I visited Gibbes on a Wednesday when it is free entry to Charleston residents. Before that I hadn't…read morebeen here since I was in middle school. It was a great solo treat to see so many beautiful pieces, read, and learn. This is a two story experience with every changing exhibits. Currently you can see a few Monet pieces. I had no idea they would have Monet before visiting so this was a lovely surprise! In general the regular admission price is fair. The staff are incredibly friendly and the space is beautiful. It's also worth noting you are able to host weddings here.

The Gibbes is always an excellent experience. There are activities for all ages. The art is…read moreamazing! The interior architecture is incredible!

This museum was a fun find as I attempted to get out of the midday heat for awhile. The exhibits…read morewere very unusual/eye grabbing. I was also able to view everything in a short amount of time without it feeling overwhelming (I hate going to a museum that has too much I'll never get to view). The cost is free, however, donations are appreciated. The staff working the front desk wasn't rude by any means, however, she wasn't too welcoming. Overall, this was a very positive experience.

Part of the College of Charleston, this gallery is free and open to the public. It wasn't any great…read morehassle getting in. The space is only a couple of rooms, and houses a rotating exhibition with no permanent collection. I happened in on a day when the artist du jour was giving a talk and just missed it, which was a shame. The exhibit was a very locally flavored multimedia experience built around the shore, with the signature pieces composed of scraps of more conventional paintings which had been destroyed by a hurricane. One could easily stop for restrooms and water in the building and there was a sort of art vending machine among a small gift selection.

I'm giving this a generous 4 stars because I learned so much and I guess it's the next best thing…read moreto actually going to the Sistine Chapel. I visited the Boston exhibit. It was NOT like the images on the website. There's absolutely nothing above you. You don't go through some kind of tunnel. It's simply an array of high quality panels / reproductions. I downloaded the audio guide app but it did not work, so I simply read the descriptions next to the panels. Overall satisfied, though and I would recommend it.

None of the frescos are hung above you. We were looking forward to the tunnel we saw in every ad…read morefor this. This is an old mall store with frescos standing in front of old racks. It definitely takes away from Michelangelo's genius.

The Old Mart Museum -- History, Not "His-Story"…read more When we toured the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, we were offered the chance to double down on history -- prepay access to the Old Slave Mart Museum just a few blocks away. We took it. But first? Food. Because nothing says "processing 18th-century imprisonment" like realizing your blood sugar is tanking. After regrouping and refueling, we made our way to the Old Mart Museum. The lesson takes place upstairs -- smaller space, more intimate setting. No theatrics. No dramatics. Just truth. Our guide -- well-groomed, composed, clear-spoken -- absolutely killed it. No sensationalism. No softening. Just facts delivered with gravity. What he described was horrific. Human beings cataloged. Sold. Families separated. Lives reduced to transactions. It was hard to hear. But it was history -- not HIS-story. There's a difference. This wasn't about personal interpretation or modern spin. It was documented record. It was accountability. It was context. Charleston is beautiful. Charming. Architectural eye candy. But layered beneath that beauty is commerce that once depended on human suffering. And standing in that upstairs room, listening quietly, you feel that weight. We walked out quieter than we walked in. Some stops on this trip were fun. Some were adventurous. This one was necessary.

The Old Slave Mart is located at 6 Chalmers Street and is a must-have on your itinerary, even if…read moreyou visit Charleston for a short time. In the heart of the French Quarter, near the French Huguenot Church, One of the first African-American slave museums in the country, Old Slave Mart, is set inside the building where enslaved people were auctioned before the Civil War and is a somber, but important part of a Charleston trip focusing on history. The tour is self-guided, with signage explaining the history. There are also personal accounts from enslaved individuals, artifacts, and audio and visual exhibits. It is a small but deeply affecting museum that gives a sobering view of history. Here, you can listen to the recording of an interview with a former slave. Old Slave Mart was a real slave auction site in the 18th and 19th centuries. Slave auctions were held here till 1863.

You have to come here when you visit Charleston. Oldest museum in the United States. I love the…read moreHunley submarine outside. I liked how you followed a course through the place... rather than a bunch of stuff in one big room...

I've not been here since 2014! Not only is this America's first established museum, not the…read morebuilding itself, but the establishment of a historical museum, as well stocked with a ton of Charlestonian and South Carolina in history and artifacts. It is well worth the visit and highly recommend.!

Can't lie: I didn't come here to drop a package or send a letter. I came here because I'm a nerd…read moreand wanted to see the beautiful marble/stone and brass? Staircase and all the antique fixtures. This post office is like stepping back in time, like entering an art deco era. Very quiet, not crowded, no lines, you'd almost think it's deserted despite being a fully functioning post office. Lots of people seem to have PO Boxes here. There is also a postal museum in the next room, which is kitschy educational.

As the other review mentions this is one room - in fact, when you walk in the post office it even…read moresays "history room" so it's definitely not what I would consider to be a museum. With that being said, this is a neat room for anyone who loves history. I especially enjoyed the Civil War era letters and old postal equipment. There are some neat pictures of Charleston on the walls too. It was well worth the stop and only takes about 10 minutes to walk through.

The museum itself was beautiful. The exhibits were detailed, educational, and thoughtfully put…read moretogether. I really enjoyed learning about the history and culture that was presented. Although the museum is smaller than others we've visited, the quality of the exhibits was excellent. The confusing part was the admission policy. We arrived about an hour before closing and were told the museum was no longer admitting guests. We understood that and only asked to use the restroom. Once inside, another employee told us we could purchase tickets after all. That was confusing because we had just been told the museum was closed to new visitors. What made it even more confusing was paying full admission for only 30 to 45 minutes inside the museum. If the museum has a policy of not admitting guests during the final hour, that information should be clearly posted so visitors know before making the trip. If guests are going to be admitted during that last hour, they should be able to enjoy the museum without mixed messages or paying full price for a significantly shortened visit. The museum itself is worth seeing, but I believe the admission policy needs to be more consistent and transparent. History should be as accessible as possible, and visitors shouldn't leave confused about whether they're welcome to enter or not.

Wow! There's not much to say besides this experience was absolutely amazing!…read more Parking wasn't terrible, actually, and it's not too far from the aquarium. There's street parking and a few lots nearby. There's also a park across the street as well. The experience begins on the outside. From the half-statues to the imprints in the ground. Once through the security check, you go to the second floor. I learned it was elevated 13 ft off the ground to honor where grounds were like almost half of the nation's enslaved were brought to the US right in that very spot. It truly was so impactful standing in that spot reflecting on that. Once inside, the ticket counter is straight ahead, and there's a gift shop on the left and a coffee shop on the right. If you look closely or ask. They will tell you where to start. Also, they have maps as well. Every exhibit was absolutely beautiful and moving. I had chills for the majority of the experience, and to think how even though it feels like ancient history, it wasn't that long ago all of these things happened was just overwhelming. They have quiet rooms as well, which I thought was very thoughtful. On one side it's a set amount of exhibits, and on the other side it's like the American experience. It is one journey after another and truly could be broken up into a multiple-visit experience. They also have a room to explore family history and much more. The art was beautiful. I mean truly an incredible experience. My children enjoyed their time as well. They have coloring pages for the young kids, but that is all, but it's okay because I still enjoyed moving through that experience with them and introducing them to our history beyond books. I had a coffee and some chips for a snack. Everyone was so kind. The coffee was pretty good. I can't wait to go back. It is literally so much to take in, and that's in more ways than one. Some parts made me sad, but overall it made me so proud thinking and reading about the perseverance and determination, and through all the circumstances, the creativity, courage, commitment, wisdom, and culture throughout every journey. It is just so beautiful there. Connecting what they present with the stories that has been shared with me, I just cannot wait to return.

Truly charming and historic - so it's a win win. I was amazed by the lovely decor and intricate…read morearchitectural details of this historic house. The tour was fascinating as it provided a glimpse into pre-war and post- war (civil) history and how it changed not only socio-economics but also lifestyles. I enjoyed learning about the detailed restoration process. Definitely worth an hour or so of your time while visiting Charleston SC.

Beautiful home with a rich history. Well worth the…read moreadmission price and I recommend the guided tour which is done on the hour.

We very much enjoyed our visit to the Aiken-Rhett House. The guided tour was very well done, and…read moreour tour guide was knowledgeable and informative throughout the experience. We appreciated learning not only about the home and the family who lived in the home, but also about the enslaved people connected to the property and their lives. The preserved nature of the house provides an authentic experience. There were, however, a couple of distractions that took away from the experience. Early in the presentation, the tour guide was drinking a soda and repeatedly belched while speaking to the group, which felt somewhat unprofessional and made the presentation less enjoyable. We also did not care for the indigo art installation displayed throughout parts of the home. In our opinion, the artwork distracted from the preservation-focused experience that makes the house so interesting. Having modern art pieces placed among the furnishings made it harder to fully appreciate the rooms as historical spaces and also made it difficult to take clean photographs of the home itself. Overall, though, this was still a worthwhile visit, and we are glad we included it during our time in Charleston.

I absolutely loved this house and the three star rating has nothing to do with the preservation and…read moreI very much respect the opinion of others to leave the house as it was found but in MHO preservation also means to keep it in good repair as it was once kept in its original grandeur state or social importance. A few more years and the decay to the elements will bring this house to the ground. If you compare this house to the mansion in the Magnolia Plantation you can see what I mean, restoration doesn't necessarily mean modernizing the house with today's comforts like AC but actually preserve it so future generations can have an idea of how the house looked and functioned back in the years. It is not about the 16 dollar entrance fee but I would rather pay more to see what the house looked like in the splendor of the Chas boom rather than what it looked when the family moved out, moreover if the family was going through hard times and couldn't keep it up in good repair I am sure it was better than today and every day that goes by and for respect to the family the Charleston Museum owes some effort to make it look better not just show it as bad as it looks, just rain seeping through cracks and windows is little by little deteriorating it's appearance until some day it will be a parking lot. Our tour took almost two hours TMI

Visited: February 16, 2026…read more The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon was the perfect blend of history and hustle. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you feel the weight of Charleston's past. Inside, the immersion begins immediately -- postcards, patches, and meaningful souvenirs that make it easy to bring a little history home for friends and family. The highlight, though, was the tour. Our guide was a jolly local with razor-sharp, dry Southern wit -- the kind of storyteller who can pivot from Revolutionary War imprisonment to a perfectly timed sarcastic aside without missing a beat. Equal parts charm and "bless your heart," she made centuries-old history feel present and personal. Down in the Provost Dungeon, those brick walls carry gravity. British occupation. Prisoners of war. Pirates passing through. It's one of those rare spaces where you instinctively lower your voice. You don't just learn history -- you feel it. History hit different here. If you appreciate immersive storytelling, preserved architecture, and a tour that balances education with personality, this is absolutely worth your time.

Fact: Provost Dungeon is older than our country!…read more The British originally owned it and used it as a commercial exchange and customs house. Also used as a post office, prison, and city hall, it is currently a museum. In addition, in 1788 South Carolina approved the US Constitution here. Yet another testament to the rich history of Charleston, Old Exchange, and Provost Dungeon a fascinating places to visit. Built in 1771, it has changed roles countless times: it was a British dungeon during the American Revolution, an elegant hall during George Washington's 1791 visit to Charleston, and a meeting place for the ratification of the Constitution, In 1780 the British occupied Charleston for two years and housed many prisoners in one large cell in this basement making it a provost, or dungeon. Because of the awful conditions here, disease was rampant due to crowding, and no bathroom facilities. Under these conditions, many people died while in prison here. This prison held all types of people, including American and British soldiers, private citizens, and slaves. The first and second floor of the building is home to a museum dedicated to the other uses of the Exchange Building. Fee: Admission to this historic building is only $12 for adults. For a small fee, a guided tour through the lower level and you can learn a lot from the guide.