Rice Museum Exhibits Rich in Local History, National Significance
By Christina Lee Knauss
Walk into the shady interior of the Rice Museum on Front Street in Georgetown - and step back in time.
The museum, located in the historic waterfront district, offers visitors a look at the rich and varied history of Georgetown County.
Founded in 1970, the Rice Museum's exhibits are located in two historic buildings - the Kaminski Building, which was previously a hardware store, and the Old Market Building, which includes the clock tower, one of the best-known landmarks along the waterfront. Both buildings date from 1842.
Visitors can take an hour-long guided tour of both buildings, and learn about the Georgetown County rice culture, which made it one of the richest locations in the early United States. Tour guide Phillip Dennis noted that, at one time, the county was home to 150 different rice plantations, which thrived along the county's many rivers, streams and creeks.
In the Old Market Building, detailed dioramas show the entire process of cultivating rice, as well as life on an average rice plantation. A visit to the museum also includes a showing of "Garden of Gold," a 17-minute film which describes the history and daily lives of Georgetown's rice planters.
The Kaminski Building features artifacts from the original Kaminski Hardware Store, and is also home of the Maritime History Museum, which outlines the rich history of shipping in Georgetown. It is also home to the Browns Ferry Vessel, which is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places and is the oldest vessel manufactured during the colonial era still existing in the United States.
Hampton Shuping, a dive instructor with the University of South Carolina Institute of Archaeology and Anthropology, discovered the Browns Ferry Vessel in 1974 on the bottom of the Black River at Browns Ferry. He recognized the significance of the 18th-century vessel and waived all claim to it. The ship was raised in 1976, along with dozens of artifacts that had been on board the vessel since it sank, probably during the 1730s.
The vessel is about 50 feet long and was used as a general-purpose river freighter during the 18th century. It was powered by sails, but could also be rowed or steered by poles.
Many of the artifacts are on display now at the museum, including bricks that were part of a load of 25 tons still on the boat when it was discovered. Other items that were found include iron cooking pots, dishware and other cargo that the vessel would deliver at regular stops along the rivers.
The vessel was restored and brought to the Rice Museum in 2000. It is considered by many to be one of the most significant modern nautical discoveries in the United States, partly because its existence establishes that American shipbuilding was going on at least 50 years before scholars originally thought.
Other exhibits in the Kaminski building feature the rich history of Georgetown's Jewish community, the County's Gullah community, and the legacies of two of the County's most famous African-American residents: educator Ruby Forsythe, who taught for years at a one-room school on Pawleys Island, and Joseph Hayne Railey, who was born into slavery in Georgetown County and later became the first black member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Also in the Kaminski Building, the Prevost Gallery rotates exhibits by local artists, including paintings, sculpture, crafts and photography. A visit to the Rice Museum would not be complete without a visit to the Museum Gift Shop, which features a wide variety of merchandise from around the Carolinas and the world, including jewelry, crafts, hand-blown glass, wooden boats, and artwork.
The Rice Museum is located at 633 Front Street, Georgetown. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday-Saturday. The museum is closed on Sundays and major holidays.
Admission is $7 for adults, $5 for seniors (60 and over) and $3 for students (6-21). Children under 6 are admitted free when accompanied by an adult. Group rates are available.
To learn more about it, visit www.ricemuseum.org or call (843) 546-7423.
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