Housed in a beautiful 1905 Beaux Arts building located in the historic district of downtown Charleston, the Gibbes Museum of Art offers one of the finest collections of American art in the Southeast. Come face to face with the history of the Lowcountry as seen through portraiture and landscape painting, sculpture, photographs and other works on paper. Visitors will experience the museum's permanent collection of historical and contemporary works as well as several national traveling exhibitions each year.

Location: 135 Meeting Street
Phone: (843) 722-2706; FAX: 720-1682
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 10 am - 5 pm, closed Monday.
Docent led tour on Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am and 2 pm. Museum Shop. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years Day, Labor Day and Independence Day. Handicapped Accessible.

Of Charleston's many fine house museums, only the Edmondston-Alston House (constructed in 1825 and renovated in 1838) commands magnificent views of Charleston Harbor. The house was built in the late Federal style by Charles Edmondston in 1825. A decade later, it was purchased by Charles Alston who updated the architcecture in the Greek Revival style. The house has remained in the Alston family since 1838. Many pieces of the family's 19th-century furniture, books and other personal belongings remain in the house. The striking Greek Revival interiors, fascinating collections of family portraits, furniture and silver and the unchanging views from the piazza make the Edmondston-Alston House an unforgettable part of any Charleston adventure.

Location: 21 East Battery
Phone: (843) 722-7171
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-4:30 pm.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

“Charleston’s Revolutionary War House”

Built in 1772, The Heyward-Washington House was the town-home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., Revolutionary patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence. It was also George Washington’s temporary residence during his Southern Tour of 1791. Furnished with magnificent Charleston-made furniture, the collection includes the priceless Holmes Bookcase, considered to be the finest example of American-made furniture in existence today. The exquisite formal garden is comprised of plants available to Charlestonians during that period. Located in the original walled portion of the city, the neighborhood was used by Dubose Heyward as the setting for Porgy and Bess.

Location: 87 Church St.
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 5 pm, Sunday 1 - 5pm. Closed New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, 1/2 Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

“Charleston’s Huguenot House”

The Joseph Manigault House, built in 1803, is a premier example of Adam-style or Federal architecture. Designed by gentleman architect Gabriel Manigault for his brother Joseph, the house is one of the most distinguished in the city, capturing the lifestyle of a wealthy, rice-planting family. The interior reflects an outstanding collection of American, English and French furnishings of the period. A charming Gate Temple is the focus of the period Garden.

Location: 350 Meeting St.
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 1-5pm. Closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, ½ Christmas Eve, Christmas Day

For nearly two centuries, visitors have admired the grand Federal style townhouse of Charleston merchant Nataniel Russell, completed in 1808. Set amid spacious gardens, the Russell House is widely recognized as one of America's most important neoclassical dwellings. The graceful interior boasts elaborate plasterwork ornamentaion, geometrically shaped rooms and a magnificent free-flying staircase. Furnished with period antiques and decorative arts, many of Charleston origin, the house evokes the gracious lifestyle of the city's merchant elite in the beginning of the 19th century.

Location: 51 Meeting Street
Phone: (843) 724-8481
Hours: Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm.
Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The Aiken_Rhett House stands alone as the most intact townhouse complex showcasing urban life in antebellum Charleston. Built in 1818 and expanded by Governor and Mrs. William Aiken Jr. in the 1830's and 1850's, the house has survived virtually unaltered since 1858. As an intact "townhouse complex," the house speaks powerfully about the interconnections among all members of the household. Original outbuildings include the kitchen, stable, coach house and living quarters once occupied by enslaved African Americans.

Location: 48 Elizabeth Street
Phone: (843) 723-1159
Hours: Monday - Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 2-5 pm.
Audio tour. Last tour each day starts at 4:30. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

America's First Museum, founded in 1773. Its mission is to preserve and interpret the cultural and natural history of Charleston and the South Carolina Lowcountry. We invite you to explore this rich, varied history at the Museum and its two National Historic Landmark houses. All are located downtown, in America's Most Historic City.

Exhibitions feature objects from our extensive cultural, historic and natural history collections and introduce you to the rich heritage of the Lowcountry, whose social and architectural legacy is reflected in our two premier historic houses. Whether you have an interest in early Southern furniture or in Southeastern birds, The Charleston Museum has something for everyone in your family.

Location: 360 Meeting Street
Phone: (843) 722-2996
Hours: Monday-Saturday, 9 am-5 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm
Closed: New Year's Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, 1/2 day Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day