Explore a remarkable collection of South Carolina pottery that forms an important part of The Charleston Museum’s history collection with Curator of History Chad Stewart. These pieces were created by an African American potter commonly known as Dave or David Drake. Dave was born into slavery around 1801 in Edgefield, SC. The pottery of David Drake is exceptional not only for its quality but also because most of his work is signed and inscribed with poetry. The Charleston Museum is honored to house one of the most important collections of David Drake’s work held in a public collection.

In conjunction with The Charleston Museum's 250th anniversary in 2023, the Museum will release a monthly video to highlight important objects in the collections. We invite you to check back monthly to explore each object with our curatorial staff.

YOUTUBE CHANNEL

TOURS

Exclusive Society Members Tour: Giant Predators of the Ancient Atlantic with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson

Wednesday, August 9 | 5:30 PM

South Carolina has been home to an astounding array of giant marine animals over the past 70 million years including crocodiles, whales, and predatory fish. Many of these adorn the Museum’s Bunting Natural History hall, however even more can be found lurking in the research collections. As many of these are one of a kind specimens, researchers from around the globe have made the trek to Charleston to study them. Join Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson in a special look at these rare exciting creatures as well as the ways we preserve and study them.

Beverages and light hors d’oeuvres will be available. Registration is required.

This program is free of charge and exclusive for current Museum Members at the following Membership Levels: Milby Burton Society, Manigault Society and 1773 Society. Not a Member, yet? Join (or upgrade) your Membership, today!

What’s the Pattern? Exploring Transfer-printed Earthenwares from Charleston with Curator of Historical Archaeology Martha Zierden and Archaeology Volunteer Juliana Falk

Thursday, August 10 | 4:00 PM

Transfer printing, developed in Staffordshire around 1783, revolutionized the ceramic industry. This process, that used tissue paper to transfer a design from an engraved and inked copper plateto a ceramic vessel, allowed potters to quickly apply complex decoration to pottery. Printed wares were common through the nineteenth century, and came in a variety of vessel forms. North America was the main market, and British potters sent shiploads across the Atlantic, many decorated with American scenes. Many transfer patterns were produced for a short time, so identifying the pattern on pottery fragments allows archaeologists to better date their sites. But with thousands of patterns available, this isn’t always easy. Join Curator of Historical Archaeology Martha Zierden and archaeology volunteer Juliana Falk to view a table full of transfer printed earthenwares from the archaeology collections. We’ll discuss some of the archaeological sites that produced these ceramics. We’ll highlight identified patterns and use reference books and web sites to identify others.

Guests are invited to bring their own printed wares to be identified. Please note, due to the vast number of patterns, identification is not guaranteed. A limited number of wares are able to be identified at the workshop. Registration for identification is required and is on a first come, first served basis.

Member $25 | Non-Member $40

Member with Print Indentification $40 | Non-Member with Print Indentification $55

Conversations with a Curator: Ice Age Giants with Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson

Friday, August 11 | 10:30 AM

The Last Great Ice Age occurred 2.5 million to 11,700 years ago and Lowcountry was a very different place. During this period South Carolina was inhabited by giant sloths, mammoths, and saber-toothed cats. Often their bones are found in the bottom of our local rivers or washed up on our barrier islands and by studying these remains using a combination of cutting-edge methods, paleontologists can examine an ancient ecosystem that stands in stark contrast to what we see today. Escape the heat to join Curator of Natural History Matthew Gibson in learning about these Ice Age giants and the new and interesting ways we are studying them.

Conversations with a Curator allows visitors a chance to have an in-depth look at an object or exhibit in the Museum galleries, ask questions and spark conversations. The Charleston Museum’s collections are both extraordinary and diverse and each Curator-led talk and tour allows participants to immerse themselves in a different aspect of Charleston’s rich history.

All Conversations with a Curator programs are open to the public and FREE for Members and FREE with admission.

Fossil Frenzy Workshop

Tuesday, August 15 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Travel back to Prehistoric times to meet the creatures that once lived in the Lowcountry millions of years ago. Learn how fossils are created, get hands-on with real fossils, explore the Natural History Hall on a guided tour, and create your own fossil cast to take home. Museum Workshops offer kids a chance to get hands on with history and natural history. Included in our workshops are a lesson on the topic and hands-on activities. Recommended for children ages 6 to 12. Reservations required.

$10 Museum Members | $15 Non-members

Colonial Crafts Workshop

Wednesday, August 16 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Experience life for an apprentice in colonial Charleston. Learn about colonial life and clothing, examine an indenture contract, and embark on your own mini-apprenticeship with the Charleston Museum. Participants will take part in several colonial-themed crafts including (but not limited to) beeswax candle rolling, plaster flower decorations, and soap carving. Museum Workshops offer kids a chance to get hands on with history and natural history. Included in our workshops are a lesson on the topic and hands-on activities. Recommended for children ages 6 to 12. Reservations required.

$10 Museum Members | $15 Non-members

For more information: call 843-722-2996 ext. 236

Excavating Egypt Workshop

Thursday, August 17 | 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM

Journey through time to learn about daily life of ancient Egyptians. Explore the Early Days Gallery on a guided tour of our Egyptian items, learn about the mummification process, discover the treasures and artifacts buried with the pharaohs through your own mini-excavation, and build a pyramid using sugar cubes. Museum Workshops offer kids a chance to get hands on with history and natural history. Included in our workshops are a lesson on the topic and hands-on activities. Recommended for children ages 6 to 12. Reservations required.

$10 Museum Members | $15 Non-members

For more information: call 843-722-2996 ext. 236

Teen Terrarium Workshop

Friday, August 18 | 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM

Perfect for all teen plant fans! Enjoy a mini-lesson on the history and science of terrariums. Get creative as you craft your own terrarium to take home using a variety of materials. Specially geared for teens, our Teen Workshops offer an opportunity to engage with a variety of topics including history, the natural world, and STEAM principles. Workshops include a lesson or guided tour and hands-on activities. For ages 13 to 17. Reservations required.

$10 Museum Members | $15 Non-members

For more information: call 843-722-2996 ext. 236

CHILDREN EVENTS

MUSEUM BLOG

Captive Sitter: Osceola at Fort Moultrie

Portraits are powerful objects. In addition to forming a visual record of an individual’s likeness, they frequently provide a glimpse into the sitter’s social status, aspirations, material wealth, and the context in which they lived out their lives. They not only represent reality, but often what the artist or sitter wanted that reality to be.

The Museum’s collection includes portraits of many figures in some way related to the history of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Being expensive and time-consuming to produce, most early portraits showcased wealthy and elite members of society, making those featuring the underrepresented populations, such as Black or Native American sitters, rare. However, one example on exhibit in the Museum’s permanent galleries stands out: Osceola by Robert John Curtis (1816-1867).

CURRENT EXHIBITS

America’s First Museum: 250 Years of Collecting, Preserving and Educating, Part 2

NOW ON VIEW

Historic Textiles Gallery

A Historical Timeline of America's First Museum: 1773 - 2023

NOW ON VIEW

Lowcountry Image Gallery

COVID-19 Resources

Coronavirus Resource Guide Preppers Guide

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