Columbia [1]’s small but well-done Columbia Museum of Art (Main and Hampton Sts., 803/799-2810, www.columbiamuseum.org [2], Wed.–Thurs. and Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Fri. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., Sun. 1–5 p.m., $5 adults, $2 children, under 6 free, all free on Sat.) is in a suitably modern-looking building, erected in 1998.
The highlight of the Columbia Museum of Art’s permanent collection is the Samuel H. Kress Collection on the upper floor, including some wonderful Renaissance and Baroque pieces. The most notable single works here are Botticelli’s matchless Nativity and Claude Monet’s The Seine at Giverny. Occasionally hours and prices are different during special exhibits; check the website for details.
Also of interest is the Columbia Museum of Art’s growing Asian collection. Don’t forget to check out the Tiffany glass. And of course there’s a nice museum gift shop as well—good luck tearing the kids out of that one.
The Columbia Museum of Art is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Docent tours are available Saturdays at 1 p.m. and Sundays at 1:30 p.m., with a special family-friendly tour the first Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m. Don’t forget—free admission on Saturdays.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/south-carolina/columbia-and-the-midlands/columbia
[2] http://www.columbiamuseum.org