Free Museums in Sullivan's Island

"With a premier collection of over 10,000 American works, the Gibbes Museum of Art promotes and protects Charleston's rich cultural heritage through a vibrant artistic lens."

"Showcasing the creativity of regional artists, the Museum Store features jewelry, gifts, books and specialty items that introduce art into everyday life."

"The Chicora-Cherokee Community Park is a 2,300-square-foot playground located at 3107 North Carolina Avenue, and while there will be some parking available, it is intended to serve the immediate area with most visitors walking there. The property for the park was purchased with Charleston County Greenbelt Funds."

"Join a fascinating boat tour to the historic Fort Sumter National Monument, set at the mouth of the beautiful Charleston Harbor. Enjoy a backdrop of Charleston’s stately waterfront homes, The Battery, and Rainbow Row. This fully narrated cruise departs from Aquarium Wharf at the South Carolina Aquarium."

"Situated on an island at the entrance to Charleston Harbor, Fort Sumter is where the American Civil War started on April 12, 1861. The fort is accessible only by boat."

"Formerly called Ryan's Mart, this building once housed an open-air market that auctioned African American men, women and children in the mid-1800s, the largest of 40 or so similar auction houses. South Carolina's shameful past is unraveled in text-heavy exhibits illuminating the slave experience; the few artifacts, such as leg shackles, are especially chilling."

"Built in 1772, the Heyward-Washington house was the longtime city home of Thomas Heyward, one of four Declaration of Independence signatories from South Carolina. Today part of a complex that includes another historic house, as well as the Charleston Museum, the home boasts a number of historic home décor pieces, including the Holmes Bookcase, an intricately-carved 1770 library bookcase widely considered one of the most important pieces of furniture from the Colonial era. The staging of the house captures, for modern-day visitors, the feeling of Revolutionary-era Charleston life."

"Built in 1772, Heyward-Washington House in Charleston was Thomas Heyward Junior’s home, who signed the Declaration of Independence. This triple-storied Charleston double house was rented to George Washington in 1791. The house was opened to the public as the town’s first museum where today you can see a 1740s style kitchen, courtyards with mature 18th century plants and period furniture."

"Built in 1772, Charleston’s Revolutionary War House was the town home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., Revolutionary War patriot and signer of the Declaration of Independence. The house features magnificent Charleston-made furniture and a formal 18th century garden."

"Robert Lange Studios is a local favorite among popular art galleries in Charleston. It features works by Lange himself, as well as other unique, up-and-coming artists."

"The Mace Brown Museum of Natural History, part of the College of Charleston, is based around the huge collection of fossils, mostly from South Carolina, donated by local businessman and fossil enthusiast Mace Brown. The museum displays around 1000 of the specimens from Brown’s collection, including fossilized remnants of prehistoric megafauna such as the giant sloth, giant beaver, saber-toothed cat, and cave bear; extinct species of whale; dinosaur bones; sharks’ teeth (and a megalodon jaw) and more. The museum is located inside of the School of Sciences and Mathematics Building at 202 Calhoun Street, in downtown Charleston."

"When it comes to fun and free things to do in Charleston, the Mace Brown Museum of Natural History should be at the top of your list. This paleontology museum is hosted by the Department of Geology and Environmental Geosciences at the College of Charleston. When you visit, you’ll find dinosaur bones, crinoids, cave bears, fossils, extinct mammals native to the Carolinas, and more."

"Located in the iconic French Quarter, the Principal Gallery of Charleston marks the coming together of American and international artists. A member of the Charleston Gallery Association, this art gallery is known for its impeccable contemporary art that lays emphasis on oil and bronze sculptures and visual representations. Suitable for both amateurs and experts, this art gallery in Charleston encourages an individual vision of every artist through its solo exhibitions, group shows and art fairs."

"Principle Gallery showcases works classified as both classical and contemporary realism. Since 1994, they’ve delighted Charleston art enthusiasts and display pieces in an airy and light-filled space."

"125 Meeting St Corner of Meeting and Queen, next to Eli's Table and Gibbes Museum, Charleston, SC 29401-2277+1 843-727-4500[email protected]http://www.principlegallery.com/charleston/"

"Founded in 1749, this became the first Reform Jewish congregation in the United States in 1841, and is the fourth oldest Jewish congregation in the continental United States. The current sanctuary, c. 1840, is a National Historic Landmark."

"In the midst of Christian churches stands one of the United States’ oldest Jewish congregations. The Kahal Kadosh Beth Elohim is the country’s second oldest Synagogue and the oldest in continuous practice."

"Photo courtesy of Courtesy of the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art. Located on the College of Charleston campus, the Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art serves a dual purpose of being part of the undergraduate School of the Arts at the College and providing a cultural resource for residents and visitors to the Charleston area. The institute's name honors the late William Halsey, an accomplished local artist who taught at the College for 20 years."

"The Halsey Institute of Contemporary Art at the College of Charleston School of Arts features two interlinked museum quality exhibition spaces showcasing numerous works of art by emerging artists. The Institute also hosts a year-round schedule of screenings, panels, lectures and exhibitions."

"Located on the corner of French Quarter Queen and Church streets, the Dock Street Theatre has a rich Charleston history spanning four centuries. On the National Register of Historic Places as the first building in the U.S. designed for theatrical use, The Dock Street Theatre first opened in 1736, and hosted the first opera performance in America with Flora. The original building is said to have burned down in the Great Fire of 1740, and finally succumbed to disrepair following the Civil War."

"This is a great choice not only for the venue itself but also for its supreme location in the city's historic French Quarter neighborhood in Charleston's downtown area. It started out as a hotel in 1809 and was converted into a theater in 1935. It was actually the first place designed and built for use as a theater in the Thirteen Colonies and is therefore also on the National Register of Historic Places."

"One of the most impressive Charleston attractions for cultural engagement is Charleston Music Hall. This is what to see in Charleston if you want to see some of the top musical acts today. A beautiful and historic space, Charleston Music Hall is one of the best concert venues around Charleston."

"The Charleston Music Hall is a 19th-century Gothic Revival building that held the most fabulous events in Charleston. Today, it now serves as a local venue for concerts, dance, theater & comedy shows."

"Theaters1137 Johnnie Dodds Boulevard Blvd, Mount Pleasant, SC MoreLess Info. The Crabpot Players Theater is a non-profit community theatre company that encourages and promotes live theater through the medium of acting. The company offers camps and classes for aspiring actors."

"Casual yet delicious burgers & salads that are sneakily good for you, with beef, black bean, turkey, and chicken varieties on the menu at Sesame Burgers & Beer. A sister restaurant to the well-known Five Loaves Cafe, this laid-back Mount Pleasant hotspot brings local food and beer across the bridge in the best possible way, sourcing ingredients locally and seasonally whenever possible. The relationships with community are apparent, noting which ingredients come from which farmer, the personal touch of owners Casey Glowacki and Joe Fischbein, and the lighthearted atmosphere of the nightly crowd."

"At the Park Circle outpost of Sesame Burgers & Beer, diners can choose from a menu of meat or meatless burgers and sandwiches that can be personalized with toppings like smashed avocado, fried eggs, basil pesto, and even peanut butter. Be sure to stop in the eatery's Mount Pleasant location, too."