Upcountry History Museum

Neighborhood Night
2024-12-05 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Access for All!
UHM is open on the first Thursday evening of select months throughout 2024.

The Museum operates with the firm belief that its exhibits, events, and programming should be accessible to all, regardless of cultural, ethnic, geographic, or socioeconomic differences. The Neighborhood Night initiative, introduced in 2015, provides free access to educational programming for underserved children, families, and adults.

WHEN: Thursday, December 5, 2024 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Upcountry History Museum
HOW: Drop in to explore the Museum and its changing exhibitions. No registration is required.
WHY: Neighborhood Nights demonstrate the Museum’s commitment to accessibility, regardless of economic constraints by providing full access to the Museum’s diverse exhibitions.
COST: FREE!
QUESTIONS: Call (864)467-3100 or email info@upcountryhistory.org

Exhibit Drop-In Tour
2024-12-06 15:30 - 16:00, 2024-12-13 15:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York)
Explore White Christmas: The Exhibition with a guided tour led by a UHM Docent. This exhibition features original costumes, sheet music, props, and backgrounds from the 1954 classic, White Christmas. After the tour, test your holiday movie knowledge with rapid round trivia.

Drop-In Tours will occur on select Fridays at 3:30 PM.
Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
Drop-In Tours are included with your general admission.

Connections Café - White Christmas
2024-12-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

December 12 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on December 12 and explore White Christmas: The Exhibition.

Connections Café is generously sponsored by:

Upcountry Winter Market
2024-12-14 10:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Join us for a cozy winter market and explore a curated selection of goods handcrafted by highly skilled artisans.
There’s something for all ages, including fun crafts, games, and story times for the kids. Whether you’re shopping for gifts or just enjoying the holiday spirit, we hope you’ll venture out and celebrate the unique creations of these local artists (listed below), while exploring Upcountry history and the Museum’s one-of-a-kind exhibitions.

Saturday, December 14
10AM – 2PM | Doors will be open until 5PM
Adults – $12 | Kids (ages 3-18) $9
Kids ages 2 and under are FREE
Purchase tickets upon arrival or at the link below
Have a question? Give us a call at (864)467-3100

The Upcountry Winter Market is included with your general admission.

Lunchbox Learning
2024-12-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Edgar Allan Poe in South Carolina
Presented by Dr. Patricia McNeely

Edgar Allan Poe was stationed at Fort Moultrie in 1827 and 1828 under the assumed name of Edgar Perry. While there, Poe was gathering material for the first detective stories in the English language, including The Goldbug, which was set on Sullivan’s Island. He also created the first American detective—C. Auguste Dupin, who was the model for Sherlock Holmes and other modern detectives. The time he spent in South Carolina had a major impact on his literary career, and Charlestonians are certain that the ghost of Annabel Lee still wanders in a downtown cemetery.
USC Professor Emerita Patricia G. “Pat” McNeely taught writing and reporting in the College of Journalism for 33 years. Before joining the USC faculty, McNeely was a reporter and editor for The Greenville News, The State and The Columbia Record. She has published several books on South Carolina and Southern history.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

UHM Homeschool Day
2024-12-20 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
White Christmas: The Exhibition
Featuring original film costumes created by legendary designer Edith Head, White Christmas: The Exhibition also showcases props, sheet music, cast member’s personal memorabilia, archival materials, replica backdrops and more! Families will experience first-hand the musical genius of Irving Berlin and the making of this beloved holiday film about two WWII veterans who team up with a singing sister duo to save a faltering Vermont lodge owned by the veteran’s former commanding officer.

WHEN: Friday, December 20 | 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: December’s Homeschool Day is open to children in 1st-12th grade

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

UHM MEMBERS COST: $6 per student & Adults are FREE

Exhibit Drop-In Tour
2024-12-20 15:30 - 16:00, 2024-12-28 14:00 - 14:30 (America/New_York)
Explore White Christmas: The Exhibition with a guided tour led by a UHM Docent. This exhibition features original costumes, sheet music, props, and backgrounds from the 1954 classic, White Christmas.

Drop-In Tours will occur on select Fridays at 3:30 PM.
Tours last approximately 30 minutes.
Drop-In Tours are included with your general admission.

Museum Drop-In Tour
2024-12-28 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Interested in Upcountry history?
Join UHM Educator, Sarah Wright, for an upcoming, drop-in tour through the Museum’s permanent galleries and explore the area’s rich and fascinating history.

Drop-In Tours will occur on select Saturdays throughout the year.
All tours will begin at 11:00 a.m. and conclude at approximately 12:00 p.m.
Drop-In Tours are included with your general admission.

Revolution in the Carolinas
2025-01-08 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
The Grim Years: Settling South Carolina, 1670-1720
Presented by Dr. John Navin, Coastal Carolina University
As the thirteen colonies were established in the “New World” the roots of the American Revolution were planted. The vast colony of Carolina, divided in 1710 into North and South Carolina, saw rapid transformation in its early years. Issues arose with the English Lords Proprietors, trade with Native American tribes was lucrative but deadly for both sides, and the growing slave trade at the Port of Charles Town led to an economic dependence on slave labor. It was in South Carolina’s infancy that religious, political, and economic turmoil laid the groundwork for the American Revolution.
Dr. John Navin earned his master’s degree at Boston College and his Ph.D. at Brandeis University. A Boston native, John Navin joined the History department at Coastal Carolina University in 1999. He previously taught at Brandeis and Pfeiffer Universities. A specialist in Early American history, Navin has published works that focus on race, warfare, gender, and the impact of colonizing ventures on groups and individuals. In 2020, he published The Grim Years: Settling South Carolina, 1670-1720.

Revolution in the Carolinas is generously sponsored by:

Connections Café - South Carolina History: The Textile Mills
2025-01-09 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Connections Café is a monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

January 9, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on January 9th and explore the history of Greenville’s textile industry.

Connections Café is generously sponsored by:

Lunchbox Learning
2025-01-15 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
The Battle of Cowpens
Presented by Mr. John Boyd

The Battle of Cowpens, fought on January 17, 1781, during the American Revolutionary War, was a pivotal engagement that significantly impacted the course of the war in the Southern colonies. Led by General Daniel Morgan, the American forces employed a brilliant double-envelopment maneuver, decisively defeating the British forces under Colonel Banastre Tarleton. This victory boosted American morale, disrupted British plans, and paved the way for further successes, ultimately contributing to the eventual American triumph in the war. Through an examination of the battle’s context, strategy, and outcomes, we will gain insight into its lasting significance in the Revolutionary War and the development of modern military tactics.
Join former Cowpens National Battlefield tour guide, John Boyd, to explore the strategic importance of the battle, the key figures involved, and the tactics employed by both the Continental Army and British forces.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

UHM Homeschool Day
2025-01-24 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West
Experience this first-of-its kind national touring exhibit, organized by renowned historian, artist, and one of the foremost experts on African American quilting history and traditions, Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi. Black Pioneers explores Black History in the American west through a timeline of original pictorial quilts. These colorful, richly detailed works of art chronicle the arrival of Africans in the American West in 1528 to the Civil Rights Movement, bringing to life sometimes overlooked stories and lesser-known chapters in history. The 50 quilts, designed for the exhibit, were created by the Women of Color Quilters Network (WCQN) especially for the exhibition.

WHEN: Friday, January 24 | 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: January‘s Homeschool Day is open to children in 1st-12th grade

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

UHM MEMBERS COST: $6 per student & Adults are FREE

Neighborhood Night
2025-02-06 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Access for All!
UHM is open on the first Thursday evening of select months throughout 2025.

The Museum operates with the firm belief that its exhibits, events, and programming should be accessible to all, regardless of cultural, ethnic, geographic, or socioeconomic differences. The Neighborhood Night initiative, introduced in 2015, provides free access to educational programming for underserved children, families, and adults.

WHEN: Thursday, February 6, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Upcountry History Museum
HOW: Drop in to explore the Museum and its changing exhibitions. No registration is required.
WHY: Neighborhood Nights demonstrate the Museum’s commitment to accessibility, regardless of economic constraints by providing full access to the Museum’s diverse exhibitions.
COST: FREE!
QUESTIONS: Call (864)467-3100 or email info@upcountryhistory.org

Connections Café - South Carolina History: The Civil Rights Movement
2025-02-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Connections Café is a monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

February 13, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on February 13th and explore the history of the Civil Rights Movement in Greenville, SC.

Connections Café is generously sponsored by:

Valentine's Day Toddler Time
2025-02-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that’s both educational and engaging.

Feel the love and join us for a Valentine’s Day themed Toddler Time with game stations, scavenger hunt, and group story time with snack and juice!

Toddler Time is included with your general admission and FREE for children ages 2 and under.

Clyde Butcher's America the Beautiful
2025-02-15 10:00 - 2025-05-25 17:00 UTC
Clyde Butcher’s America the Beautiful
February 15, 2025 – May 25, 2025

“The earth is a magnificent piece of art… As a photographer, I am only sharing what I witness.”
– Clyde Butcher
Acclaimed photographer Clyde Butcher has spent more than 50 years capturing some of America’s most unique and beautiful landscapes, from the Redwood forests of California to the Everglade swamps of Florida. Butcher majestically captures the public natural lands set aside by the Federal and State governments for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.
As one of the most renowned photographers of our time, Clyde Butcher has dedicated his life to capturing the natural beauty of the world around us. The exhibit showcases his unparalleled talent and features a stunning collection of his best work from his illustrious career.
Butcher’s images of these treasured landscapes, including the Great Smoky Mountains, document the changing environment, capturing what is there today and encouraging us to enjoy the beauty of nature. His images speak for countless diverse places of wilderness and respite found throughout all of America, allowing us an appreciation of our land.
America the Beautiful includes 43 large-scale, black and white photographs of the American landscape, spanning beautiful sites across the United States. Butcher’s views include some of the same locations shot by the photographer Ansel Adams, demonstrating the unique light and clarity that his artistic vision brings to those scenes.
The beauty of Butcher’s photographs is further emphasized by the epic size of his works. The exceptional size of his compositions – the largest is 5 by 8.5 feet – allows viewers to experience the beauty of each site from an almost first–hand perspective.
Butcher’s unique technique enables him to capture a breathtaking amount of detail within his images. He shoots with an 8 x 10 wooden large-format view camera from the 1940s, creating an extraordinary depth of field through a synthesis of wide-angled lenses and a small lens opening. His large negatives, combined with orange and blue filters and a longer-than-average exposure time – up to ten minutes – allow for clarity and incredible detail within his compositions.
Clyde Butcher: America the Beautiful showcases Butcher’s skill in capturing the raw beauty of the United States most precious natural landscapes, while also highlighting his passion for preserving these spaces for generations to come.

Support provided by

Lunchbox Learning
2025-02-19 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Against All Odds: Stories from the Liberia Community and Soapstone Church and School
Presented by Mable Owens Clarke

Join us as the Matriarch of Soapstone Baptist Church, Mable Owens Clarke, shares stories and insights from the post-slavery era to today. A winner of Preservation SC’s Governor’s Award for her efforts to save her beloved church and school and holder of The Order of the Palmetto, South Carolina’s highest civilian award, she speaks from personal experience and a spirit of love as she inspires and challenges. Learn how the tiny mountain congregation rallied to rebuild their church torched in the wave of Black church burnings of the 1960s and how she used her love of cooking to feed thousands as a means to generate funds to keep the church doors open. This is local Black history in living color!

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

UHM Homeschool Day - Clyde Butcher
2025-02-28 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Clyde Butcher’s America the Beautiful
Acclaimed photographer Clyde Butcher has spent more than 50 years capturing some of America’s most unique and beautiful landscapes, from the Redwood forests of California to the Everglade swamps of Florida. As one of the most renowned photographers of our time, Clyde Butcher has dedicated his life to capturing the natural beauty of the world around us. The exhibit showcases his unparalleled talent and features a stunning collection of his best work from his illustrious career.

WHEN: Friday, February 28 | 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: February‘s Homeschool Day is open to children in 1st-12th grade

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

UHM MEMBERS COST: $6 per student & Adults are FREE

Bingo at the Museum
2025-03-12 10:00 - 11:30, 2025-03-26 10:00 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Bingo at a history museum? It’s the ultimate win-win situation!

Explore the Upcountry History Museum, a place filled with incredible artifacts, fascinating stories, and a vibe where the thrill of the game meets the wonders of the past.

Besides enjoying a round (or five) of Bingo, our Curator of Collections will be bringing up some marvelous artifacts from the Museum’s permanent collections. These items, rarely seen by the public, will be “gracing the stage” during the games. Stay the whole time or just play a round, but the bingo balls will roll at 10:10AM!

Reservations are required as space is limited.

All ages are welcome and prizes will range accordingly.
Let us know if you’d like to have a group from an assisted living home attend one of these four upcoming programs!

Connections Café - Clyde Butcher's America the Beautiful
2025-03-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Connections Café is a monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

March 13, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on March 13th and explore Clyde Butcher’s America the Beautiful.

Connections Café is generously sponsored by:

Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
2025-03-15 10:00 - 2025-09-07 17:00 UTC
Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
March 15, 2025 – September 7, 2025
Curated and produced by the LBJ Presidential Library, Austin, Texas, Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson, focuses on the life and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson, wife of the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson. The Upcountry History Museum, Greenville, SC, will be the exhibit’s first stop on its limited national tour.
The former first lady is most often associated with promoting environmental conservation and the wildflowers that brighten the country’s landscape. This exhibition guides visitors through a comprehensive story of Mrs. Johnson’s life, providing more context to her education, family, campaign efforts, acumen as a businesswoman, leadership in education and environmental conservation, and her role as a philanthropist.
Throughout her time in the White House, Lady Bird fought to make American cities more beautiful by planting flowers or adding park benches and by removing billboards and junkyards from the nation’s highways. Her efforts in these areas pushed her further into the political arena, more than any First Lady before her. Even Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird’s declared role model, had not sat in on a legislative strategy session or been given assignments to influence Congressional votes. Lyndon Johnson supported Lady Bird’s efforts, publicly promoting her projects in his State of the Union speeches and during Cabinet meetings.
Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson will guide visitors through a comprehensive story of Mrs. Johnson’s life, from childhood through her post-White House years. Visitors will be immersed in the life and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson on loan from the LBJ Presidential Library and the Johnsons daughters Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson include items from Whistle Stop campaign tours, gowns from White House galas, mementos from beautification projects; original art from The Lorax, created by Dr. Seuss; along with letters, photographs, oral histories, home movies, and artifacts – the majority of which have never been shared with the public.

Support provided by

Janis Bandelin & Bill Fitzpatrick Mountain Laurel Garden Club of Travelers Rest

Toddler Time!
2025-03-18 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that’s both educational and engaging.

Go green and celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with game stations created for little ones and a museum-wide scavenger hunt, all wrapped up with a group story time that includes snacks and juice.

Toddler Time is included with your general admission and FREE for children ages 2 and under.

Lunchbox Learning
2025-03-26 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Retracing the Keowee Trail: A Deep Map of the Cherokee Path in the History of the Carolinas
Presented by Stuart Taylor
In Retracing the Keowee Trail, Stuart Taylor tells the story of the Cherokee Path that connected the low country of colonial Carolina with the mountain homeland of the Cherokee Nation. The Keowee Trail was a busy trading route for a burgeoning deerskin trade. Along this same path, epidemic disease made its way inexorably from the colony toward Cherokee society, reducing their population by more than half. Along this path, warfare was waged in both directions, by Cherokee war parties determined to defend their homeland and by settlers like the author’s Scots Irish ancestors, evermore hungry for land. That ancestral history is an entry point into this larger narrative. A “deep map” approach to the Keowee Trail will hold together multiple lines of perspective, including memoir, family history, migration patterns, religious history, Indigenous wisdom, trauma theory, ghost stories, mythology, archeology, geography, the watersheds, and the flora and fauna of the Southern Appalachians.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

UHM Homeschool Day - SC Women
2025-03-28 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York)
Women’s History Month: The Women of South Carolina
Join the UHM Education Department as we explore and learn about the lives of key South Carolinian women, ranging over several decades of our state’s history. Children will learn about these women’s everyday lives, their accomplishments, and also examine related items from the Museum’s permanent collection.

WHEN: Friday, March 28 | 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: March’s Homeschool Day is open to children in 1st-12th grade

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

UHM MEMBERS COST: $6 per student & Adults are FREE

Neighborhood Night
2025-04-03 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Access for All!
UHM is open on the first Thursday evening of select months throughout 2025.

The Museum operates with the firm belief that its exhibits, events, and programming should be accessible to all, regardless of cultural, ethnic, geographic, or socioeconomic differences. The Neighborhood Night initiative, introduced in 2015, provides free access to educational programming for underserved children, families, and adults.

WHEN: Thursday, April 3, 2025 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Upcountry History Museum
HOW: Drop in to explore the Museum and its changing exhibitions. No registration is required.
WHY: Neighborhood Nights demonstrate the Museum’s commitment to accessibility, regardless of economic constraints by providing full access to the Museum’s diverse exhibitions.
COST: FREE!
QUESTIONS: Call (864)467-3100 or email info@upcountryhistory.org

Connections Café - Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
2025-04-10 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Connections Café is a monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

April 10, 2025 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on April 10th and explore Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson.

Connections Café is generously sponsored by:

Lunchbox Learning
2025-04-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Curahee to Normandy: A Jump Into History
Presented by Dr. Jason Ross and Mrs. Zhe Little
On June 6, 1944, the allied forces launched one of the most ambitious campaigns of World War II. The D-Day invasions were a turning point on the European front. Join Dr. Jason Ross and Mrs. Zhe Little, as the examine the historical significance of D-Day, highlighting the training of the U.S. paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa, Georgia before their heroic efforts on the beaches of Normandy. Dr. Ross and Mrs. Little will also explore the stories of the people of Normandy, whose resilience and contributions played a pivotal role in the success of the invasion. As the U.S. approaches the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II, this lecture will bring to light the enduring impact of the D-Day invasions to the ultimate success of the allied forces.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:
