Columbia Museum of Art

The Columbia Museum of Art is South Carolina's premier international art museum and houses an extraordinary collection of European and American art. Founded in 1950, the Museum opened its new building on Main Street in 1998 with 25 galleries. The collections include masterpieces of the Italian Renaissance, Baroque and Rococo from the Samuel H. Kress Collection, works by significant furniture and silver makers, and modern and contemporary art. In recent years the Museum’s collection of Asian art and Antiquities has grown through generous gifts to the collection. Of particular interest are Sandro Botticelli's Nativity, Claude Monet's The Seine at Giverny, Canaletto’s View of the Molo, and art glass by Louis Comfort Tiffany. The Museum offers changing exhibitions from renowned museums and educational programs that include lectures, films and concerts, and it is the recipient of a National Art Education Association award for its contributions to arts education and an Elizabeth O’Neill Verner Governor’s Award for the Arts for outstanding contributions to the arts in South Carolina.

Students: $2; adults: $5; seniors & military: $4; children under 6: free

Guided tours are $3 per student. Self-guided tours are $2 per student. The required number of chaperones is admitted free (one adult per 10 students) and additional chaperones are $3 per person. There is a $35 non-refundable reservation deposit, and no discounts or special offers apply to group admission rates.

The Columbia Museum of Art provides many excellent opportunities for art education in South Carolina for both students and educators. The Museum's school programs are nationally recognized for their excellence and offer state and national standards-based cross-curricular learning experiences.

Chaperones:
Chaperones are required to stay with their group at all times. It is the responsibility of the chaperones to make sure that students behave appropriately in the Museum and are respectful to staff and other visitors. The required number of chaperones is one adult per 10 students.

Snacks and Lunch:
Boyd Plaza, in front of the Museum, is a lovely spot for enjoying bag lunches on sunny days. Finlay Park, located within one block of the Museum, is also a great location. Your pre-visit packet will include a listing of nearby casual dining restaurants.