Cayce Historical Museum

The Cayce Historical Museum's main building is a replica of a frontier trading post built in the area in 1765. This post seized by the British during the Revolution was called Fort Granby. Later the structure became a family home for the Cayce family, whose name was chosen for the present city of Cayce when it was chartered in 1914. The museum building displays artifacts and interprets the historical, social, and cultural heritage of the area that has included the historical communities of Saxe Gotha and Granby and the current community of the City of Cayce.

📆 Cayce Museum Latest Events

The Cayce Historical Museum has local objects from the prehistoric, colonial, antebellum, Civil War, and the 20th and 21st century periods. There are exhibits on Confederate currency and the Battle of Congaree Creek, an exhibit on the locks on the Congaree River, an exhibit on the Columbia Airport and the famous Doolittle raiders of World War II, an exhibit on African American Legends of Cayce, and an exhibit on the 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth World Series Champions. There is also a 1749 detached kitchen on the museum grounds that is open for special living history events, an 1820 smokehouse with information on preserving food, and a railroad caboose and 1938 rail speeder.

The Native American Exhibit

The Cayce Historical Museum houses an extensive collection of Native American artifacts. There are over 7,000 bifaces (projectile points), tools, and potsherds. Many items date to the Early Archaic Period, 8-10,000 years ago. Some of the Clovis Points are even older than that, dating back to the Paleo-Indian period. Most of these items originated in South Carolina, but this collection is expansive, and some artifacts come from across the country.

Plan Your Visit

Telephone: 803.739.5385

Location: 1800 12th Street [view map]

The Museum is located toward the back of the large City of Cayce municipal complex. There is a sign in front of the museum.

Handicap Accessibility

The main building of the Cayce Historical Museum re-creates a historical structure that was built in 1765. The ground floor, exhibit rooms, and bathrooms are handicap accessible. The wheelchair ramp into the museum can be found near the back of the building. If using the back entrance, please knock on the door for admittance during regularly scheduled hours. The upstairs does not have an elevator and therefore has limited access. Efforts have been made to improve handicap accessibility in the main building and on the grounds, however, access to certain historic structures is limited. Further improvements to expand handicap accessibility are planned for the future and continue to be implemented as possible.

Gift Shop

The museum has a small selection of gifts relating to the area and museum topics available at our gift shop. Call for more information.

Group Tours & Educational Programs

Group Tours

Group tours can be arranged. However, because of staff size, groups over 20 people may have to be split up to be accommodated. Please contact the museum at least two weeks prior, preferably even earlier, if possible, to see if there is availability on the schedule for a tour. Children's groups will not be charged, except for teachers and chaperons. All others will pay in cash the standard fee of $3.00 for adults, $2.00 for seniors, and $2.00 for those with military ID’s. The museum currently does not have a card reader. You can book a group tour or educational program by e-mailing our staff at [email protected] or calling us at 803-739-5385 or 803-550-9530.

Lecture Series

The Museum sponsors a quarterly free lecture series on varying topics on the Midlands, South Carolina, and the South. Please see upcoming lectures listed on our calendar and our highlights panel.

Living History Programs

The Museum sponsors annual living history programs. Please see upcoming events listed on our calendar and our highlights panel.

Museum Visitors Center Rentals

The Cayce Historical Museum has a small visitor center for rent for groups of 35 or less people. There is an application and the fee to rent the center. There is also a key deposit required that will be returned after the key is returned (usually the following day or if on the weekend, the start of the work week). The key can be obtained from the front desk at the Cayce Historical Museum by 4:00 P.M. prior to the event on Tuesday to Friday. If you are requesting a weekend date or a Monday event, the key must be picked up prior to 4:00 p.m. the Friday before. The rental fee and the key deposit must be paid by cash or check before the event. The key deposit will be returned in the format paid.

Contact the staff of the Cayce Historical Museum for availability of the center. The center is not always open to the public due to museum events and city events.

The Visitor’s Center is available for use, dependent on open dates, with a key deposit fee of $25.00 and a rental fee that is non-refundable (see below). To acquire a key to host your event or meeting you must apply for space and sign out a key.

Fees:

• Private Events- $300 for four (4) hours- Family Gatherings and Receptions
• Public Events- $100- Any event open to the public. Be aware these events do not grant access to museum (admission still applies if during hours museum is open).
• Friends of the Museum- $25-$50 for one-time use or annually. Groups using space in a recurring format (weekly, biweekly, monthly). Curator and Museum Commission will take into consideration, those with a long-standing relationship with the museum to apply this status.
• Cleaning Fee- Should the Visitor’s Center be left in a state of uncleanliness or if damage incurred groups will be charged a $75.00 cleaning fee and will forfeit return of key deposit.
• Concerning repeat customers or groups who schedule ongoing dates, museum staff will hold the cash key deposit yearly if the groups continue to maintain cleanliness and order of the facilities.
• Fees must be paid by cash or check. Key deposits can be held by check, but cash is preferred (if ongoing use) and will be returned once staff can inspect the visitor’s center and all is in order.
• Checks for rental fees can be made to Cayce Historical Museum, P.O. Box 2004, Cayce, SC 29171-2004 or dropped by the museum at 1800 12th Street, Cayce, SC.

 

Rules and Regulations

• Guests must notify a member of Museum Staff to reserve a date for all events.
• Guests will need to make reservations at least one week in advance.
• Lost or damaged keys must be reported to museum and may be subject to a fine of $25.00 to cover the cost of replacement.
• Keys are to be returned in a timely manner and returned to either museum staff or placed in the drop-box outside of the Visitor’s Center.
• Under no circumstances should anyone 1) make an unauthorized copy of museum key or 2) give the key to a nonparty member. Failure to comply with this rule will result in immediate suspension of Visitor Center use.
• Keys must be picked up before closing time (3:30pm) ahead of your reservation day. If date is on a weekend, then on Friday (by 3:30pm) at the latest.
• Guests are responsible for cleaning up behind themselves. All trash should go in the receptacles on the back porch of the museum.
• There are no cooking facilities in the Visitor’s Center. There is a small sink but please do not use it as a waste disposal. Only liquids should go in the sink
• Any serving of food and beverages should be done so outside and cleaned up properly. There is absolutely no Alcohol, tobacco products or drugs allowed on City of Cayce Property.
• Do not use tape, tacks, nails, or any other adhesive to hang signs or decorations.
• If event makes use of musical instruments and amplified sound, please be mindful of volume. The city reserves the right to limit amplification equipment so as not to disturb non-participating persons around the event.
• There should be no parking on grass or anywhere blacking the roads. Towing is strictly enforced.
• When groups are present at the museum, staff may assist with questions regarding technology availabilities and/or technical issues on site but will not be able to assist in a concierge role. Please clarify with museum staff prior to your event any requirements, technology needs or capabilities of the Cayce Historical Museum.
• In case of an emergency the Public Safety Department is close by the Cayce administration building. They can be contacted directly by calling either 911 or (803)-794-0456

 

Museum Staff