South Carolina State Museum, Columbia

Although it's showing its age in places (some of the exhibits are 25+ years old) the museum is clearly undergoing a renewal. Many signboards and displays have recent updates, exhibits are being tweaked, new displays are going on. It's true this isn't the state of the art museum it was in the early 90s, but it's still a solid place to pick up on state history and I still love coming here to see what's been updated since my last visit. Watching the changes from one visit to the next in almost real time has been pretty exciting! In good weather, definitely check out the observatory. Even if it's closed due to clouds or rain, they're always happy to have a chat about the telescope and show off pictures they've taken with it, which is extremely cool. The updated space exhibits are also fantastic, as are the telescopes on display and the recent acquisitions hall. Showing its age in places, yes, but like I said it's still definitely worth the visit.

Great place to explore. The building itself is cool. The planetarium is a great experience. Also do the observatory. Impressive telescope and knowledgeable staff. The other displays throughout are fantastic, but there isn't much change. Still, I enjoyed repeated visits. The manually powered submarine model is fascinating. We went this last time for the eclipse. The staff members really make you feel welcome.