The Rice Museum, known locally as The Town Clock, is located in the Old Market Building and is a prominent symbol of Georgetown County. Through dioramas, maps, artifacts and other exhibits, visitors to the Museum are enlightened to the history of a society dependent on the rice crop. In 1750, George Town became the center of rice production in the colony. By 1840, the Georgetown District (later County) produced nearly one-half of the total rice crop of the United States. The 1850s proved to be the most profitable decade for the rice planters. The Rice Museum chronicles this most important American timeline and its impact on not only South Carolina, but internationally as well.
The Maritime Museum Gallery is located next door to the Town Clock in the Kaminski Hardware Building. The Browns Ferry Vessel, built in the early 1700s and sunk approximately 1730, is on permanent display. This is the oldest vessel on exhibit in America, and predates by 50 years all vessels previously found. The vessel is approximately 50' long and was a general purpose freighter used on the rivers and coastal waterways during the 1700s. Discovered on the Black River in 1976, this vessel was reconstructed and stored by the University of South Carolina and brought to the Museum in 1992.
Also located in the Kaminski Hardware Buildings are the Prevost Gallery and the Museum Gift Shop. Rotating exhibits provide visitors interesting and topical exhibits of art and history, featuring artwork from local artists. The Gift Shop is filled with unique and unusual pieces from South Carolina and the world.
A 17 minute film entitled The Garden of Gold is shown throughout the day and is part of the Museum tour.
Lafayette Park surrounds the Rice Museum building and is an idyllic urban greenspace on the banks of the Sampit River. A visit to The Rice Museum is a must on your tour of Historic Georgetown. Nearby are almost fifty structures that pre-date the War Between the States. The Rice Museum tour includes the exhibits in the Town Clock and the Kaminski Hardware buildings, as well as presentation of the 17-minute film, "Garden of Gold."