Museum Reviews
This museum is meh. I most likely won't be returning. Book your visit ahead of time, and be prepared to go through security. They will check your bags and pockets. I just wasn't overly impressed and kind of bored honestly. It gave me vibes of a modern art gallery. If you're more into reading and looking at screens, this place is for you. This place is full of LED lighting that may give those with light sensitivity some problems. There are some TV monitors here and there talking about information you can find on public television.
Thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Expertly crafted and interactive exhibits. A must visit if you're in Charleston.
This is a must-see attraction! Get tickets in advance because they were sold out when we got there. We were fortunate because a party of four didn't show up. There were hundreds of people there to see the exhibits. To see so much history at such a location where a lot of the slave trade took place left me speechless... I don't see how some continue to deny the truth of our contributions and suffering in building this great Nation. "Billions" of dollars were made in free labor from the slave trade. So many lost their lives as chattel property of slave owners. I must admit it was heart-wrenching to revisit man's inhumane treatment of a people who had no choice in the matter. Kudos to the city of Charleston for not burying this painful truth. It is truly "a must see". What's so amazing is there were people of many cultures who visited that day. It was a testament to those "who wanted to learn more of what slavery was really about".
The history and the advancement of slaves to freemen. The Charlston experience was very educational.
It’s very worthwhile and really deserves a couple of visits. There is a ton of information and the taped interviews of former enslaved people from the Archives are very moving. Lots of reading involved to get all the info, but give it a try as there is a lot to be learned.
Focus was Gullah geechee, which I didn't expect. Interesting and enjoyable.
The information here is unbelievable! You need a weekend to really soak up this knowledge!
Very well done museum telling the history of the transatlantic slave trade and the cultural, social, and political history of African Americans. Quiet rooms and balconies are very helpful for parts that are emotional. The architecture of the museum relates to the scale of slave ships entering the port, with a stone relief and reflection pond abstracting the conditions aboard the ships. I would allow about 2 hours to fully absorb all that this museum has to offer; so many incredible stories of perseverance.
Great, museum, very informative. I recommend that everyone visits this museum!
Very Inspiring, Educate it. Learn some history on my father's side of the family all in all. I must do. When do you are here in south carolina, charleston
Great experience, alot of very informative information, and a look back from how far we've come!!!
Excellent way to spend the day in Charleston. Not so big it's overwhelming, but lots to see. Love the information videos. Very bright modern and educational. The staff is very courteous.
I am very glad we were able to visit during our trip. This museum has so much life and color along with the history of the Transatlantic Slave trade and Charleston's role in it. I loved learning about the Gulla Geechee history. While the history is hard it must be known and this is a great place to learn. I highly recommend visiting to anyone visiting Charleston.
Lots of amazing history and artifacts. The format was confusing, however, and it was difficult to understand how the exhibits flowed. A little less reading and more interactive displays would have been nice.
This historically robust, truth sharing and high tech museum was amazing! Easy access to all exhibits on one floor. Laid out extremely well which keeps patrons engaged with smooth throughput.
I would recommend visiting this museum before visiting the one in DC. This museum displays are well put together and is a nice preview of what you could see at the museum in DC. It takes about 1 1/2 hour to walk through, maybe a little longer if you take the time to learn more about each and every display. I really enjoyed the area based around your family search. That was an awesome feature in the museum.
The visit to the museum on February 14, 2024, was very impressive. From the outside to the inside, there was much to see. Unaware that the museum was only a year old was even more remarkable. The staff, including the security officers of the museum, were friendly and pointed out the exterior exhibits (i.e., the Maya Angelou wall, sacred grounds in front of the harbor, and the gardens). Visitors are allowed to take pictures and video recordings. As an FYI, when recording, not everyone has the same respect, so please be aware.Each display was well set up, and the visiting exhibits were also well-suited for the museum. As a visitor to the city, state, and museum, there was so much enrichment of the history and culture. That is, learning about multigenerational island history, agricultural lands, and spiritual lineage as well as the impact of the harbor.FYI: Parking is not near the museum unless visitors are able to find street parking (may be metered parking). There is a parking garage available that cars, trucks, RVs, trailers, etc. can be used with free shuttle services. Four hours cost $12. Please call the museum for location and cost.This museum started the 2024 journey of visiting as many African American museums that are open and operating in the nation. Some museums are being maliciously damaged, while others have been destroyed by natural disasters, and many are now in the process of remodeling and upgrading. It is imperative to visit such places, not only to gather what history books continue to leave out, but also, and very importantly, learning about the history of the people from these places. They often tie into larger stories and/or historical events that we are still very much unaware of. Support your city, state, and all the history that makes the area what it is today.
As a native Washingtonian, I'm a bit of a museum snob. This museum is one of the BEST museums I've ever been to.I'd recommend this museum to anyone who wants to know about the black experience in general, and the black experience specific to the South Carolina region. Since I'm pretty familiar with general AA history, I focused my visit on learning about black culture in SC, and it was so rich! I learned so much. My favorite exhibits were the Praise House and the diorama that detailed the hard work of preparing rice fields for planting and harvest.A thoughtful feature was quiet rooms where one could sit in privacy if needed. Several times I felt emotional viewing the exhibits but felt uncomfortable crying in public. These rooms, thoughtfully outfitted with Kleenex, are needed.If I were in the area again I would pay to go again. I spent about 90 minutes and still would go back.
Visited this amazing museum yesterday. Extraordinarily powerful in setting, and immersive exhibits. Cannot say enough about the experience, from the moment you step foot on the grounds the attention to detail is beautiful. The history is staggering it's estimated that more than 80 percent of African Americans can trace one ancestor back to Charleston. This museum should be included in everyone's visit here
I had the pleasure of enjoying this museum on my birthday, Tuesday 01-23-24. I bought the ticket online for the 10 - 10:30 am entry. I was running a little behind due to traffic and the rain. I called to see if I would still be allowed to enter, but received a message that the call volume was high and left a voice message. I explained when I checked in and was told that it was no problem.I parked at a meter in walking distance to the museum on an adjacent street, no more than a quarter mile away. I believe the maximum time available was two hours.I wanted to look back as I look and move ahead into a new year of life. I didn't leave disappointed. There's something spiritual about being in places like this. Other visitors were as mesmerized as I was. The staff I interacted with were great. In the studio area, I sat and talked with a young lady while drawing on a rock. I told her I couldn't draw and she still encouraged me to join her. Other staff members joined in the conversation and gave good suggestions of seafood restaurants.I took the suggestion of the cashier in the gift shop area for lunch. I purchased the sun and moon spin drum. FYI, I initially tried to use a gift card but the cashier said I wouldn't be able to use it because it didn't have a chip; it was no problem. I used my personal card.I'd definitely return and hope to be able to take my niece one day. Job well done on capturing our history, especially in such a monumental city as Charleston. I look forward to using the Family Search site.
This museum was well overdue! Purchasing tickets online prior was extremely easy instead of waiting in line. Every part of the museum was beautifully and intentionally designed. I loved the many interactive displays, but few people noticed because the text was small. Overall, our visit was great. The staff was friendly and inviting. I can’t wait to visit again.
This museum is stunning! The graphics and visuals transform each exhibit. I went for an event, so I only had a short time to walk through all exhibits, but I will definitely be back. There was thought and purpose behind every piece, artifact, and biography. They even have a story booth to record your own history. I would love to see what they do with those recordings. What a beautiful way to bring stories from all generations together. Very powerful!
