Unique Museums Highlight Newberry’s Past
Newberry, South Carolina, in the state's midlands, is a city with a rich past. Visitors to Newberry can appreciate the many elegant homes and fine historic buildings found in the city's historic districts. Many of these structures are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Three unique museums that help preserve Newberry's past are worth a visit.
The Newberry County Museum is housed in the historic Coppock House at 1503 Nance Street. The 1820 Classical Revival style home, with its large front porches and grand entrance doors, was the home of a successful Newberry merchant. Today the home contains artifacts and displays related to the history of Newberry County, including a Confederate money display and period clothing. Visitors may also tour the restored Gauntt House on the museum grounds. This simple 1808 vernacular style home is the oldest building in the city of Newberry. It was donated to the historical society and moved to its current site in 1972. The Gauntt House is furnished with period antiques. Both homes are open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 1pm-4pm.
The Newberry County Historical and Museum Society also manages the Bill Ballentine Farm Museum. Ballentine, who collected farm equipment for more than forty years, amassed the largest collection of farm equipment east of the Mississippi River. The retired dairy farmer wanted to preserve farm history, and his outstanding collection contains a variety of items from the late 1800s to the early 20th century. The museum preserves many unique and unusual items that the public would not see anywhere else. The Bill Ballentine Farm Museum is located at the Newberry County Fairgrounds. It is open to the public by appointment and each September during the Newberry County Ag Expo.
Newberry's newest museum is the Naval Trainee Museum on the campus of historic Newberry College. It is located in the Darrow House at 1814 College Street and is the gift of a former Newberry naval trainee. During the early 1940s the college partnered with the U.S. Navy to train deck and flight officers for duty in World War II. Newberry College was one of 131 colleges and universities in the country to participate in the program, which began in 1942. More than 800 naval cadets were assigned to the college, and the small museum honors the trainees and their history at Newberry College. The program ended in October 1945 and the college returned to civilian status. The museum is open weekdays during college office hours.
Each of these museums chronicles a different era of Newberry's history. The city is committed to honoring its past, and these museums offer visitors a glimpse into some of its most interesting aspects.
The Newberry County Museum is housed in the historic Coppock House at 1503 Nance Street. The 1820 Classical Revival style home, with its large front porches and grand entrance doors, was the home of a successful Newberry merchant. Today the home contains artifacts and displays related to the history of Newberry County, including a Confederate money display and period clothing. Visitors may also tour the restored Gauntt House on the museum grounds. This simple 1808 vernacular style home is the oldest building in the city of Newberry. It was donated to the historical society and moved to its current site in 1972. The Gauntt House is furnished with period antiques. Both homes are open the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of the month from 1pm-4pm.
The Newberry County Historical and Museum Society also manages the Bill Ballentine Farm Museum. Ballentine, who collected farm equipment for more than forty years, amassed the largest collection of farm equipment east of the Mississippi River. The retired dairy farmer wanted to preserve farm history, and his outstanding collection contains a variety of items from the late 1800s to the early 20th century. The museum preserves many unique and unusual items that the public would not see anywhere else. The Bill Ballentine Farm Museum is located at the Newberry County Fairgrounds. It is open to the public by appointment and each September during the Newberry County Ag Expo.
Newberry's newest museum is the Naval Trainee Museum on the campus of historic Newberry College. It is located in the Darrow House at 1814 College Street and is the gift of a former Newberry naval trainee. During the early 1940s the college partnered with the U.S. Navy to train deck and flight officers for duty in World War II. Newberry College was one of 131 colleges and universities in the country to participate in the program, which began in 1942. More than 800 naval cadets were assigned to the college, and the small museum honors the trainees and their history at Newberry College. The program ended in October 1945 and the college returned to civilian status. The museum is open weekdays during college office hours.
Each of these museums chronicles a different era of Newberry's history. The city is committed to honoring its past, and these museums offer visitors a glimpse into some of its most interesting aspects.
