The Greer Heritage Museum celebrates 150 years

A weighted silk visiting dress, a cotton bale on a period scale, freshly baked chestnut bread, free popcorn, other giveaways, history lessons, interactions, purchased keepsakes, and more were on display Saturday at the Greer Heritage Museum (GHM) as it commemorated 150 years of service.

History buffs, curiosity seekers, students, teachers — all kinds of people streamed through the museum at 106 S. Main St., near downtown Greer.

The museum was recently closed for a facelift. Now it's back to regular hours.

Vital lessons from the past shape our understanding of today and inform our future.

The museum began as a 20-year dream of Carmella Hudson, opening in 1996 to preserve Greer’s history, first on Trade Street, then in the Greer Post Office building in 2008.

After a period of decline, it underwent revitalization. It partnered with the city to launch the Greer Historical Society, which in 2025 celebrated its 150th anniversary and ensured its future role in the community.

SILK DRESS WORN BY WIFE OF PLANTATION OWNER

The building is an architectural gem, and features terrazzo floors, original bulletin boards, and a WPA mural, that is, a mural created during the Great Depression by the federal Works Progress Administration. The program often depicted local history, daily life, or American ideals without strict content control.

METHOD OF MAKING FLOUR FOR CHESTNUT BREAD

Thanks to the public and many behind-the-scenes workers, the museum is not thriving.

The museum is led by David Lovegrove, Director, who has revitalized it with help from Carmella Hudson, organizer Joada Hiatt, Julian Dillard, Jonathan Lovegrove, Julia Grant, and others.

Visiting hours are from Thursday to Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm.