The Rice Museumdocuments and celebrates an important period in U.S. history. Late-18th centurysettlers discovered that this grain would grow well in the swampy lowlands ofSouth Carolina, and production boomed. The area became one of the wealthiest inthe country. At its height, the region produced almost half of the country'stotal rice crop.
Themuseum is housed in a mid-19th century brown-and-white clock tower called theOld Market Building. Inside, you’ll see dioramas, preserved machinery, maps andartifacts relating to the crop production, which was centered in Georgetown.The museum provides an interesting look at the economic effects the crop had onthe local area, as well as the widespread use of African slaves in production.
Set aside a day foryour visit as there is much to see in Georgetown once your Rice Museum tour iscomplete. The nearby Francis Marion National Forest is a great place for ahike.
See the oldest vesselon display in the United States at the Maritime Museum Gallery. It’s located inthe Kaminski Hardware Building next door to the Rice Museum. The Browns FerryVessel was a general-purpose freighter built in the 1700s and sunk in 1730.Take a 60-minute tour of both the Kaminski Hardware and Old Market buildings,led by volunteers with a strong knowledge of the area's history.
Afterwards, settledown for a picnic in Lafayette Park, surrounding the old clock tower on theSampit River. Take a leisurely stroll around Georgetown and look for the manyhomes, public buildings and sites that predate the Civil War.
TheRice Museum is in Georgetown, about 50 minutes by car south of Myrtle Beach.The museum is closed on Sundays and major holidays. There’s a small admissionfee and children under six enter for free.
