Connections Café - Frontiers Past and Future
2023-07-13 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

July 13 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on Thursday, July 13, and explore Frontiers Past and Future: The William Bradshaw Collection.

SOLD OUT - An Evening with Mac Arnold
2023-07-13 17:30 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
“Come on everybody, let’s get in the groove. Just enjoy yourself, while we play the blues.”

With a career beginning in the 1950s, world-renowned blues legend and South Carolina native, Dr. Mac Arnold helped create a distinctive musical movement and ultimately shape the electric blues sound that would go on to inspire rock and roll. Over the years, Arnold’s career included numerous performances with fellow musicians, such as Muddy Waters, James Brown, B.B. King, Otis Redding, John Lee Hooker, The Temptations, Eric Clapton, and Paul Butterfield.
Join Dr. Mac Arnold for a special evening of storytelling and acoustic performances as he shares memories from his life and storied career while exploring the roots and evolution of the Upcountry’s unique relationship with the Piedmont Blues.

Each ticket reservation will include two, complimentary drinks tickets.
The Museum will serve light hors d’oeuvres of the southern variety along with sweet tea, beer, and wine.

SOLD OUT!

An Evening with Mac Arnold is generously sponsored by

Toddler Time!
2023-07-18 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that is educational and engaging!

Step into the pages of author and illustrator Eric Carle’s colorful picture books, as the Museum hosts Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit. Little ones will also explore wildfire safety and prevention with the photography exhibit Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer.
Come out and enjoy exhibit playtime, themed game stations, museum-wide scavenger hunt, and a group story time with snack and juice.

Toddler Times are included with general admission and all children ages 2 and under are FREE.

Lunchbox Learning
2023-07-19 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
The Last Sunday Drive: Vanishing Traditions in Georgia and the Carolinas
Presented by Mr. Tom Poland
Author, Tom Poland, explores the disappearing traditions of the American Southeast in his book, “The Last Sunday Drive: Vanishing Traditions in Georgia and the Carolinas.” Head back to the days when mom, dad, and the kids would head out to see the countryside. An ice cream treat usually waited at the day’s end. Back in the Burma-Shave days, mom-and-pop drive-ins and gas station biscuits fed folks. Cheap gas filled cars, and people made Sunday drives through a land where See Rock City barns, sawdust piles, trains, and junkyards gave them plenty to see. Men in seersucker suits ran old stores with oscillating fans, and if the kids ate too much penny candy, grandma had a home remedy for them. It was a time for dinner on church grounds, yard art, and old-fashioned petunias.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

Drop-In Tour: Changing Exhibitions
2023-07-27 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Annually, the Upcountry History Museum hosts and organizes a diverse exhibit schedule that features topics in history, art, science, natural history, and pop culture. Through guided tours, UHM Docents engage visitors further in the exploration of topics related to the exhibits and their connections to the Upcountry, SC.

Free to UHM Members and included with admission for all other guests.

The July 27 Drop-In Tour will include:
Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer
Greenville Symphony 75 Years: Concerts and Community
Frontiers Past and Future: Science Fiction and the American West

Drop-In Tours depart from the Main Lobby on the first floor.

No reservations are required, but non-members must purchase admission from the Welcome Desk to attend a Drop-In Tour.

Family Fun Day
2023-07-29 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Step into the colorful picture books of Eric Carle while enjoying themed games, craft stations, and a museum-wide scavenger hunt with group story times.
Family Fun Days are included with your general admission.

Neighborhood Night
2023-08-03 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Access for All!
UHM is open on the first Thursday evening of select months throughout 2023.

The Museum operates with the firm belief that its exhibits, events, and programming should be accessible to all, regardless of cultural, ethnic, geographic, or socioeconomic differences. The Neighborhood Night initiative, introduced in 2015, provides free access to educational programming for underserved children, families, and adults.

WHEN: Thursday, August 3, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Upcountry History Museum
HOW: Drop-in to explore the Museum and its changing exhibitions. No registration required.
WHY: Neighborhood Nights demonstrate the Museum’s commitment to accessibility, regardless of economic constraints by providing full access to the Museum’s diverse exhibitions.
COST: FREE!
QUESTIONS: Call (864)467-3100 or email info@upcountryhistory.org

Connections Café - Facing the Inferno
2023-08-10 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

August 10| 2:00 p.m.

Join us Thursday, August 10, and explore Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer.

Saturday Toddler Time with Greenville City Fire Department
2023-08-12 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that is educational and engaging!

Step into the pages of author and illustrator Eric Carle’s colorful picture books, as the Museum hosts Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit. Little ones will also explore wildfire safety and prevention with the photography exhibit Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer.

Come out and enjoy exhibit playtime, themed game stations, museum-wide scavenger hunt, and a group story time with snack and juice, and even a special Meet-N-Greet with BRUCE THE BEAR from the children’s book series by author Ryan T. Higgins!

Toddler Times are included with general admission and all children ages 2 and under are FREE.

Toddler Time with Bruce the Bear
2023-08-15 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)

Lunchbox Learning
2023-08-16 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
South Carolina Civilians in Sherman’s Path: Stories of Courage Amid Civil War Destruction
Presented by Karen Stokes
Karen Stokes of the South Carolina Historical Society discusses General Sherman’s infamous march to the sea through Georgia and South Carolina. Thousands of South Carolinian civilians, young and old, black and white, felt the impact of what General William T. Sherman called “”the hard hand of war.”” In her book, Stokes tells the stories of those civilians, many of which were corroborated by the testimony of Sherman’s own soldiers and officers, and other eyewitnesses. These historical narratives are taken from letters and diaries of the time, as well as newspaper accounts and memoirs. The author has drawn on the superb resources of the South Carolina Historical Society’s collection of manuscripts and publications to present these true, compelling stories of South Carolinians during the American Civil War.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

Homeschool Day - Very Eric Carle
2023-08-18 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibit
In his long career as an author and illustrator, Eric Carle published over seventy books. His most famous book, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar,” has sold over 50 million copies and has been translated into 66 languages. Very Eric Carle: A Very Hungry, Quiet, Lonely, Clumsy, Busy Exhibition, explores the five books in the “Very” series through interactive play. The August 18 Homeschool Day is open to students in Kindergarten through 5th grade and includes an immersive adventure that utilizes Eric Carle’s hand-painted tissue paper collage techniques while incorporating literacy and STEAM learning.

WHAT: UHM Homeschool Day

WHEN: Friday, August 18 | 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: August 18 is open to children in 1st-5th grade.

WHY: Explore the picture book world of Eric Carle while incorporating literacy and STEAM learning!

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

UHM MEMBERS COST: $6 per student & Adults are FREE

“We Didn’t Wait For Freedom”: Civil War Narrative Quilts by Vera Hall
2023-08-26 10:00 - 2024-02-18 17:00 UTC
“We Didn’t Wait For Freedom”: Civil War Narrative Quilts by Vera Hall
August 26, 2023 – February 18, 2024
The Upcountry History Museum is honored to host a selection of quilts created by quilter and history maker, Vera P. Hall.
A retired educator and councilwoman from Baltimore, Maryland, Hall is described by Baltimore residents as a “trailblazer”. In her We Didn’t Wait For Freedom quilt series, Hall bridges the gap between history and her love of textiles with her quilt creations, honoring the lives of famous African Americans whose actions inspired change in America.
An activist in her own right, Hall studied Education at Coppin College. She became the first African American teacher assigned to an all-white school in Baltimore’s Little Italy and taught in Baltimore City elementary schools as a reading specialist. Her concern for improving public education led her to work with the Maryland Department of Education and then to run for public office. She served on the Baltimore City Council from 1985-1992. In 1992 she made history when she was elected Chair of the Maryland Democratic Party, becoming the first African American female chair of a state Democratic Party.
Following her retirement, Hall became an active member of the African American Quilters of Baltimore, and created “We Too Sing America,” focused on her desire to teach other quilters black perspectives on Civil War History. Since then, she has created numerous story quilts, including a series of black history quilts, focused on her interest in Blacks during the transition from slavery to freedom.
The We Didn’t Wait for Freedom exhibition features 5 quilts from Hall’s We Didn’t Wait For Freedom quilt series, plus a sixth quilt hand and machine pieced by Hall using original Civil War era quilt blocks.
In its commitment to “connecting people, history, and culture,” the Upcountry History Museum will include Black History, Civil War era materials from its permanent collection.

Support provided by

iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival
2023-08-26 11:00 - 17:00 (America/New_York)
Join us at the 2023 iMAGINE Upstate STEAM Festival in Downtown Greenville, SC!

Experience STEAM in the Streets with hands-on learning, interactive activities and live demonstrations from more than 75 exhibitors. All activities are free, and aim to inspire students to iMAGINE their future.

LEARN MORE HERE!

Drop-In Tour: Changing Exhibitions
2023-08-31 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Annually, the Upcountry History Museum hosts and organizes a diverse exhibit schedule that features topics in history, art, science, natural history, and pop culture. Through guided tours, UHM Docents engage visitors further in the exploration of topics related to the exhibits and their connections to the Upcountry, SC.

Free to UHM Members and included with admission for all other guests.

The August 31 Drop-In Tour will include:
Frontiers Past and Future: Science Fiction and the American West
Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer
“We Didn’t Wait for Freedom”: Civil War Narrative Quilts by Vera Hall

Drop-In Tours depart from the Main Lobby on the first floor.

No reservations are required, but non-members must purchase admission from the Welcome Desk to attend a Drop-In Tour.

Family Fun Day
2023-09-02 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)

2023 Kids' Fest at Heritage Green
2023-09-09 10:00 - 12:00 (America/New_York)
Come out to Heritage Green for a morning of FREE activities geared towards our youngest learners (ages 1-5)!

All ages are welcome and children will enjoy:
Free book giveaways from READ Greenville
Greenville County Library Book Sale
Face painting with the Greenville County Museum of Art
Hands-on play in the Imagination Playground from The Children’s Museum of the Upstate
Themed crafts and activities with the Upcountry History Museum, the Greenville Theatre, and the Sigal Music Museum.

The Greenville City Fire Department will be onsite with a Fire Truck and the Fire Safety House.

Families will also have the opportunity to meet the Very Hungry Caterpillar, featured in the Upcountry History Museum’s current exhibition, Very Eric Carle!

Connections Café - "We Didn't Wait For Freedom"
2023-09-14 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

September 14 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on September 14, and explore “We Didn’t Wait for Freedom”: African-American Civil War Narrative Quilts by Vera Hall.

Homeschool Day - Facing the Inferno
2023-09-15 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer
Kari Greer has spent two decades documenting wildfires as a photographer for the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise, Idaho. Her photographs feature the beauty and power of these wildfires and highlight the brave men and women who fight them each year. Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer features 64 images from Greer’s collection. On September 15, explore the science behind fighting wildfires and help create a fire safety plan for your family!

WHAT: UHM Homeschool Day

WHEN: Friday, September 15 | 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: September 15 is open to children in 1st-12th grade.

WHY: Explore the wildfire photography of Kari Greer and learn the science of firefighting!

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

UHM MEMBERS COST: $6 per student & Adults are FREE

Lunchbox Learning
2023-09-20 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
An Environmental History of the Civil War
Presented by Dr. Timothy Silver, Appalachian State University
Dr. Timothy Silver is a professor of history at Appalachian State University. In his newest book An Environmental History of the Civil War, Dr. Silver explores the relationship of the Civil War with the natural world. Along with his co-author, Judkin Browning, Silver recognizes that the Civil War was not just a military conflict but also a moment of profound transformation in Americans’ relationship with the natural world. Environmental factors such as topography, weather, and access to natural resources heavily impacted both armies and shaped the outcomes of battles. Silver analyzes these factors and explains how the American Civil War led to advancements in meteorology, medicine, and veterinary sciences, and led to the start of the conservation movement, and establishment of the first national parks.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

Splash & Bubbles Dive In, Lend A Fin
2023-09-23 10:00 - 2024-02-04 17:00 UTC
September 23, 2023 – February 4, 2024
Explorers of all ages will dive into the incredible world of ocean exploration when Splash and Bubbles: Dive In, Lend a Fin makes it’s only South Carolina stop at the Upcountry History Museum. Visitors will join Splash, Bubbles, and the Reeftown Rangers in exploring marine biology, ocean science, and different ocean ecosystems.
Based on the popular PBS KIDS TV show, Splash and Bubbles, a hit animated series that encourages children to explore ocean science through character-driven comedy, the series is co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and Herschend Entertainment Studios.
Both the television series and the exhibition follow the adventures of Splash, a yellow fusilier fish who has migrated all of the oceans before settling down in Reeftown, where he befriends three inquisitive fellow sea creatures. Until Splash came along, Bubbles, Dunk, Ripple, and most of the other Reeftown residents had no idea what lay beyond the cozy confines of their coral walls.
The 2,500 square foot, interactive exhibition, builds on kids’ connections to the characters and their habitats, immersing them in a larger-than-life marine environment and introducing them to the incredible world of ocean exploration.
While exploring the early childhood STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) based exhibit, children are encouraged to build both scientific inquiry and social emotional skills as they learn how to protect the ocean and its ecosystems. Ocean conservation is a key message throughout the exhibit, encouraging families to understand that they can create “a small ripple to help our big ocean.”
Featuring a variety of hands-on exhibit components, Splash and Bubbles invites children to discover a whole new world as they navigate an under-the-sea maze in a kelp forest, explore a sunken ship that has become an artificial reef, interact with puppet characters created by Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, become a Reeftown Ranger, dress up as a stingray or a sea turtle, and learn fun “Fin Facts” at Flo’s School of Fish.

Support provided by

Drop-In Tour: Changing Exhibitions
2023-09-28 10:00 - 11:00 (America/New_York)
Annually, the Upcountry History Museum hosts and organizes a diverse exhibit schedule that features topics in history, art, science, natural history, and pop culture. Through guided tours, UHM Docents engage visitors further in the exploration of topics related to the exhibits and their connections to the Upcountry, SC.

Free to UHM Members and included with admission for all other guests.

The September 28 Drop-In Tour will include:
Frontiers Past and Future: Science Fiction and the American West
Facing the Inferno: The Wildfire Photography of Kari Greer
“We Didn’t Wait for Freedom”: Civil War Narrative Quilts by Vera Hall

Drop-In Tours depart from the Main Lobby on the first floor.

No reservations are required, but non-members must purchase admission from the Welcome Desk to attend a Drop-In Tour.

Neighborhood Night
2023-10-05 17:30 - 20:30 (America/New_York)
Access for All!
UHM is open on the first Thursday evening of select months throughout 2023.

The Museum operates with the firm belief that its exhibits, events, and programming should be accessible to all, regardless of cultural, ethnic, geographic, or socioeconomic differences. The Neighborhood Night initiative, introduced in 2015, provides free access to educational programming for underserved children, families, and adults.

WHEN: Thursday, October 5, 2023 | 5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Upcountry History Museum
HOW: Drop in to explore the Museum and its changing exhibitions. No registration is required.
WHY: Neighborhood Nights demonstrate the Museum’s commitment to accessibility, regardless of economic constraints by providing full access to the Museum’s diverse exhibitions.
COST: FREE!
QUESTIONS: Call (864)467-3100 or email info@upcountryhistory.org

The Bias Inside Us
2023-10-07 10:00 - 2023-11-05 17:00 UTC
The Bias Inside Us
October 7, – November 5, 2023

October 7, – November 5, 2023
The Bias Inside Us—an exhibition and community engagement project from the Smithsonian—is an exploration of the social science, psychology, and consequences of implicit bias. Bias is an innate human trait; we all have it. Being aware of our bias can help us recognize their influence and impact on our behaviors and worldview. The Bias Inside Us offers an opportunity to learn how to challenge bias in the world through awareness of one’s own bias.
The Bias Inside Us organized by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Major support is provided by The Otto Bremer Trust.

Support also provided by

Connections Café - The Bias Inside Us
2023-10-12 14:00 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
Monthly program in partnership with the Alzheimer’s Association for individuals living with early-stage Alzheimer’s or dementia. Programs vary each month but usually include a short meeting with updates from the Alzheimer’s Association, a tour of a Museum exhibition, and a hands-on activity time in the classroom.
Connections Café meets the second Thursday of each month at 2:00 p.m.
Admission is free for all participants and caregivers.

October 12 | 2:00 p.m.
Join us on October 12 and explore the newest exhibition, The Bias Inside Us.

Saturday Toddler Time with Rainbow Fish
2023-10-14 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)
Spark your child’s innate curiosity through hands-on play that is educational and engaging!

Join Rainbow Fish as the Museum hosts Splash and Bubbles: Dive In, Lend a Fin! This exhibit allows children to immerse themselves in a larger-than-life marine environment and introduces them to the incredible world of ocean exploration.
Come out and enjoy exhibit playtime, themed game stations, museum-wide scavenger hunt, and a group story time with snack and juice, followed by a special Meet-N-Greet with THE RAINBOW FISH from the beloved children’s book series by author Marcus Pfister!

Toddler Times are included with general admission and all children ages 2 and under are FREE.

Toddler Time with The Rainbow Fish
2023-10-17 10:30 - 11:30 (America/New_York)

Lunchbox Learning
2023-10-18 12:00 - 13:00 (America/New_York) | Upcountry History Museum, 540 Buncombe Street, Greenville, SC, 29601, United States
American Landmark: Charles Duell and the Rebirth of Middleton Place
Presented by Virginia Beach
Author Virginia Beach explores the history of Middleton Place and its transformation throughout time. Charles Duell was 31 years old when he inherited Middleton Place from his grandfather in 1969. His sudden inheritance compelled him to leave a finance career in New York and move his family to South Carolina, where he found the national landmark languishing. Birthplace of a Declaration signer and a First Continental Congress president, Middleton Place also had been home to hundreds of enslaved men, women and children. As the new man in charge, Duell’s challenge was to preserve the history contained in the houses and lands of his forebears, while also making them sustainable, relevant and accessible for future generations.

Lunchbox Learning is generously sponsored by:

Homeschool Day - The Bias Inside Us
2023-10-20 13:30 - 15:00 (America/New_York)
The Bias Inside Us
Bias is an innate human trait; we all have it. Being aware of our biases can help us recognize their influence and impact on our behaviors and worldview. The Bias Inside Us offers an opportunity to learn how to challenge bias in the world through awareness of one’s own bias.

WHAT: UHM Homeschool Day

WHEN: Friday, October 20 | 1:30 p.m.

WHERE: Upcountry History Museum

HOW: October 20 is open to children in 1st-12th grade.

WHY: Explore the psychology of human bias.

COST: $10 per student & $12 per adult

UHM MEMBERS COST: $6 per student & Adults are FREE

Hard Earned: The Military Photographs of Stacy Pearsall & The Veteran’s Portrait Project
2023-10-21 10:00 - 2024-01-14 17:00 UTC
October 21, 2023 – January 14, 2024
“I carry a gun, but my real weapon is my camera.”
Stacy Pearsall
Retired Air Force Staff Sergeant and aerial combat photojournalist Stacy Pearsall has spent most of her adult life focused on two passions: photography and the military. Pearsall began her career as an Air Force still-photographer at the age of 17. At age 21 she became one of the few women to ever be accepted into the 1-Combat Camera Squadron, an elite unite of the Air Force that provides photographs of military operations to high-ranking government officials in order to inform decision making and preserve a historical record.
During her years of military service, Pearsall traveled to over 41 countries and served in three combat tours of Iraq. She is a recipient of the Bronze Star Medal and Air Force Commendation with valor for her combat actions in Iraq. She is one of only two women to have won the National Press Photographers Association (NPPA) Military Photographer of the Year competition, and the only woman to have earned it twice. In 2013 she was awarded an honorary doctoral degree from The Citadel for her many contributions to the college, to American veterans, and to the U.S. Armed Forces.
Soon after being medically retired from military service, Pearsall found a new way to continue her dual passions through the award-winning Veterans Portrait Project. The project began in 2008 while Pearsall was rehabilitating from combat injuries sustained in Iraq. She found her inspiration in the hours spent in VA waiting rooms, surrounded by fellow veterans, and was compelled to honor and thank them through photography with the Veterans Portrait Project. To date she has documented over 7,500 veterans across all 50 states.
In partnership with Syracuse University, the Upcountry History Museum will present a selection of 45 photographs from Pearsall’s career as a combat photographer, as well as works from her ongoing Veterans Portrait Project. Each series approaches the military from different angles – in her combat series viewers are confronted with scenes from the conflict in the Middle East. These landscapes with lone or few figures speak to an experience fraught with hidden dangers, and hours spent alone in unforgiving territory. This experience and understanding of combat allow Pearsall to connect to the veterans she now photographs for the national Portrait Project. In both her combat images and veterans’ portraits, Pearsall’s eye for light and emotion creates an honest photograph that provides insight into the military experience.
The Upcountry History Museum will include military objects and archival materials from its permanent collection, as well as loaned objects, within the Hard Earned exhibit experience.

Support provided by
