Visit Us
HOURS: The library of the South Carolina Historical Society is open Tuesday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and on the first and third Saturday of each month from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
CLOSURES: The library may be closed or its hours altered in the event of federal holidays, special programs, or weather emergencies. Closings for 2013 are:
| January 21 | M.L. King, Jr. day |
| February 15 | Library Closes at noon |
| February 16 | Library closed -Annual Meeting |
| February 18 | President’s day |
| March 29 – April 1 | Easter |
| April 26 | Board Meeting-Library Closed |
| May 27 | Memorial Day |
| June 28th | Carolina Day-Library Closed |
| July 4 | Independence Day |
| September 2 | Labor Day |
| September 20 | Museum Mile – Library Closes at noon |
| September 21 | Museum Mile – Library Closed |
| October 14 | Columbus Day |
| November 11 | Veteran’s Day |
| November 27-30 | Thanksgiving |
| December 23-January 1 | Winter Holidays |
VISITOR’S FEE: Everyone is welcome at the South Carolina Historical Society. Members of the South Carolina Historical Society are free to conduct research at the Fireproof Building as often as they like without charge. Non-members, however, must pay a $5 research fee per day to use our library. The librarian can provide you with a non-member visitor’s card.
LOCATION: The South Carolina Historical Society is located in the Fireproof Building at the southeast corner of Meeting and Chalmers Streets (100 Meeting Street).
DIRECTIONS: Follow Interstate 26 east to the end and take the Meeting St./Visitor Info exit. Turn right onto Meeting Street and continue for approximately 1.5 miles. The Fireproof Building, home of the South Carolina Historical Society, will be on the left at the corner of Meeting and Chalmers Streets, one block north of Broad Street. Find us using MapQuest or Google Maps.
PARKING: The South Carolina Historical Society does not have its own parking facility. Metered street parking is available in the surrounding area, and the city operates several public parking garages in the vicinity. Parking is also available in the Charleston County Garage on the right side of Meeting Street just past Hibernian Hall.
GROUPS: The seating capacity in our library is limited. Group visits to the Fireproof Building, whether to conduct research or simply to view the interior, must be arranged in advance.
CHILDREN: Experience has shown that most small children do not find the quiet atmosphere of our reading room sufficiently entertaining and thus are prone to disturbing other patrons. Visitors are encouraged to make other arrangements for their children during their visit.
RESTROOMS: There is a patron restroom on the ground floor of the Fireproof Building. Please ask the librarian on duty for directions. Persons contemplating a visit to our facility should be aware that the path from the library down to the restroom involves the use of a circular stone staircase. If this path presents a barrier to you, please contact us in advance of your visit to make special arrangements.
ACCESSIBILITY: The South Carolina Historical Society welcomes visitors with physical or mobility limitations. However, our library is located on the main level of the historic Fireproof Building and the building does not have an elevator. If you have a handicap that prohibits you from climbing our staircases to reach the library, please contact Mary Jo Fairchild (ext. 14) or Karen Stokes (ext. 21) in advance of your visit to make a research appointment. We will gladly set up a temporary research station for you on the ground floor of the building or otherwise accommodate you as best as we are able.
