkeley County Museum.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jun 13

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.

A brownish gray fossil sits on a brown background.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Jun 3

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

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· May 6

⚠️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.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Apr 25

🌲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

A vintage sepia-toned photograph of several pine trees next to a gravel road. At the bottom of the photo is written "tall pines".

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Apr 23

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!

A yard sign with flowers and animals that reads "Kids Who Care." There are electricity trucks and a large tree in the background.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Apr 15

Thank you, Knightsville Elementary student! #berkeleycountymuseum

An image of fossils and fossil casts behind a quote: "I'll never forget this memory!"

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Apr 14

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.

A glass bottle on a green field. Etched on the bottle is "E.W. Hoyt & Co., Perfumers. Phila." 93.13.27.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Apr 11

Tomorrow is the Old Santee Canal Park easter egg hunt! This "Bunny" brand egg beater was made in England circa 1900. 23.11.6.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Apr 8

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

A screenshot of the Berkeley County Museum's catalog homepage. There are three fully visible categories: Bonneau; Cross; and Dolls, Toys, and Games. There are three more partially-visible categories.

Berkeley County Museum@berkeleymuseum· Mar 21

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.