Housed In A Historic Sinclair Service Station, This Small-Town Museum In South Carolina Is A True Hidden Gem
By AnneMarie|Published June 07, 2023
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AnneMarie
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South Carolina has been home for AnneMarie since 2001. Her favorite part of the state is Lake Jocassee. An App State alumna, it's always the mountains; the lake bonus makes it heavenly. When not writing about the state, she may be spending time with family, relaxing by the pool, or out somewhere enjoying nature.
Millions of people flock to South Carolina’s scenic lowcountry each year, primarily to enjoy its world-famous beaches. Golfing is another draw for visitors as well as boating, fishing, and cultural tourism. For those looking to dive into the lowcountry culture of this incredible state, there’s an amazing unique museum in South Carolina that offers an impressive array of opportunities.
This unique museum is located on South Jacob Smart Boulevard, which is just off I-95 in Ridgeland, a small town with a 2021 population of 3,683. It's housed in a restored historic filling station, which was built in 1937 by the Sinclair Oil Corporation. The road it sits by was the primary coastal route in South Carolina until the construction of Interstate 95.
Ridgeland is convenient to some of the most popular lowcountry spots for tourists, with about a two-hour drive from Charleston and only about 40 miles from Hilton Head Island.
The museum's founder, Danny Morris, owned several convenience store gas stations, which was why the location for the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage was a perfect fit. Pictured here is an old photo of the first Handy Dan's, which was in his hometown of Tillman, just about eight miles west of Ridgeland. The museum was established to carry out his dream of creating a place where history and culture would uplift future generations.
One of the ways this specialty museum achieves its mission is through fascinating, relevant exhibits. This one was on display during Black History Month in 2022, a poignant portrayal of the bitter struggles endured by many prior to the end of the Civil War.
Soul of the South was a musical journey exploring the influences that Native Americans, enslaved Africans, and the European colonizers in the lowcountry had on different genres of music: gospel, jazz, blues, musical theater, and rock and roll.
Lowcountry cuisine is a tremendous and important part of the region's history, as during colonial times the absence of refrigeration for inland communities meant they were unable to enjoy the seafood that was so abundant along the coastal areas. This exhibit put a spotlight on this part of lowcountry culture that can now be experienced anywhere. Yet, it's always more delicious when fresh, one of benefits of traveling to South Carolina's beautiful lowcountry!
And then, there are also amazing classes and workshops offered by this gem of a museum. This one focused on owls, of which there are less than a dozen species in the state.
There are many more types of snakes to be found, though, so a program on venomous snakes is particularly helpful, especially as you're out and about immersing yourself in nature while here!
No matter the time of year, there’s always something interesting and fun going on at this incredible place, and another wonderful thing to love about it is admission is free! Visit the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage website and the Morris Center for Lowcountry Heritage Facebook page for details on current exhibits and upcoming workshops so that you can plan your visit accordingly.
Have you ever been to another amazing unique museum in South Carolina? What did you like most about it? What are your thoughts about this one?
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