Cayce Historical Museum

City Hall Complex 1800 12th Street Extension, Cayce, SC 803-796-9020 T-F 9:00AM - 4:00PM; Saturday & Sunday 2:00PM-5:00PM Admission charged for 13 years old and older

The focal point of the museum is a reconstruction of the Trading Post established by James Chestnut and Joseph Kershaw at Granby Village in 1765. Six exhibit areas emphasize periods of Indians, Colonial activity and trade, agricultural development and transportation in the area. Kids will love the big red caboose!

The Granby Gardens Park and Granby Botanical Gardens are in the same complex, offering a stream, picnic tables, and a playground. Bring a picnic lunch and spend the day!

City of Columbia Parks and Recreation

803-733-8331

Admission Free

Call for hours of operation and park locations

Finlay Park is one of the largest handicapped accessible parks in the United States. Granby Park is part of a 12-mile linear park that has access to the city’s three rivers. Memorial Park, located at the corner of Gadsden and Hampton streets in downtown Columbia, salutes our veterans. One of the largest parks, Owens Field Park boasts a soccer field, walking trail and an in-line skating area. Activities for children, adults and seniors ranging from pottery making classes to volleyball and basketball can be found at the parks.

Columbia Fire Department

1800 Laurel St, Columbia

 803-733-8350

Mon-Fri: 9:00am-5:00pm; weekends by appointment only

Admission Free

Museum attractions date back as far as the mid-1800's and include a 1929 American LaFrance fire engine and 1903 horse-drawn steamer, interactive exhibits, equipment from days gone by, pictures of the six fire chiefs that have served Columbia since the early 1900's and a photo history of firefighting in Columbia.

Columbia Marionette Theatre

401 Laurel St Columbia, SC 29201

803-252-7366

Performances every Saturday: 11:00am-3:00pm

Admission Charged The Columbia Marionette Theatre offers a puppet store, community outreach and much more. All productions are created entirely in house and take several months to complete.

Edventure

211 Gervais Street, Columbia, SC 803-779-3100

Monday - Saturday: 9am - 5pm; Sunday: Noon - 5pm Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Admission Charged

EdVenture is South Carolina's place for hands-on learning and discovery.  It is dedicated to providing children and families with exhibits, programs and resources to ignite curiosity, creativity, and a greater understanding of the world.  For every child who visits EdVenture, seeing will be believing and doing will mean remembering. There are 8 permanent exhibits as well as traveling exhibits. The permanent exhibits are: Eddie, The World's Largest Child, World of Work,   Mission Imagination, My Backyard, The Great Outdoors, Critter Garden, and Over the Horizon.

Fort Jackson Museum

Bldg 4442 Jackson Blvd., Fort Jackson, SC 29207-5100

803-751-7419

Tues-Fri: 10:00am-4:00pm; Sat: 1:00pm-4:00pm; Closed all Federal Holidays

Admission Free, visitors must show a picture ID, vehicle registration, and proof of insurance.

For older children with an interest in history.

The museum was established in 1972 with an initial collection of 20 artifacts. The collection has grown to over 3,800 pieces of military weapons, uniforms, and vehicles from World War I to present. The museum uses an assortment of military weapons, uniforms and other equipment to illustrate how the American soldier has been trained to perform his duties in peacetime and war. These displays are supplemented by exhibitions that deal with special areas of interest, such as the installation's namesake (President Andrew Jackson), women who have served on post, and the major units that have trained at Fort Jackson since World War I. Several typical military vehicles and artillery pieces from World War I to the present are displayed outside the museum building, which is adjacent to a small picnic area.

Frankie's Fun Park

140 Parkridge Rd Columbia, SC 29212

803-781-2342

Mon-Sat: 10:00am-12:00am; Sun: 12:00pm-12:00am

Admission Charged

Frankie’s Fun Park is a 14-acre entertainment center in the Harbison area. Attractions include: 3 go-carts tracks, 3 18-hole championship mini-golf courses, a 9-position batting cage featuring baseball and softball pitches at a variety of speeds, bumper boats, an arcade with more than 150 state-of-the-art games, a 5,000 square foot multi-leveled laser tag arena, homemade pizza and a restaurant/snack bar.

Kensington Mansion

Columbia Southeast - Ft. Jackson

Located on Highway 601 approximately 6 miles south of Highway 378,  

803-353-0456 (Information or Reservations)

Thurs, Fri, and Sat, 9:30am, 11am, 1pm and 2:30pm. Tours are available year round (except major holidays).

Admission Charged

For older children with an interest in history.

Built in 1854 by Matthew R. Singleton, this estate reflects life that was typical of prewar Southern aristocracy. After being abandoned and falling into disrepair in the early part of the century, Kensington Mansion is now on the National Register of Historic Places, and has been restored and refurbished under the guidance of the Sumter County Museum and Archives. When you go, be sure to notice the beautiful domed ceiling with ornamental plasterwork in the dining room.

Lake Murray

2184 N. Lake Dr Columbia, SC 29212

803-781-5940

Mon-Fri: 11-7pm; Sat & Sun: 11am-8pm

The lake covers an area of 78 square miles with 649 miles of shoreline. The Lake Murray adventure means boating, sailing, canoeing, fishing, skiing, swimming, camping and just plain fun at one of the South's most scenic playgrounds.

Lorick Plantation House

Lake Murray Visitors' Center

Corner of Northlake and Carlisle 803-781-5940 or toll free 1-866- SC JEWEL

Monday through Friday 9 to 5, Saturday 10-4, and Sunday 1-5. Closed major holidays

Admission Free

For older children with an interest in history. The Lorick Plantation House was built in 1840. The house survived the civil war but did experience some damage from General Sherman as his troops set it afire, but the courageous townsfolk put out the fire after the Union troops rode off. Boards in the dining room floor show evidence of this. The house has a wide porch with fans, swings, and a peaceful view of a wooded area. Do go inside though, and walk through the beautifully restored front rooms. The children will enjoy the aquarium filled with Lake Murray fish and might even be interested in the display on Lake Murray's purple martins (birds).

McKissick Museum

Downtown Business District

University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC 29208

803-777-7251

Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm (open until 7pm on Thursday); Sun: 1-5:00pm

Admission Free

For older children.

The McKissick Museum is located in a building that was once the main library. It is a beautiful building filled with history, and is a cool, quiet escape on a hot day.  The highlight for children could very well be riding in the old-fashioned elevator located behind the reception desk. It has a swinging door outside and metal mesh gate inside so you can see the car moving. There are two permanent exhibits at the museum:  the gem and mineral exhibit and the Baruch silver collection.

Two floors of galleries feature changing exhibitions that include folk art, science, art, and regional history. Educational programs (aimed at children 3rd through 5th grade) are offered and include lectures, concerts, craft demonstrations, and teacher training workshops. Call for current exhibits and events.

Sesquicentennial State Park

9564 Two Notch RD, Columbia

803-788-2706

Mon-Sun, 8am-6pm (extended from 7am to 9pm during Daylight Savings Time)

Admission Charged

This 1,419-acre park, situated in the middle of the sandhills region, features a beautiful 30-acre lake surrounded by trails and picnic areas. The park was originally built by the Civilian Conservation Corps, a New Deal Program created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the 1930’s. The program was designed to provide employment during the Great Depression while addressing national needs in conservation and recreation. A number of buildings built by the CCC in the 1930's are still in use at this park. A two-story log house, dating back to the mid-1700’s, was relocated to the park in 1969.  It is believed to be the oldest building still standing in Richland County.  The park’s convenient location attracts both local residents and visitors.

South Carolina Confederate Relic Room and Museum

Downtown Business District

301 Gervais Street Columbia, SC 29201

803-737-8095

Tuesday - Friday: 10am-5pm; Open 10am-5pm the first and third Saturday of each month

Admission Charged for 21 and older

For older children with an interest in history.

The Confederate Relic Room & Museum is one of the best museums of its type. It was established in 1895 to honor South Carolina's Confederate veterans. There is an excellent presentation of uniforms, flags, naval artifacts, weapons, monies, personal possessions and a torch used by Sherman’s army to burn Columbia. The collection annually attracts Civil War enthusiasts from all over the world.

South Carolina State Museum

301 Gervais St

803-737-4921 or 803-898-4935

Tuesday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Sundays 1 - 5 p.m. Closed: Mondays, New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Admission Charged

For older children.

The old Columbia Duck Mill, a massive four story factory, was the first mill to use hydropower and electricity in America.  The mill is now the home of the South Carolina State Museum which has four floors of exhibits about South Carolina.  The first floor features Lipscomb Art Gallery and a great hands-on discovery area with lots of things to try out. The second level features the state's natural history and traveling exhibits. The third level focuses on science and technology while the fourth floor showcases the state's history.

Tunnelvision

Downtown Business District

Taylor and Marion Streets Columbia, SC 29201

"Tunnelvision" is an unbelievably realistic mural painted in 1975 by artist Blue Sky on the wall of the AgFirst Farm Credit Bank.  It portrays a highway disappearing through a mountain tunnel and is so life-like that viewers are tempted to drive in.  AgFirst Farm Credit Bank commissioned Blue Sky to design a sculpture to commemorate the 25th anniversary of “Tunnelvision.” The sculpture, “Busted Plug Plaza,” is located on the Taylor side of the bank’s property. A second mural, Light at the end of the Tunnel, is located at Hampton and Bull Streets. The mural represents the world on the other side of the tunnel in “Tunnelvision.”