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Calhoun County Museum

SC PICTURE PROJECT 4 Comments

SC Picture Project / Calhoun County / Calhoun County Museum

The Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center is located along Butler Street in the Calhoun County seat of St. Matthews. Built in 1959 to showcase the historical and cultural heritage of the area, the museum boasts over 20,000 square feet of space for exhibit and research. Its extensive archives can be viewed by appointment.

Calhoun County Museum

South Carolina Department of Tourism © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

The one-story clapboard structure shown below was moved to the grounds of the museum not long ago. It originally served as a slave cabin on Dantzler Plantation which sits within St. Matthews’ town limits. This cabin is set to be restored in the near future. (Note that there is another Dantzler Plantation in nearby Holly Hill.)

Dantzler Plantation Slave Cabin Calhoun Museum

Ann Helms of Spartanburg, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Dantzler Plantation, also known as Crutchfield House, was built in 1850 and is the oldest residence standing within the town limits of St. Matthews. The one-story raised cottage was built for the family of Jacob M. Dantzler of Orangeburg County. Jacob Dantzler’s son, Olin, a planter, moved into the home in 1852. Olin was a member of the South Carolina Senate and fought to convince his fellow legislators that a peaceful arrangement would be better than confrontation in the tensions between the North and the South that eventually led to the Civil War. Olin Dantzler later joined Confederate forces while still remaining extremely opposed to the war. The one story slave cabin seen above was the one moved to the grounds of the museum for safekeeping.

Dantzler Plantation House

Bill Fitzpatrick of Taylors, 2012 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

A second transplanted structure also stands on the grounds of the Calhoun County Museum. The primitive two-story house shown below is thought to have been constructed between 1790 and 1800 and serves as an excellent example of early homestead structures within the region. It was later identified to us as the Rumph Home that once stood at the intersection of SC Highway 6 and US Highway 176 near St. Matthews. It was moved to its new site, and then restored, to protect it from future damage, as vandals had destroyed the rear portion of the home.

Historic Homestead Calhoun County Museum

Ann Helms of Spartanburg, 2017 © Do Not Use Without Written Consent

Note: We have researched the Calhoun County Museum and Cultural Center extensively and we are actively seeking more information or personal accounts. If you can add to this entry in the South Carolina Picture Project, please let us know. Thank you!

Plan Your Trip: Calhoun County Museum

Where is Calhoun County Museum located?
Address: 313 Butler Street, St. Matthews, SC 29135
GPS Coordinates: 33.659852,-80.774548
What else should I see?
Edward Wimberly House 0.1 mile
Raysor-Weeks House 0.3 mile
St Matthews Presbyterian Church 0.3 mile
Colonel J. A. Banks House 0.4 mile
Show me more like this!
  • See other South Carolina Historic Houses
    Calhoun County Museum Map

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Glenn says

      June 19, 2020 at 1:16 AM

      I want to know if am I descended from them.

      Reply
    2. Debbie Roland says

      July 15, 2019 at 6:18 AM

      When did you research extensively at the Calhoun County museum? Thank you Debbie Roland, Director Calhoun County Museum.

      Reply
      • SC Picture Project says

        July 16, 2019 at 2:59 PM

        We researched online and printed archives extensively, we have not researched in house extensively there yet.

        Reply
    3. Victoria Nessel says

      March 15, 2019 at 9:58 AM

      Are there any historic cross stitch samplers in your collection?

      Reply

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    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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    ABOUT US

    We are a federally-recognized 501(c)(3) nonprofit that works to preserve the history of South Carolina’s historic, natural, and cultural landmarks before they are lost to time. This website serves as a permanent digital archive of over 2,300 South Carolina landmarks – and counting. Learn more about our work.

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