Summerville Museum and Research Center

Did you know Summerville has a museum? Located at 100 E Doty Ave. Summerville, SC 29483 in downtown summerville  – there it is!

The museum is currently open Thursday, Friday, Saturday 10am-4pm with no admission fee through December 2022.  The regular admission fees are: Age 13 & above $5.00, Ages 4 –  12 $2.00, Age 3 & below Free.

Tours of of the museum typically lasts 30-45 minutes and includes a walk around the small courtyard and in the garden house.

On May 02, 1991, a group of concerned citizens organized by Robert Pratt met for the first time to consider forming a history museum for the Summerville area. In December of 1992, the museum opened its doors to the public.   This building was the old Police Department building.  Originally located on Railroad Avenue  (This street ran parallel to the railroad connecting Charleston to Hamburg now known as North Augusta, SC with passenger and freight lines.) and was renamed Doty Avenue to honor Lawrence Hayden Doty, Mayor of Summerville 1953 to 1965.

Summerville has a rich history which is provided through the tour of the museum.

The first settlement in Summerville began following the American Revolutionary War; it was called Pineland Village in 1785. Development in the area resulted from plantation owners who resided in the Charleston area and came to Summerville to escape seasonal insects and swamp fever.^[11]

Summerville became an official town on 17 December 1847. That year, the town passed a law against cutting down trees, the nation’s first such law, and a $25 fine was issued to anyone who did so without permission. The town’s official seal reads “Sacra Pinus Esto (The Pine is Sacred).”^[12]

In 1899, the International Congress of Physicians (or “Tuberculosis Congress”^[11]) listed Summerville as one of the world’s two best areas for treatment of and recovery from lung and throat disorders, due to its dry and sandy location and the many pine trees that release turpentine derivatives into the air. This notation is credited with aiding Summerville’s commercial and residential development.^[12]

The museum has various rooms with donated furniture and antiques.  That black chair may look like a torture device but it was really comfortable!

There is also a garden house that was moved to the property and was used as a “man cave” with a poker table. It is located in the small garden at the museum.

While at the museum I took a walk over next to the courthouse to see the World’s largest sweet ice tea. The history of sweet tea is also included in the museum tour. The Sweet Tea Festival is a celebration of the birthplace of sweet tea, right here in Summerville SC and takes place each September.

I recommend visiting the museum to learn more about the history of summerville. It’s interesting and sometimes easy to forget with all the new developments changing the town.

I keep up to date with everything going on in Cane Bay Plantation and Nexton.  I also know where you can go locally to do pretty much everything from buying a golf cart, having a computer or phone repaired, landscaping, power washing, dog training, etc.  If I don’t know I can find out!