Information
Landmark: Aiken County Historical MuseumCity: Aiken
Country: USA South Carolina
Continent: North America
Aiken County Historical Museum, Aiken, USA South Carolina, North America
Overview
In the heart of Aiken, South Carolina, the Aiken County Historical Museum keeps the county’s history alive, sharing its culture and heritage—from faded Civil War letters to vintage wedding gowns—with visitors of all ages.
The museum sits inside Banksia, a grand Winter Colony mansion built in 1931 by New York banker Richard Howe.
Over the years, it’s been a college, a public library, and—since 1970—the home of the museum.
Banksia, the museum’s home, sprawls across 17,500 square feet and holds more than thirty rooms, its tall windows and graceful lines reflecting the early 20th-century Winter Colony era, when wealthy Northerners built grand seasonal retreats in Aiken.
They named it “Banksia” after the Banksia rose that used to climb the old stone walls.
The building is a piece of living history, echoing the quiet elegance of Aiken’s winter residents and showing how the town has changed over the years.
The museum’s galleries explore Aiken County’s history from many angles, starting with Native American life—pottery worn smooth by time, stone tools shaped by hand, and stories that trace the region’s earliest roots.
Step into the Early Settlement and Civil War era, with exhibits that bring to life 18th- and 19th-century daily routines, the story of local plantations, and the region’s role in the Civil War—right down to a worn infantry drum on display.
Winter Colony Period: Rooms dressed in period décor capture the lives of wealthy seasonal residents—their lavish parties, morning rides, and deep-rooted equestrian traditions.
African American Heritage celebrates the resilience, contributions, and cultural achievements of Aiken County’s Black community, from church choirs that fill the air with gospel to local leaders shaping the county’s future.
Sports and Equestrian History: From worn leather polo mallets to gleaming horse-racing trophies, these artifacts showcase the equestrian sports that lie at the heart of Aiken’s identity.
Local Industry and Agriculture: Exhibits trace the story of cotton fields, humming textile mills, and the expansion of the Savannah River Site in the mid-1900s.
Period Rooms: Step into fully furnished spaces that bring Aiken’s past to life, from the warm glow of a 19th‑century parlor lamp to the sleek lines of mid‑century design.
Outdoor Grounds: Trimmed gardens and soft green lawns that hint at the elegance of old estate landscaping.
Rotating exhibits bring fresh displays to life, showcasing special themes, honoring anniversaries, or marking moments the community treasures—like a century-old photo of the town square.
Special Collections holds historic photographs, weathered letters, and treasured keepsakes preserved by local families and community groups.
The museum offers lively programs for schools, historians, and community groups—from engaging lectures to guided tours and even history camps where kids can handle replica artifacts.
It’s also a go-to spot for anyone digging into family roots or local history, with archives and reference shelves the public can browse through, their pages smelling faintly of old paper.
The Aiken County Historical Museum doesn’t just record the county’s rich past—it lives in it, housed in Banksia, the grand old Winter Colony mansion with wide porches and tall, shuttered windows.
From handwoven Native American baskets to Civil War uniforms and the scent of worn leather saddles, its exhibits weave the region’s Indigenous roots, farming traditions, wartime history, and equestrian past into one continuous story.
The museum sits inside Banksia, a grand Winter Colony mansion built in 1931 by New York banker Richard Howe.
Over the years, it’s been a college, a public library, and—since 1970—the home of the museum.
Banksia, the museum’s home, sprawls across 17,500 square feet and holds more than thirty rooms, its tall windows and graceful lines reflecting the early 20th-century Winter Colony era, when wealthy Northerners built grand seasonal retreats in Aiken.
They named it “Banksia” after the Banksia rose that used to climb the old stone walls.
The building is a piece of living history, echoing the quiet elegance of Aiken’s winter residents and showing how the town has changed over the years.
The museum’s galleries explore Aiken County’s history from many angles, starting with Native American life—pottery worn smooth by time, stone tools shaped by hand, and stories that trace the region’s earliest roots.
Step into the Early Settlement and Civil War era, with exhibits that bring to life 18th- and 19th-century daily routines, the story of local plantations, and the region’s role in the Civil War—right down to a worn infantry drum on display.
Winter Colony Period: Rooms dressed in period décor capture the lives of wealthy seasonal residents—their lavish parties, morning rides, and deep-rooted equestrian traditions.
African American Heritage celebrates the resilience, contributions, and cultural achievements of Aiken County’s Black community, from church choirs that fill the air with gospel to local leaders shaping the county’s future.
Sports and Equestrian History: From worn leather polo mallets to gleaming horse-racing trophies, these artifacts showcase the equestrian sports that lie at the heart of Aiken’s identity.
Local Industry and Agriculture: Exhibits trace the story of cotton fields, humming textile mills, and the expansion of the Savannah River Site in the mid-1900s.
Period Rooms: Step into fully furnished spaces that bring Aiken’s past to life, from the warm glow of a 19th‑century parlor lamp to the sleek lines of mid‑century design.
Outdoor Grounds: Trimmed gardens and soft green lawns that hint at the elegance of old estate landscaping.
Rotating exhibits bring fresh displays to life, showcasing special themes, honoring anniversaries, or marking moments the community treasures—like a century-old photo of the town square.
Special Collections holds historic photographs, weathered letters, and treasured keepsakes preserved by local families and community groups.
The museum offers lively programs for schools, historians, and community groups—from engaging lectures to guided tours and even history camps where kids can handle replica artifacts.
It’s also a go-to spot for anyone digging into family roots or local history, with archives and reference shelves the public can browse through, their pages smelling faintly of old paper.
The Aiken County Historical Museum doesn’t just record the county’s rich past—it lives in it, housed in Banksia, the grand old Winter Colony mansion with wide porches and tall, shuttered windows.
From handwoven Native American baskets to Civil War uniforms and the scent of worn leather saddles, its exhibits weave the region’s Indigenous roots, farming traditions, wartime history, and equestrian past into one continuous story.
