Oconee History Museum
Main Location
Oconee History Museum is located in Walhalla, South Carolina.
This location serves as the museum headquarters. The facility includes an exhibit hall, meeting room, ancestor’s gallery, storage facilities, and staff offices.
Museum Resources
We are proud to offer community resources at our Walhalla location
Background History
Our building headquarters has an interesting story. The building was constructed in 1892 near the Walhalla Depot. At the time, the town of Walhalla was the terminus of the Blue Ridge Railroad.
(The Blue Ridge Railroad had been envisioned as a trade route from Charleston, SC to Knoxville, TN. But due to financial trouble and the outbreak of the Civil War, the full railroad was never completed. Only a portion of the line was ever finished. Although the Blue Ridge Railroad only ran from Anderson, SC to Walhalla, SC, it was a vital means of transportation.)
During operation, the railroad line was the most efficient way to move goods to and from the remote mountain region in upstate South Carolina. Tobacco was a major cash crop in the late 19th century and the building was constructed to serve as a factory for processing and storing tobacco. The location was convenient for loading tobacco onto rail cars at the nearby depot.
The building was used for different businesses during the 20th century. It was conceived as a tobacco factory, but after the decline of the tobacco industry, the building served as a Ford tractor dealership and then a furniture store.
In 2004, the Oconee Heritage Museum was established. It was decided to use the old tobacco factory building to house exhibits showcasing Oconee history and culture. The large full basement allows for storing artifacts that have been donated by the community. Since its inception, the museum’s name was changed to Oconee History Museum.
Our staff and board of directors is proud to maintain exhibits and displays in this historic building. Our museum is one of the only places in Oconee County where visitors can glimpse by-gone eras and embrace the past that shaped the area.
Museum FAQs
Admission
Free!
$3 per person donation is encouraged.
Hours
Tuesday through Saturday 11:00am-5:00pm
Closed Sunday and Monday
Call or contact us for a special appointment.
Parking
Ample free parking (including handicap) is available in front of the museum on Brown’s Square.
Spacious parking for buses.
Restrooms
Clean public restrooms are available to guests.
Handicap Accessibility
Oconee History Museum facilities are handicap accessible.