Have you visited the Upcountry History Museum? This Upstate gem offers guests a unique opportunity to learn about the history of Greenville and South Carolina, plus regular book clubs, tot programs, and traveling exhibits of all kinds. There’s often a traveling exhibit perfect for the younger crowd to explore, making this a stop where the whole family can learn and enjoy. If you’ve not been to the museum, we have all the details.
This article includes:
Things to Do at Upcountry History Museum
What’s New at UHM? Traveling Exhibits
UHM Gift Shop
UHM Events
The Very Hungry Caterpillar is at UHM from May 20th, 2023 through September 10, 2023.
Jump to What’s New at UHM? Traveling Exhibits to see more about this exciting exhibit for kids!
If your family has not already visited the Upcountry History Museum, add it to the list. With several permanent exhibits relevant to the Carolinas and additional interim exhibits to enrich, you’ll find a variety of history to absorb.
Things to Learn at the Upcountry History Museum
Open every day, several areas focus on the South’s role in the wars, and particularly the upcountry (obviously) of South Carolina and Western North Carolina. You’ll find an interactive map detailing the settlers’ relationships with the indigenous people groups in the area and walls of historical details and photos—all a great review of your school history classes from years ago.
Other primary exhibits focus on the importance of textile manufacturing to this area. You can even try your hand at the loading and unloading a loom much like children used to be hired to do for the mills in Piedmont and Taylors. It’s a sobering reality.
The musical influence of the Carolinas warrants another room to explore, and you can settle into one of the theater rooms to watch the history of Bible-based revivals in the South—the roots of the term “Bible Belt” here in the upcountry, if you will.
All these exhibits have options for visual, tactile, and auditory learners, but may be a bit steep for younger children.
Traveling Exhibits at the Upcountry History Museum
The museum takes special care to provide a wing catered to the younger set ages 2-10, though. Throughout the year, new interactive children’s exhibits are reset in order to allow your family to visit more than once to fresh material.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar exhibit has arrived! It opens May 20th, 2023 and will be at the museum until September 10th, 2023.
“Making its Southeastern debut, the Very Eric Carle exhibition creates a play-and-learn environment where visitors step into the pages of the renowned children’s author and illustrator’s colorful picture books. Illustrated in his hand-painted tissue paper collage technique, this re-imagining of his classic “Very” book series introduces a variety of interactive experiences that offer children opportunities to:
- Become the Very Hungry Caterpillar
- Weave a web with the Very Busy Spider
- Make the Very Clumsy Click Beetle flip and jump
- Compose a night symphony with the Very Quiet Cricket
- Explore all the stories in the “Reading Zone” through words, pictures, and videos
Though best known for his popular book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” each story in the “Very” series is a testament to Eric Carle’s love of nature, his respect for the emotional lives of children, and his recurring themes of friendship, creativity, and the power of imagination.”
Additional Traveling Exhibits
The museum also includes traveling exhibits geared towards adults that include historical artworks and features on a variety of topics.
Coming up in the spring of 2023:
Through The Years: Kenny Rogers Photographs of America
The Global Language of Headwear: Cultural Identity, Rites of Passage, and Spirituality
Find all the current and upcoming traveling exhibits on UHM’s website.
UHM’s Gift Shop
Don’t forget to stop by the gift shop on your way out of the museum. The small playhouse to explore, for the younger set, and a wide variety of seasonal and exhibit-specific toys, books, crafts, and décor. Honestly, the gift shop is a great place to visit just for upcoming birthday gifts. Who isn’t a castle-lover, really? For adults, clothing and historical books often written by local authors can be purchased to take the experience with you. Snacks for yourself and the kids are towards the back at a very reasonable price!
UHM Events
Additional information for your visit can be found on the Upcountry History Museum website, below, including links to their calendar of events. Toddler Time on Saturday, special discussion cafes, homeschool days, and youth book clubs are just a few options from which your family could benefit.
Upcountry History Hours and Address
Address:
540 Buncombe Street
Greenville SC, 29601
Hours:
Tuesday – Saturday 10 am-5 pm
Sunday: 1 pm-5 pm
Closed: Christmas Eve and Day, New Year’s Eve and Day, Easter Sunday, 4th of July, Thanksgiving Day
Open other holidays
Have you been to the Upcountry History Museum? What did you learn?