Pickens County Museum of Art & History

The Pickens County Museum of Art and History is housed in the old Pickens County "Gaol" (jail). This wonderful example of turn-of-the-century architecture, constructed of hand-rolled brick, is quite distinctive to the eye by its crenellated turret and copper-colored tin roof. A 10,000-square-foot expansion the size of the facility that features the county's "Heritage Collection," consisting of permanent exhibits of information, artifacts and antiquities telling the stories of Pickens County, its preceding territories and the Upcountry in general. Three separate "focus" galleries allow changing exhibitions every eight to 12 weeks. Exhibitions of regional artists are interspersed with varied competitions, thematic exhibits, historical perspective shows and the museum's annual "Youth Arts Month" programming. The Joe and Maggie Rampey Native Plant Garden, designed as an outdoor Natural History presentation, is on the museum grounds. Performance areas and a studio classroom further enhance the expanded museum.