Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston

After moving to its present Beaux-Arts building (boasting an impressive stained glass cupola) in 1905, the Gibbes Museum of Art has earned a reputation as one of the finest of its kind. Its premier collection contains over 10,000 art pieces, principally American works, spanning from colonial to contemporary periods, many of which are closely associated with Charleston and the South.

Following renovation, the museum's ground floor houses an education center, cafe, and a store, while its rear reception area opens up to a garden that is part of Charleston's historic Gateway Walk, an initiative founded by the Garden Club. The entire floor is open to the public free of charge, serving as a community gathering space.

The recently expanded and renovated galleries on the second and third floors showcase over 600 artworks from the permanent collections, including pieces by various artists from Charleston such as Henrietta Johnston, Mary Roberts, Charles Fraser, William Melton Halsey, Ned I.R. Jennings, and Jeremiah Theus.

Of particular interest is the collection of more than 300 miniature portraits displayed in cases and open-storage cabinets to allow an up-close view. Other collections include paintings, prints, sketches, photographs, sculptures, ceramics, furnishings, and works by African-American artists, many of whom are natives of Charleston and South Carolina.

Why You Should Visit:
To enjoy a charming 'stroll' through art and gain new insights, while exploring unexpected and unfamiliar artworks. Garden concerts in the spring and fall are particularly fun, and the "Gibbes on the Street" event held in April/May is unmissable.

Tip:
Catch one of the many rotating exhibitions here whenever you're in town – you'll be in for a treat.