pickens county museum of art and history

This museum houses a wonderful collection of historical artifacts and is a great adaptive reuse of a historic structure (the old county "gaol"). A piano from the home of former vice president John C. Calhoun, Confederate uniforms and weapons, Native American artifacts, and works of art by local residents are just a few of the many interesting things found here. Pickens is a great town with very friendly residents and some nice shops along the Main Street area. It is a good place to start any adventure into South Carolina's "hill country". The only downside to this museum was that the lady at the front was very unwelcoming and not friendly (obviously a transplant and not a native of the area). She was more interested in her "smart phone" than in the visitors to the museum.

At first I did not expect a lot but I was pleasantly surprised! The museum is full of local historical artifacts and details. It is informative and educational. If you are near Pickens, SC I suggest you go for a visit.

My boyfriend and I are divided on the bars-on-the-windows thing.... I think it is great to have the resource of the Pickens Museum in Pickens (a town that can seem a bit depleted) but to me there is something a bit sad and unsettling about the very visible gaol history of the space. Though better to let it show than hide it, perhaps. Just kind of depressing in a town that can seem a bit depressed.