The Cayce Museum
The Cayce Historical Museum’s main building is a replica of a frontier trading post built in the area in 1765. This post was seized by the British during the Revolution and used as a fort. It 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.
The Cayce Historical Museum exhibits include an extensive Native American artifact collection of over 8,000 items, colonial and American Revolutionary War objects, Civil War objects, an exhibit on the locks on the Congaree River, and an exhibit on the famous Doolittle raiders of World War II who trained in the area before their historic mission. New exhibits coming in summer and fall of 2019 include an exhibit on the 1964 Cayce Dixie Youth World Series Champions and an exhibit on preserving food before refrigeration in our historic smokehouse structure. There is also a 1749 detached kitchen on the museum grounds that is open for special living history events and a railroad caboose and 1938 rail speeder.
The Native American Exhibit
A highlight of the Cayce Historical Museum is the extensive collection of Native American artifacts. The collection was donated by the son of Samuel Watson, a local pharmacist who was an active collector in the area as well as other parts of the United States. This museum exhibit contains nearly 8,000 pieces including arrowheads, pottery, axes, tools, grinding stones, and more. These cultural materials were collected from South Carolina, the Southeast, and the Midwest. There are artifacts from the earliest prehistoric period like Clovis points as well as objects from every other period of the Native American history of the area.
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Andy Thomas, Museum Curator
Andy is originally from Fairfax, SC. He has an undergraduate degree in history from Clemson University, a Masters’ Degree in history from Winthrop University, and has completed the Museum Management Certification program with the University of South Carolina. He worked in higher education as an advisor and instructor for almost 30 years. Andy's interests are varied but his focus is South Carolina colonial history and food history. He has been married to his wife Karen since 1992.
Elizabeth Lumsden, Museum Assistant
(803)-739-5385
[email protected]
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 and educational programs of 10-20 people or more are welcome and free as long as they are scheduled in advance. Please contact the museum at least two weeks prior to see if there is availability to schedule a tour. 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
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 for four hours is $50.00. There is also a key deposit of $25.00 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 $50.00 rental fee and the $25.00 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.
VISITOR CENTER RULES AND REGULATIONS
1. Call the Cayce Historical Museum at (803)-739-5385 to make your reservation and obtain the Use Permit Application. The facility is rented on a first come, first serve basis.
2. Complete the application in its entirety and return to the Cayce Historical Museum, PO Box 2004, Cayce, SC 29171-2004 or you may drop it by City Hall located at 1800 12th Street, Cayce, SC. The completed application must be received prior to your event to guarantee your reservation.
3. The rental fee for the facility is $50.00 for 4 hours and is for maintenance and upkeep. You can pay by cash or by check made out to the Cayce Historical Museum. Turn in rental fee with application. A separate $25.00 key deposit is required and will be returned upon receipt of the key after your event.
4. Please pick up the Visitor Center key no later than 4:00 p.m. prior to the reservation date. If you have reserved a weekend date, the key must be picked up prior to 4:00 p.m. the Friday before.
5. The Visitor Center key must be returned immediately following your event. You may use the outdoor drop box next to the City Hall building to return the key.
6. Person reserving Visitor Center is responsible for making sure that trash is picked up and placed in the cans provided.
7. The person reserving the Visitor Center is responsible for their invited guests and any damages that are incurred during the time they are using the facility.
8. There are no cooking or washing facilities in the Visitor Center. There is a small microwave and sink. Do not dump food products of any kind into the sink.
9. Do not use tape or other adhesive products to hang posters and signs on the basement walls and ceilings.
10. Alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and drugs are strictly prohibited in the Visitor Center and on the museum grounds.
11. If amplified sound or musical instruments are used during the event, the City reserves the right to limit the volume of the sound/amplification equipment so that it will not unreasonably disturb non- participating persons around the event.
12. Parking should not block the road leading around the back of the museum. Towing will be strictly enforced.
13. The Caboose exhibit is part of the Cayce Historical Museum. No playing or climbing on the caboose is allowed.
14. While the stream is a welcomed sight for youngsters on hot summer days, wet feet and/or clothing is not allowed in the Visitor Center or the Cayce Historical Museum.
15. In case of emergency, contact the Public Safety Department located on the City Hall grounds. They can also be reached directly by calling 794-0456 or by calling 911.
Group Tours:
All group tours and educational programs are free as long as they are scheduled in advance. Please allow a minimum of one weeks’ notice when scheduling educational tours. 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.
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Volunteers
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Sustaining Donor Membership
This Section is Under Construction
City of Cayce Survey of Historic African American Cemeteries
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Museum Location
1800 12th Street
Cayce, S.C. 29033
803.739.5385
Cayce Historical Museum Fact Sheet
Cayce Historical Museum Rack Card
Museum Hours
Mon: Closed
Tues-Fri: 9am-4pm
Sat: 10am–2pm
Sun: Closed
Closed on major holidays.
Admission (Cash Only)
Adults: $3
Seniors(62+): $2
Military(with ID): $2
Children(3-12): $1
Infants 2 and under FREE
*Free Admission Thursdays Noon - 4PM.
For group rates or to schedule tours:
Andy Thomas
Museum Curator
(803)550-9530
[email protected]