Upcountry History Museum

Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
2025-03-15 10:00 - 2025-09-07 17:00 UTC
Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson
March 15, 2025 – September 7, 2025
Curated and produced by the LBJ Presidential Library, Austin, Texas, Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson, focuses on the life and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson, wife of the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson. The Upcountry History Museum, Greenville, SC, will be the exhibit’s first stop on its limited national tour.
The former first lady is most often associated with promoting environmental conservation and the wildflowers that brighten the country’s landscape. This exhibition guides visitors through a comprehensive story of Mrs. Johnson’s life, providing more context to her education, family, campaign efforts, acumen as a businesswoman, leadership in education and environmental conservation, and her role as a philanthropist.
Throughout her time in the White House, Lady Bird fought to make American cities more beautiful by planting flowers or adding park benches and by removing billboards and junkyards from the nation’s highways. Her efforts in these areas pushed her further into the political arena, more than any First Lady before her. Even Eleanor Roosevelt, Lady Bird’s declared role model, had not sat in on a legislative strategy session or been given assignments to influence Congressional votes. Lyndon Johnson supported Lady Bird’s efforts, publicly promoting her projects in his State of the Union speeches and during Cabinet meetings.
Beautification: The Environmental Legacy of Lady Bird Johnson will guide visitors through a comprehensive story of Mrs. Johnson’s life, from childhood through her post-White House years. Visitors will be immersed in the life and legacy of Lady Bird Johnson on loan from the LBJ Presidential Library and the Johnsons daughters Lynda Bird Johnson Robb and Luci Baines Johnson include items from Whistle Stop campaign tours, gowns from White House galas, mementos from beautification projects; original art from The Lorax, created by Dr. Seuss; along with letters, photographs, oral histories, home movies, and artifacts – the majority of which have never been shared with the public.

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Janis Bandelin & Bill Fitzpatrick Mountain Laurel Garden Club of Travelers Rest

Privies, Pipes, and Progress...
2025-05-10 10:00 - 2025-10-05 17:00
Privies, Pipes, and Progress…
May 10, 2025 – October 5, 2026

Renewable Water Resources Celebrates 100 Years of Cleaning Water
November 1, 1928, ushered in a new era for the Upcountry as the then Greater Greenville Sewer District began operations at the recently completed Mauldin Road treatment plant. The realization of this “modern sewerage system” in the “first city in the South to be completely sewered” brought with it expectations, opportunities, and progress for the 20th century.
Over the next few decades, upgrades and advanced improvements were made to keep the utility on mission for cleaning water and protecting public health, while additional facilities were built to help meet the demands of a growing region. As the service area and functions expanded, the utility was renamed Greenville County Sewer Authority in 1968, and by 1969, S.C. Act 688 established it as the primary wastewater treatment provider in the Greenville area.
The succeeding years brought increased environmental responsibilities, escalating infrastructure demands, as well as an anticipated expansion in scope of responsibility for surrounding counties. So, the General Assembly authorized S.C. Act 1415 in 1974 to rename the utility to Western Carolina Regional Sewer Authority (WCRSA).
For the next 35 years, WCRSA made pioneering and groundbreaking advancements in numerous areas of wastewater treatment, many of which positioned the utility as the definitive leader at the state and national levels.
By the early 2000s, the utility’s vision had evolved to encompass a more thorough commitment to enhancing the quality of life for its communities by transforming wastewater into a clean, fresh, renewable resource. State legislators agreed and by approval of Act 102 in 2009, the name became Renewable Water Resources (ReWa).
Over the past 100 years, ReWa has established itself as an organization dedicated to protecting Upstate waterways, supporting public health, and promoting a cleaner environment. It has also become a steadfast community partner motivated to lead, engage, and serve.
This exhibition takes visitors on a journey through ReWa’s 100 years and features interactive displays, archived materials from early days of operations, photo collages highlighting the decades, and more.

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Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice
2025-05-24 10:00 - 2025-09-21 17:00
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice
May 24, 2025 – September 21, 2025

Dinosaurs will roar into Upstate South Carolina, when the Upcountry History Museum presents Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice.
Crossing the threshold of this special exhibition means traveling back in time to explore the Age of the Dinosaurs. As visitors move through the exhibit they encounter unfamiliar landscapes, touchable dinosaurs of all shapes and sizes, and opportunities to investigate clues about what the dinosaurs left behind. The exhibit builds on the popular fascination with dinosaurs and includes science, history, and literacy based activities to challenge all ages.
Dinosaurs: Land of Fire and Ice, designed for children ages 3-10, is the first child-centered exhibit dedicated to expanding the understanding of dinosaur habitat and range. The bilingual (Spanish and English) exhibit features three distinct sections that build on a child’s innate curiosity about dinosaurs: Land of Fire (a warm dinosaur habitat), Land of Ice (a cold dinosaur habitat), and a Field Research Station (complete with a Big Dig experience).
The steamy Land of Fire – present day Montana – introduces visitors to the Triceratops, T-Rex, and the dinosaurs who called this environment home. Children can circle the land in insect costumes, buzz through a volcano with oozing lava, work through a swampy bog, and identify an ecosystem of animals and plants.
No coats are needed for a trip across the Land of Ice where visitors meet the dinosaurs who made their homes in the cold climate of present day Alaska. Activities include exploring an icy cave filled with northern lights effects, breezing down an icy slide, and creating a Cretaceous food chain in an environment based on cold dinosaur habitats 70 million years ago.
In the hands-on Field Research Station children and their caregivers don goggles and research vests, as they uncover dinosaur bones in a dig station and examine fossils to identify dinosaurs.
This immersive exhibit includes sculpted, touchable dinosaurs that feature the most recent scientific findings about the colors, textures and structural form of the dinosaurs. Designed to spark children’s interest in science and history, the exhibit will immerse visitors in meaningful science experiences and activities that use scientific thinking skills; focus on history, natural history, and paleontology; and provide opportunities to build literacy and vocabulary skills through interactive activities.

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Avengers: Endgame – The Exhibition
2025-06-07 10:00 - 2026-01-18 17:00
Avengers: Endgame — The Exhibition
June 7, 2025 – January 18, 2026
“In the comic books and the movies, the story is always the most important element.”
– Stan Lee, Writer, Editor, Comic Book Creator

For over 85 years, creating independent yet deeply connected stories has been the foundation of the Marvel Universe. Conceived from a simple idea of strange tales and journeys in 1939 with the publication of Marvel Comics #1, Marvel began to create a world with visual and cultural impact that has continued to influence readers and viewers today.
As the comic book industry gained momentum in the 1930s, Stan Lee, an aspiring writer, joined Timely Comics, the forerunner to Marvel Comics. In 1940, Timely introduced characters such as Captain America, Toro, the Whizzer, and even Miss America, who with the Human Torch, founded the Invaders, dedicated to combating Nazi forces in Europe. Following the war, the group was renamed the All-Winners Squad with the mission to fight crime in the U.S.
Over the next two decades, new characters in different genres expanded the growing repertoire of stories which furthered the narratives of heroes and villains. By the 1960s, Marvel had risen in popularity. Lee and artist Jack Kirby created the company’s first family with The Fantastic Four in 1961, followed in 1962 with Spider-Man, well Daredevil, Nick Fury, Incredible Hulk, and the X-Men.
In 1963 Marvel created a team of superheroes including Captain America, Iron Man, Black Widow, Thor, Hawkeye, Hulk, and Black Panther. Named The Avengers, their mission was to stand as Earth’s first line of defense against the most powerful threats in the universe.
By 2012, movies and television shows were the outlets for Marvel Universe characters, the parent company became Marvel Cinematic Universe. The Avengers continued to provide audiences with thrilling storylines based on their mission as seen in 2012, 2015, and 2018 films.
Avengers: Endgame debuted in theaters in 2019 and became the highest-grossing film of all time that year. In partnership with The Walt Disney Company’s Marvel Studios and private collectors, the Upcountry History Museum will present an exclusive 2000 square foot exhibition featuring an extraordinary display of original costumes, props, and memorabilia showcasing the film’s messages of teamwork, courage, and perseverance.
The first exhibition of its kind in the United States, the project invites visitors of all ages to traverse the Marvel Universe. This once-in-a lifetime experience will explore the fourth installment in the Avengers saga and is the culmination of 22 interconnected Marvel films and the climax of a journey. The exhibit’s design and messaging will emulate Avengers: Endgame’s principles of friendship, teamwork, and setting aside differences to overcome impossible obstacles.

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War Dogs: K9 Military Heroes
2025-09-20 10:00 - 2026-02-01 17:00
War Dogs: K9 Military Heroes
September 20, 2025 – February 1, 2026
“I want to pay tribute to the soldiers who served with great sacrifice by creating the sculptural allegory of wounded warrior dogs who were the soldier’s best friend and companion in battle.”
– artist, James Mellick

Since the American Revolutionary War, military working dogs have served with all branches of the United States Armed Forces. First used as pack animals, working dogs have expanded their military roles to include scouting, policing, detection, and combat. U.S. military dogs officially began serving in WWII, following the formation of the Dogs for Defense, Inc. coalition. Today, hundreds of dogs serve with U.S. military forces around the globe assisting with dangerous missions on today’s modern battlefields.
The Upcountry History Museum will spotlight and honor the important role of these four-legged warriors when it hosts War Dogs: K9 Military Heroes. The exhibition combines life-size sculptures designed by Ohio master craftsman James Mellick with combat art and objects on loan from the collections of the National Museum of the Marine Corps, the United States Coast Guard, and the Naval History & Heritage Command.
The project features eight Wounded Warrior and two Canine War Dog sculptures, bringing attention to the history, service and heroism of military working dogs. The collection represents Doberman Pinchers, German Shepherds, Labrador Retrievers and Belgian Malinois who served in WWII, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan military campaigns.
One of the sculptures honors Lucca, a Marine Corps war dog. Lucca conducted more than 400 missions during two deployments to Iraq and one to Afghanistan. One of those missions cost Lucca her leg and severe burns but there were no human casualties under her watch. When she retired, Lucca’s handler adopted her.
Twenty pieces of art paint a more complete picture of dogs at work, detailing the most menacing war dogs to goggled high-flying dogs to sleeping warriors and keen detectives. Artifacts include items used by war dogs and their handlers. Dog uniforms, medical kits and Purple Hearts share poignant stories of perseverance and bravery. Military working dogs have served and protected countless lives in war, this inspiring exhibition tells their amazing story.

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Sue Reich's The Quilter's Night Before Christmas
2025-11-01 10:00 - 2026-01-11 17:00
Sue Reich’s The Quilter’s Night Before Christmas
November 1, 2025 – January 11, 2026

“A Visit from St. Nicholas,” referred to as “The Night Before Christmas” a poem by Clement C. Moore, was first published in 1823. For the past two hundred years, it has been reprinted in everything from almanacs to advertisements; it’s been dramatized, satirized, parodied, and set to music. It’s been published in newspapers, dramatized on stage, retold on film, recited over the radio, performed on television, and posted on the Internet. And most especially it’s been read and reread to ten generations of children around the world.
The poem’s depiction of Santa Claus as a jolly and generous figure influenced subsequent representations of the Christmas icon and became an integral part of the American holiday tradition. Its enduring popularity and cultural significance have solidified “A Visit from St. Nicholas” as a timeless tribute to the spirit of Christmas.
This holiday classic has been reimagined in a national traveling exhibit titled, Sue Reich’s The Quilter’s Night Before Christmas. Curated by Sue Reich, an award winning quilter, AQS quilt appraiser, quilt author, historian, and lecturer, the exhibit was created by quilters across the country. Each quilter was assigned a part of the holiday poem to interpret in color, theme, stitch, and story.
Reich challenged her quilt-making friends, to pick a stanza from the poem and re-create their “The Night Before Christmas” memories. Criteria for creating each quilt included the size, 24 x 30 inches, and each quilt had to include a miniature quilt or quilted image somewhere in the quilt. The result is a “Night Before Christmas” holiday treasure, featuring 29 quilts, that invite fans of the beloved holiday poem to experience it anew in three dimensions.
Sue Reich’s The Quilter’s Night Before Christmas exhibition, will make its first South Carolina appearance at the Upcountry History Museum, November 1, 2025, through January 11, 2026.

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