Tripadvisor
1 / 30#30. Museum and Library of Confederate History
- Rating: 4.6/5 (144 reviews)
- City: Greenville South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
Highest-rated museums in South Carolina by visitors
Museums are popular tourist attractions because they provide fun ways to learn about history, science, and culture. As stewards of our civilization, they collect and exhibit items of significant importance, typically based around a theme, topic, or place. Many cover areas like art, natural history, or science, but some museums dedicate themselves to highly specific topics like mustard, play, hot air balloons, and even funeral history. Ultimately, museums present a window into different eras of society so people can learn about the past.
Collecting, preserving, and displaying items is not a new idea. The world's first museum dates to about 530 B.C., a project of Princess Ennigaldi-Nanna, a Babylonian who had a collection of Mesopotamian artifacts. The oldest public museums still in existence are the Capitoline Museums in Rome, a collection of art and archeology museums started in 1471. America's oldest museum predates our country's founding. The Charleston Museum, a preservation of South Carolinian Lowcountry history, opened in 1773.
Museums are important not just because they preserve important elements of our history and culture but also because they can improve our well-being. Naturally, museums promote education and learning and can also bring joy. Researchers studying art museums found that they can reduce depression and increase people's sense of belonging. Quiet museum environments allow people to slow down and relax, and looking at exhibits can reduce stress. Museums also foster community by hosting events, activities, and tours that encourage social interaction.
No wonder they attract nearly 900 million visits a year.
With over 30,000 museums in the country to choose from, there's something for everyone. Stacker compiled a list of the highest-rated museums in South Carolina on Tripadvisor as of Aug. 11, 2025. Tripadvisor rankings factor in the average rating and number of reviews. Keep reading to see what museums are in your own home state.
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2 / 30#29. Parris Island Museum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (215 reviews)
- City: Parris Island South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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3 / 30#28. The Sandbox Interactive Children's Museum
- Rating: 4.2/5 (248 reviews)
- City: Hilton Head South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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4 / 30#27. International African American Museum
- Rating: 4.6/5 (78 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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5 / 30#26. Columbia Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.4/5 (289 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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6 / 30#25. The Children's Museum of the Upstate
- Rating: 4.6/5 (374 reviews)
- City: Greenville South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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7 / 30#24. South Carolina Military Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (98 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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8 / 30#23. Franklin G. Burroughs - Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
- Rating: 4.7/5 (342 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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9 / 30#22. Upcountry History Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (213 reviews)
- City: Greenville South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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10 / 30#21. EdVenture Children's Museum
- Rating: 4.2/5 (405 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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11 / 30#20. Gibbes Museum of Art
- Rating: 4.4/5 (170 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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12 / 30#19. Pat Conroy Literary Center
- Rating: 5.0/5 (465 reviews)
- City: Beaufort South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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13 / 30#18. Warbird Park
- Rating: 4.5/5 (184 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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14 / 30#17. Robert Lange Studios
- Rating: 4.9/5 (180 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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15 / 30#16. Ripley's Believe It or Not!
- Rating: 3.6/5 (1,111 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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16 / 30#15. Heyward-Washington House
- Rating: 4.4/5 (435 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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17 / 30#14. Wheels of Yesteryear
- Rating: 4.5/5 (353 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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18 / 30#13. BMW Zentrum
- Rating: 4.5/5 (441 reviews)
- City: Spartanburg South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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19 / 30#12. South Carolina State Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (658 reviews)
- City: not available
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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20 / 30#11. H.L. Hunley Submarine
- Rating: 4.6/5 (897 reviews)
- City: North Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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21 / 30#10. Myrtle Beach Pinball Museum
- Rating: 4.9/5 (345 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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22 / 30#9. Harbour Town Lighthouse and Museum
- Rating: 4.0/5 (1,751 reviews)
- City: Hilton Head South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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23 / 30#8. Old Slave Mart Museum
- Rating: 4.1/5 (1,604 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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24 / 30#7. Hollywood Wax Museum
- Rating: 4.3/5 (1,365 reviews)
- City: Myrtle Beach South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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25 / 30#6. The Charleston Museum
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,138 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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26 / 30#5. Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon
- Rating: 4.4/5 (1,531 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
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27 / 30#4. Nathaniel Russell House
- Rating: 4.5/5 (2,095 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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28 / 30#3. Patriots Point Naval & Maritime Museum
- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,747 reviews)
- City: Mount Pleasant South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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29 / 30#2. Fort Sumter National Monument
- Rating: 4.4/5 (5,935 reviews)
- City: Charleston South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
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30 / 30#1. Brookgreen Gardens
- Rating: 4.8/5 (4,125 reviews)
- City: Murrells Inlet South
- Read more on Tripadvisor
This story features data reporting by Wade Zhou, writing by Jill Jaracz, and is part of a series utilizing data automation across 51 states.
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