Aiken County Historical Museum

StevePotts

2 months ago

This beautifully preserved property features exhibits detailing county history, local equestrian culture, and the Savannah River Site. It is housed in "Banksia," a sprawling 32-room, 17,500-square-foot former Winter Colony mansion built in two stages between the 1840s and 1931. The Older Section was built around 1840 as a wood-framed house. In 1931, northern horseman Richard Howe (of International Harvester) bought the property. Superstitious about altering the original house, Howe had it physically moved down a hill and built a grander, 32-room brick mansion in its place, connecting the two. After Howe's era, the building served as a boarding house, the first campus of the University of South Carolina Aiken, and the county library. In 1984 the museum moved in, gradually expanding to occupy the entire building by 1990 after the county library relocated. You can explore an authentic, recreated 1950s drugstore (Moody Drug Store) that was displaced by the construction of the Savannah River Site, an illegal Prohibition-era liquor still, and two vintage fire engines. The museum pays tribute to Aiken's status as a horse-training and polo hub, with artifacts and exhibits detailing fox hunting, polo matches, and champion thoroubreds. The 3.5-acre property features an 1808 log cabin, an 1890s one-room schoolhouse, and a historic buttery. Visiting the museum is entirely free, making it highly accessible. For more reviews of historic places, click on my name. Thanks.

ale vm

2 months ago

We were surprised by how large the main house at Aiken County Historical Museum is! We thought it was much smaller. I loved all the antiques, the fascinating history, and the excellent craftsmanship. The staff was very friendly and helpful. Bonus: Little Free Library outside and I found a great book there.

Rusty Williamson

5 months ago

A great place to visit. When I was growing up in Aiken, Banksia was the library. I spent many days combing through books, roaming around the place. My father’s name is on the roster board in the public safety exhibit.

Jason Lake

10 months ago

This is a lovely county historical museum located in a beautiful 1930s "addition" to an older 1800s mansion. Aiken is known for the Winter Colony of the wealthy New York crowd for a period before the turn of the last century. Banksia, the name of the mansion that houses the museum, was a 13000 square foot addition to a previous 3500 square foot home on the property. The museum holds the story of Aiken from it's founding up through the present day. So, whether your a regular visitor to Aiken for the horse culture, or just passing through and wondering what the region is all about, the Aiken Historical Museum is the perfect place to learn.

Niki Mullins

a year ago

Honestly, I stopped into this quiet, hidden gem completely on a whim. My gracious, what a wonderful museum! Several small communities were completely displaced by the Savannah River Site installation; many of the items are saved and on display here. An ENTIRE Pharmacy, complete with Soda Fountain of housed in the basement! It's just a phenomenal time capsule of days that aren't so really long ago. Don't miss this amazing slice of Aiken history!