From 16th century engravings and Catawba pottery, to contemporary paintings and photographs, this exhibition will explore the significance of our state’s rivers on culture, industry, and landscape, as well as the ways in which they have inspired artists in the state. It will feature treasures of the collection by renowned artists such as William Halsey, Alice Huger Ravenel Smith, and Charles A. Fraser.

Because of the State Museum’s location on the banks of the Congaree and its history as a textile mill dependent on that river, this exhibition is an opportunity to focus on our immediate surroundings. We encourage you to explore the exhibit and then stroll along the river walk—how will the river inspire you?