Which Columbia museums and attractions are reopening, and which are still closed?
With a few exceptions, the majority of businesses and attractions across South Carolina have been allowed to reopen as the coronavirus pandemic persists.
Some places, such as theaters and bowling alleys, still have to keep their doors closed. Some popular visitor venues that can reopen are choosing to stay closed a while longer. And other local attractions, such as Riverbanks Zoo and Garden and Frankie’s Fun Park, reopened to the public for the first time in about two months over Memorial Day weekend.
Two of Columbia’s most popular venues, the Columbia Museum of Art and the S.C. State Museum, have announced their plans to reopen in early June. Here’s a rundown of when they and other local sites will be open.
Congaree National Park: Thursday, May 28, partially reopening for daytime access. The park’s backcountry areas — South Cedar Creek Canoe Landing, Bannister Bridge Canoe Landing, the Cedar Creek Canoe Trail, Kingsnake Trail, Bates Ferry Trail, Fork Swamp Trail, Oakridge Trail and River Trail — will be open sunrise to sunset.
However, the park’s visitor center and the Boardwalk, Bluff Trail, Longleaf Trail, Sims Trail and Weston Lake Loop Trail remain closed.
S.C. Confederate Relic Room and Military Museum: Saturday, May 30, reopening to the public. Only 60 visitors at a time will be allowed into the museum. All visitors are asked to wear masks, though the museum will not be providing masks. The gift shop will remain closed, and museum tours and programs remain canceled. New hours of admission are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. crr.sc.gov
S.C. State Museum: Tuesday, June 2, reopening to the public. Museum members get early access Saturday, May 30. New hours of admission are Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The general admission ticket price has been reduced to $5; planetarium shows and the special International Exhibition of Sherlock Holmes will cost extra. Some areas of the museum may remain temporarily closed or have limited features.
Admission capacity will be limited, so online ticket purchases are encouraged, though not required. scmuseum.org
Columbia Museum of Art: Tuesday, June 16, reopening to the public. Galleries will be opened at reduced visitor capacity, and a limited number of timed admission tickets will be available each hour. Tickets can be reserved online. All guests will be required to wear face masks or cloth face coverings. The museum will be open Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission will be free June 16-25.
Summer camps are planned for July and August. columbiamuseum.org
While theaters are not yet permitted to reopen in South Carolina, Columbia’s Town Theatre has a slate of virtual youth summer camps in June to tide over young theater lovers. The week-long camps will conclude with online showcases. More information and registration can be found at towntheatre.com/summer-camps-2020.
Several popular Columbia destinations and attractions have not yet announced plans to reopen. They include:
- EdVenture Children’s Museum
- Historic Columbia house museums
- S.C. State House tours
- University of South Carolina campus tours
- Lake Murray Public Park (Lexington side of the dam)
These local destinations already are reopened to the public:
- State-run parks and recreation areas, including Sesquicentennial State Park. However, Harbison State Forest is closed for forest management activities and plans to reopen in mid-June, according to the S.C. Forestry Commission.
- Riverbanks Zoo and Garden. Ticket reservations are required with staggered entry times for all guests, including members. Visitors are encouraged to wear masks but not required to do so.
- Riverwalks in Columbia, Cayce and West Columbia.
We will update this list as more venues share their reopening plans.
Do you know of a site that should be added to this list? Contact reporter Sarah Ellis at sellis@thestate.com.
This story was originally published May 27, 2020 at 8:59 AM.
