This is a small but friendly museum. Parking across street is easy and $1 for 20 minutes with clean public rest rooms - none in museum. Buy the trifecta ticket. read more

we visited on the first day of their reopening! The group was so kind to us and very knowledgeable! we learned so much about the building and the area! Shout out to Mr. Dennis, he let us pose with muskets and took some amazing photos! a must visit stop for sure to see the oldest public building in town! read more

The Charleston Powder Magazine is a historical landmark located in the historic center of downtown near the city market . Once used as a gunpowder store through the Revolutionary War, and later saw other uses, it's now a museum . There's a gift shop with lots of colonial themed trinkets and treasures . If you like passports , they sell a Charleston area colonial passport . You can get it stamped at other area historic sites . Plan to spend about 30 - 40 minutes here . Parking : there is metered street parking and across the street is Cumberland Garage. read more

Powder Magazine - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

See all

It is a small museum but it's backstory is pretty cool! The employees were super nice. Had some good artifacts in it. And lots of informative information. "What was meant to be a potion of life would eventually become the main ingredient for death." While trying to find a potion for immortality, Chinese alchemists of the 9th century Tang Dynasty accidentally discovered saltpeter (potassium nitrate), the main ingredient of gunpowder. Gunpowder consists of potassium nitrate (75% by weight), charcoal (15%), and sulfur (10%). Saltpeter decomposes at high temperature to provide oxygen for the reaction. This means that gunpowder doesn't need to be exposed to air to burn. The charcoal is often represented simply as being a source of carbon, which acts as a fuel. Finally, the sulfur undergoes exothermic reactions (reactions that give off heat) at relatively low temperatures, providing more energy and lowering the ignition temperature of the charcoal. The Powder Magazine in Charleston is the oldest public building in South Carolina. Built in 1713, the building was used as storage for gunpowder during colonial days and the American Revolution. The Powder Magazine is the only standing structure of the original fortification that once surrounded Charleston. The building is now a National Landmark with exhibits that focus on South Carolina's colonial military history. read more

See all

$8 entrance and a nice history lesson. I recommend it, especially if you're into pirates. read more

See all

The tour guide really makes this experience for history, war, and pirate nerds. He's a wealth of knowledge and a great chat. Ask a lot of questions as you read the signs and look at the artifacts. read more

Historical firearm enthusiasts will be more than happy to take a visit here. You get to learn about how gun powder made muskets into an unpredictable instrument of death that can kill not only the target its user aims at, but the user itself. read more

Powder Magazine - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Really great tour with very knowledgeable and lovely tour guide. My son enjoyed it immensely. Thank you!

I stopped in here for a little history lesson with my parents and kids during Christmas break. I drive and walk by all the time, but have only been in here once, many years ago. We were greeted immediately and began talking about where my parents came from. Turns out the guy behind the counter is from the next town over up in northern Vermont, and so they had a lot to bond about. Our volunteer gave us a brief history lesson as we walked in and then allowed us to walk around and view the artifacts and displays at our own pace. This is a really cool building because it is the only surviving powder magazine in Charleston. The other one blew up years ago. read more

See all

We visited Charleston, SC (on vacation) during the second week of February. As a history teacher, one of the highlights of my trip was our visit to the Powder Magazine! This little building stores so much history that it's an absolute must-see for ANYONE who's even remotely interested in how our nation won independence from the British! read more

See all

A bit of a smaller museum, but Dennis was such an amazing guide. He's very knowledgeable of not only the magazine, but of Charleston and other cities' histories as well. My boyfriend and I chatted with him for about 20 or so minutes and it really made the experience worthwhile. Definitely a nice stop while you stroll around the city hunting for history! read more

A small place off Cumberland street, with a lot of history. An inexpensive history to see at your own pace. They start you off talking to you with some history of the building etc, the you read and tour the room and outside on your own. I recommend this place, but it is a go one time and move on. read more

There is a cost to go in here. I think it was 7 dollars each. Probably a bit much for what it was, but it's fine, it was worth checking out if you're walking along and want to see something different. You have to walk along the path to the back. You enter a tiny gift shop (realllly tiny) and then into the powder magazine (one room) and you can walk out to the front where there's some stocks to get a photo op and two canons. That's all out there. Done. A few artifacts inside, a lot of signage to read and the general ambiance of the vaulted room (uniquely so). Cute history that coincides with the Provost museum. It's a 4 star for history, 4 stars for how it's kept, 5 stars for the guy who gave us a little background but the reason for the downgrade is, nothing to do with anything but it's a super fast thing to do. In and out in 15 minutes. If you read everything and take a photo of everything and linger, you'll be there 20 minutes. But it's still neat. read more

The Powder Magazine on Cumberland Street in Charleston is a great piece of history to be a part of experience. It is cool that there is a building that is from Charleston in 1713 that is still standing and that you can feel and walk through. You can feel all of the history and all of the years in the air that is part of the building. The vibe and atmosphere is made complete with really cool flute and pipe music that is continuously playing and gets you all excited like you stepped in a time machine. I really like all the displays and all of the historical perspective and education that is on display. I feel like I am able to learn something new every time I come here and there is just enough here that it does not take all day to see everything. read more

See all

To me this location is just "A-Ok." The price of admission is steep in my opinion, but they often have deals available on Groupon etc. so you might want to check those out. The history inside the museum is fascinating. Recommend. read more

The Powder Magazine was a meager museum that did little to impress. We were interested in the uniqueness of this museum because it focuses on the gunpowder storage in Charleston. However, the museum was disappointingly small (just one little room), and most of the "activities" are catered to kids. As an adult who loves history, I found this museum underwhelming. I would not recommend paying the $6 entry fee. However, if you do have a kid and desire something that they would enjoy, this may just be what you're looking for! read more

I simply despise paying good money to go into a museum or other tourist attraction and feel like I was screwed. That is the case with the Powder Magazine. Yeah - there are a few interesting pieces, but the admission fee is outrageous for what is there. The curator is knowledgeable, but there really isn't much to see. There are far more interesting things to see in Charleston that don't take advantage of tourists. Save your $$ on this one. read more

The staff was really friendly and super welcoming. They took great pride in showing off the museum and sharing the history of the Powder Magazine. It's definitely worth stopping by for 45 minutes and it's only a few bucks to visit read more

Excellent little place! Perfect for kids! They have costumes to try on, a scavenger hunt, and an interactive video game. Don't plan on spending too much time here for its a small place but well worth the little visit. The staff was great offering to take pictures for us and answered questions we had. read more

Powder Magazine - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

See all

The building isn't big but is worth seeing. Charleston was always under threat of attack for centuries and this shows some weapons and supplies used. A game is on site to destroy the pirate. The building is hundreds of years old and housed weapons and supplies for years. read more

See all

Great little historical spot. Museum has some interesting artifacts and interactive displays. Worth five bucks a pop just to get your picture taken in the stocks. read more

Powder Magazine - Just outside of the magazine. - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

Cute little museum and we used a groupon deal for $12 for up to 5 people. The museum employee was super nice. If you just come in and take a look around you may not be impressed but if you read the signs and the kids do the scavenger hunt it is really informative. read more

Powder Magazine - Kid scavenger hunt in process. Do it and u get a prize - Museums Near Me - Charleston, South Carolina

See all

New to Charleston, I discovered this place by accident. I met the curator at a local pirate event. His knowledge and enthusiasm lured me to go check out the museum. Yes, it's a small space but they've done a great job with it. The staff there very obviously care about their work. There's models, displays and plenty to read - they even have their own computer game demonstrating the harbor defenses. Definitely worth a visit. read more

Inexpensive to see and very informative. Some of the stuff you can even touch (unlike other museums). It only takes maybe 30 minutes to go through it but the architecture and how they built it was very ingenious. It's worth it if you have a little time to spare. read more

The Powder Magazine has some interesting maps and historical information about Charleston. The curator was very knowledgeable and the conversation we had with him about how much of the downtown area is on landfill was very interesting. The building is also worth going to as it's one of the oldest standing buildings in the country. Definitely worth the $3 admission, check it out! read more

There is really not much to see here. I think admission was like $5 or $10. Whatever it was, it really wasn't worth it. The rifles they have are neat. They also have some cool things to see out in front of the magazine. People are dressed up in clothes from the colonial times. I'd give it one more star if it had been free. read more

Small museum, you can cover all of it within 40 minutes if you read and do everything. They offer an easy scavenger hunt, and if you answer all of the questions you get a free souvenir. Cool museum with a lot of history jammed into a small space and friendly staff. Cool little souvenir shop too. read more

This place is fantastic! A perfect little gem of Charleston! So much history and displays packed into such a small building seething in history. A must go to when visiting Charleston. Dirt cheap admission fee and even has a little gift shop with really cool stuff to buy! Nothing here breaking the bank, yet so informative and fun to see! read more

An interesting place to learn a bit about Charleston's military history.