The Columbia Museum of Art opened to the public on March 23, 1950 at its original site at the corner of Bull & Senate Streets in the historic Taylor House, built in 1908 in Columbia, South Carolina. An art, natural history and science museum - including a planetarium - the Museum was Columbia's premier cultural institution throughout the '50s and '60s. The art museum's collection was enhanced during these years by large additions of Medieval, Renaissance and Baroque art from the Samuel H. Kress Foundation of New York that formed the nucleus of an important European collection.

In July of 1998 the Museum opened its new facility at the corner of Main & Hampton Streets in the heart of downtown Columbia. The Museum currently has over 20,000 square feet of gallery space that permits it to bring a wider range of traveling exhibitions to South Carolina, as well as to provide the necessary space for the proper presentation of its collection, which numbers over 7,000 objects. South Carolina now has access to larger traveling art exhibitions - not previously possible because of limited space in the previous facility. The current building has well-designed workspaces, collections storage, art studios, 150-seat public auditorium, art library, Museum shop and public reception spaces.

The Museum offers a "window to the world" to its visitors not only through the display of its collection, but with public programs. From Art School classes for teens and adults, to programs specially designed for preschool children, people of all ages can find classes and workshops that inspire and enrich. For those visitors interested in lifelong learning, they can attend lectures, gallery talks and films. Music is also a part of the Museum's offerings, and world-class musicians as well as local musicians participate in music series.

Information Line: 803.799.2810 Museum Shop: 803.343.2159 Group tours: 803.343.2209

Museum Hours Wednesdays through Saturdays - 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m First Friday of every month- 10:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. (10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. in December) Sundays - noon - 5:00 p.m. Closed Mondays, Tuesdays and major holidays

General Admission $10 adults, $5 students, $8 senior citizens (ages 65 and over), $8 military. Free for museum members and children ages 5 and under. FREE every Sunday courtesy of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina.

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2068 Columbia, SC 29202