Upcountry History Museum

Saturday Toddler Time with Curious George
2024-09-14 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | SC
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that’s both educational and engaging as the Museum hosts,

“Learn like George” and enjoy playtime in the exhibit, a museum-wide scavenger hunt, game stations crafted for young learners, and a group story time complete with snack, juice, and a meet-n-greet with the star himself, Curious George!

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

Toddler Time - Curious George's Birthday
2024-09-17 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | SC

Curiosity Day with Curious George!
2024-09-17 10:00 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | SC
Join the mischief and fun as we celebrate George’s birthday!

“Learn like George” through hands-on play that will have little ones exploring specially crafted game stations, a museum-wide scavenger hunt, and a group story time with snack and juice.

Enjoy game stations, scavenger hunts, and a story time with Curious George and a birthday cupcake!

Birthday Story Time with Curious George!
2024-09-17 15:30 - 16:30 (America/New_York) | SC
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that’s both educational and engaging as the Museum hosts,

Join the birthday festivities and partake in George-themed game stations, museum scavenger hunts, and a story time with Curious George and a birthday cupcake!

This special program is included with your general admission, but advance registration is required.

Lunchbox Learning
2024-09-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Where Have All the Children Gone?
The Catawba Nation and the Carlisle Indian School

Presented by Alan Dabney
U.S. Veteran and Advisor of the Catawba Indian Nation

In the 1870s, the United States government attempted to educate and assimilate Native Americans into “civilized” society by placing children from diverse tribes into distant, residential boarding schools. Forced into a world that deprived them of their language, contact with their families, and their ethnic identity, many struggled, suffered physical abuse, found ways to escape, or developed faith in self and heritage.
One such school was the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania. It served as a model for the other off-reservation schools built across the country. “Where Have All the Children Gone? – The Catawba and the Carlisle Indian School” is the story of one child’s journey as a student of the Carlisle School as told by his great-grandson, Alan Dabney. Through first-hand accounts and letters, Alan will present his great-grandfather’s experiences of daily life at Carlisle, the escape attempts, and finally being able to leave when he turned 18.
Alan is the Director of Greenville County Veterans Affairs and a member of the Catawba Indian Nation where he also serves as Veteran Advisor of the Catawba Indian Nation in Rock Hill. A seventh-generation soldier with ancestors serving in every major military conflict dating to the American Revolution, Alan retired as a Master Sergeant from the Army after 21 years.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

Exhibit Drop-In Tour
2024-09-20 15:30 - 16:00, 2024-10-04 15:30 - 16:00, 2024-10-25 15:30 - 16:00, 2024-11-01 15:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | SC
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…
Explore Finding the Force: Awakening an Empire with a guided tour led by UHM Education Coordinator, Sarah Wright. This exhibition features original costumes and props from Star Wars: The Force Awakens.
Get a behind the scenes look at how the Star Wars universe has expanded since the first film premiered in 1977 and explore the legacy of the franchise through rare collectibles from the original trilogy and beyond. After the tour, test your Star Wars 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.

UHM Homeschool Day - POSTPONED
2024-09-27 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | SC
Away from Home: Native American Boarding School Stories
“To educate and assimilate into ‘civilized’ society.” That was the motive in the 1870s behind taking Native American children to distant residential boarding schools and stripping them of all signs of their culture. Thousands of children were forced into a world that deprived them of their language, contact with their families, and their ethnic identity. Hear and learn about these children as this exhibition and program gives voice to their stories.

WHEN: Friday, September 27 | 2:00 p.m.
POSTPONED TO FRIDAY, OCTOBER 4 | 2:00 P.M.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: September’s Homeschool Day is open to children in 3rd-12th grade

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

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

CANCELED: Kids' Fest at Heritage Green
2024-09-27 16:00 - 18:00 (America/New_York) | SC
Kid’s Fest at Heritage Green has been cancelled due to inclement weather.

🛝Explore and create with The Imagination Playground from The Children’s Museum of the Upstate.

🖼️Get crafty with hands-on activities from Greenville Theatre and Upcountry History Museum.

🎨 Enjoy face painting courtesy of the Greenville County Museum of Art.

🥁Groove to the beats of Jeff Holland, a talented drummer, courtesy of Sigal Music Museum.

🚒Climb aboard and explore a real Greenville City fire truck!

📚Stop by the Greenville Library, which will be open for you to check out books and discover new stories.

This event is in partnership with the International Play Association’s Play Day, as Greenville host’s the IPA’s 2024 annual conference.

Upcountry History Museum

Friday, September 27, 2024

4:00-6:00 PM | Doors will be open until 6PM

Museum Entrance: Adults – $12 | Kids (ages 3-18) $9

Have a question? Give us a call at (864)467-3100.

POSTPONED-Revolution in the Carolinas
2024-10-02 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
This lecture has been postponed due to the effects of Hurricane Helene.
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:

Neighborhood Night
2024-10-03 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | SC
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, October 3, 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

UHM Book Drive
2024-10-09 14:00 - 2024-11-17 17:00 (America/New_York) | SC
With so much of the Upstate community working together to help provide for our NC neighbors, please consider this small gesture to help brighten a child’s day!
Drop off NEW items below for children impacted by Hurricane Helene in the Western NC region:

Children’s books (ages 1-16)
Coloring books
Journals
Individual packs of crayons, markers, and colored pencils

Donations will be accepted now through SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 17.
MUSEUM HOURS:Sunday: 1PM – 5PMMonday: ClosedTuesday-Saturday: 10AM – 5PM

You may also purchase from the Museum’s Amazon Wishlist. This list will be updated regularly and all purchases will be mailed directly to the home of UHM Director of Education, Kristen Pace, to prevent any packages being left outside the Museum, after hours.

Admission is not required for donation drop-offs.

Connections Café - Away From Home
2024-10-10 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | SC
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.

October 10 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on October 10 and explore Away From Home: Native American Boarding Schools.

Connections Café is generously sponsored by:

Toddler Time
2024-10-22 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | SC
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that’s both educational and engaging.

Let your little ones “find the force” as the Museum hosts Finding the Force: Awakening an Empire. Enjoy an outer space 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.

Please consider donating a copy of your child’s favorite book for the children of Western NC that were impacted by Hurricane Helene.

Lunchbox Learning
2024-10-23 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
The Hidden History of the Dark Corner
Presented by Drew Hines

The Dark Corner is a region shrouded in mystery and intrigue. Both the oldest standing bridge and the only remaining covered bridge in South Carolina are found in the Dark Corner. An exclusive country club with a world-class golf course once stood on the craggy peaks of Hogback Mountain until the Great Depression forced its closure. The ghostly remains of the Blue Ridge Forest Resort can still be seen there today. The only person ever to die on the witness stand in Greenville County was Dark Corner resident “Big Alec” Campbell. A Shootout at a Baptist church high atop Glassy Mountain in 1891 exceeded the famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral in the number of shots fired. Drew Hines details these stories and more in his book Hidden History of the Dark Corner.
Drew Hines is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina, but has spent most of his life in the upstate of South Carolina. A Baptist minister for forty-three years, he is now retired and enjoys writing, gardening, and traveling. He received his undergraduate degree at the University of South Carolina, and two advanced degrees from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

UHM Homeschool Day
2024-10-25 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | SC
Finding the Force: Awakening an Empire
Iconic movies produce memorable characters and memorable characters create lasting identities often by the costumes they wear.
Finding the Force: Awakening an Empire brings together a unique presentation of the storied Star Wars franchise, exhibiting original costumes of the now legendary cast of characters as well as the private collection of over 200 Kenner Toys based on the original three Star Wars movies. Channel the “FORCE” and join us as we connect to a galaxy far, far away!

WHEN: Friday, October 25 | 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: October’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

Black Pioneers: Legacy In The American West
2024-10-26 10:00 - 2025-03-02 17:00 UTC | SC
Black Pioneers: Legacy In The American West
October 26, 2024 – March 2, 2025
“When thinking about the American Wild West, many imagine characters from a classic western movie. But the reality is, the West is – and was – a melting pot. This ground-breaking exhibit fills in the mostly missing historical record of Black people in 19th-century America.”
– Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi
The Upcountry History Museum will invite visitors to experience a first-of-its kind exhibit when it hosts Black Pioneers: Legacy in the American West. The national touring exhibit, organized by The James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art, St. Petersburg, FL and Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi, artist, renowned historian and one of the foremost experts on African American quilting history and traditions, explores Black history in the American West.
The exhibit follows the path of Black history in the 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, all the way through the Civil Rights Movement, bringing to life forgotten stories and lesser-known chapters in history. Dispelling the myth that Black people in the old West were mostly cowboys, Black Pioneers reveals the breadth of their occupations and achievements in society, religion, education, and the arts.
Quilts were chosen as the visual medium for the exhibit to highlight the intersections of African Americans in the Western Frontier while informing visitors about the art form and its important role in African American history. For African American women, quilts have always been at the core of artistic expression, taking form in the social, economic, and spiritual lives of the women who make them.
The 50 quilts, designed for the exhibit, were created by the Women of Color Quilters Network (WCQN) especially for the exhibition. Each quilt features a different Black pioneer, their life story researched and depicted in fabric by the quilt’s creator.
Founded by Dr. Carolyn Mazloomi in 1985, WCQN is a non-profit national organization whose mission is to educate, preserve, exhibit, promote and document quilts made by African Americans.

Support provided by

Museum Drop-In Tour
2024-11-02 11:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York) | SC
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 a.m.
Drop-In Tours are included with your general admission.

Revolution in the Carolinas
2024-11-06 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
Crescent Moon Over Carolina: William Moultrie and American Liberty
Presented by C.L. Bragg
Major General William Moultrie is best remembered for commanding the valiant defense of an unfinished palmetto log fort on Sullivan’s Island at the entrance to Charleston harbor against a determined British naval attack on June 28, 1776. While the Continental Congress in Philadelphia considered a draft of the Declaration of Independence, Moultrie and his garrison of South Carolinians proved that untested, but courageous, American soldiers could stand firm and prevail against British might.
Dr. C.L. Bragg is a practicing anesthesiologist in Thomasville, Georgia. His love for American history was sparked while researching his family’s history in South Carolina. He has published multiple books including Distinction in Every Service: Brigadier General Marcellus A. Stovall, C.S.A., the critically acclaimed Never for Want of Powder: The Confederate Powder Works in Augusta, Georgia, of which he is coauthor, and Crescent Moon over Carolina: William Moultrie and American Liberty.

Revolution in the Carolinas is generously sponsored by:

Connections Café - Black Pioneers
2024-11-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York) | SC
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.

November 14 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on November 14 and explore Black Pioneers: Legacy In The American West.

Connections Café is generously sponsored by:

White Christmas: The Exhibition
2024-11-16 10:00 - 2025-02-02 17:00 UTC | SC
White Christmas: The Exhibition
November 16, 2024 – February 2, 2025
In December of 1941, seventeen days after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, Bing Crosby made the first live radio performance of a new song called “White Christmas.” Crosby’s unforgettable voice, singing what would become one of the most iconic Christmas songs ever written, went almost unnoticed in the flurry of activity around the United States entry into World War II.
The song had been created by songwriter Irving Berlin, a Jewish Russian immigrant. Its nostalgic view of an ideal snowy northeastern Christmas had to wait until the August 1942 release of the movie Holiday Inn before its popularity would take off. Within a month of the film’s premiere, sheet music and record sales propelled “White Christmas” to the top of the Hit Parade music chart for 10 weeks beginning in November 1942. From that point on, “White Christmas” became an instant classic and one of the most patriotic songs of World War II.
The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1942 and was such a hit, that Berlin decided to write an entire movie around it.
Prior to the film’s release in the fall of 1954, Variety wrote that “White Christmas should be a natural at the box office…with a hot ensemble including Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, Vera-Ellen, and an Irving Berlin score.” Variety was right; White Christmas became the highest grossing film of 1954 and the highest grossing musical film of all-time.

The Upcountry History Museum in partnership with the Rosemary Clooney House, Augusta, Kentucky and a private collector, will host White Christmas – The Exhibition in the Winter of 2024. Greenville, South Carolina became the second U.S. city to host the 2000 square foot exhibit in 2020.
Original White Christmas film costumes created by legendary designer Edith Head, props, sheet music, cast member’s personal memorabilia, archival materials, replica backdrops and more will invite visitors to 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.

Support provided by

Toddler Time - Upcountry Archaeology
2024-11-19 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York) | SC
Join us for a more intimate Toddler Time that explores our area’s history through hands-on play that will allow your little ones to become “mini archaeologists!”

Children will learn through “archaeology sites,” handle Cherokee and Catawba reproductions, learn about everyday life within these indigenous communities, and explore history through a scavenger hunt and group story time with snacks and juice.

This program will be guided by the UHM Education Department, so space is limited.
Please call (864)467-3100 or use the link above for reservations.

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

Lunchbox Learning
2024-11-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
The Price of Freedom: Stories of Honor, Healing, and Hope
Presented by Lieutenant Colonel Mike Ware, USAF (Ret.)

World War II was a period of horror and heroism. From landing on the beaches of Normandy, to planning suicide missions in the North African desert, to ejecting from F-5 fighters over Hanoi, there is no shortage of stories to be told about the brave men of the Greatest Generation. Join Lieutenant Colonel Mike War, USAF (Ret.) as he explores the stories of these veterans.
Mike Ware is a West Virginia native. He attended West Virginia University for his bachelor’s degree and earned a Master’s degree in Public Administration He spent 21 years serving in the United States Air Force. He is the co-author of Forever Young Veterans: Stories of Sacrifice, Healing, & Hope

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

UHM Homeschool Day
2024-11-22 14:00 - 15:30 (America/New_York) | SC
From best-kept secret of WWII to largest invasion of Allied air, land, and sea forces in military history, the legacy of the June 6, 1944, continues to serve as a reminder of the significance of that moment in history. This UHM-organized exhibit brings the huge narrative of the invasion into context at a more personal level, highlighting item from UHM Collections and in collaboration with the Greenville County Library, Clemson University, and private collectors.

WHEN: Friday, November 22 | 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: November’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
2024-11-22 15:30 - 16:00, 2024-12-06 15:30 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | SC
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.

Revolution in the Carolinas
2024-12-04 17:30 - 18:30 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
William Washington: American Light Dragoon
Presented by Durant Ashmore
Perhaps America’s finest cavalry commander, Lt. Col. William Washington fought with distinction in the Northern and Southern Campaigns, including some of the most memorable battles ever fought in South Carolina. After the American Revolution, he continued his military career before becoming a member of the South Carolina House of Representatives.
Durant Ashmore is a native South Carolinian, battlefield preservationist, and American Revolutionary War historian. He has generously presented numerous times at the Museum and throughout the Upcountry area, nearly selling out each and every lecture.

Revolution in the Carolinas is generously sponsored by:

Neighborhood Night
2024-12-05 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York) | SC
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
