Edisto Island Museum

05/08/2026

ROBERT ARIAIL ART EXHIBIT TO BE FEATURED AT THE EDISTO ISLAND MUSEUM

A new exhibit, featuring the work of artist Robert Ariail, will go on display at the Edisto Island Museum beginning on Tuesday, June 2nd, and will run through Saturday, September 12th. In addition to being a fine artist who works in oil, Ariail is also a renowned editorial cartoonist

For over 40 years, Ariail has created editorial cartoons lampooning the world, the nation and his home state of South Carolina. He joined The State newspaper (Columbia, SC) as editorial cartoonist in 1984 and worked there until 2009. His work is syndicated by Andrew McMeel and is distributed to more than 600 newspapers across the country. Ariail’s cartoons have won numerous state, national and international awards and honors, including three times being a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize.

Ariail is a South Carolina native and a graduate of the University of South Carolina. He lives in Camden, SC, with his wife. They have one daughter.

The Edisto Island Museum is located at 8123 Chisolm Plantation Road. Hours of operation are 11:00 until 5:00, Tuesdays through Saturdays (new hours begin in June)

Send a message to learn more

05/04/2026

HISTORY NUGGET



DID YOU KNOW…Most of us know something about Marie-Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert du Motier de la Lafayette, better known simply as Lafayette. He was a French military officer who volunteered to join the Continental Army, led by General George Washington in the American Revolutionary War. Lafayette commanded the Colonial Army troops in the decisive battle of Yorktown in 1781, which was the war’s final major battle, leading to the surrender of British General Cornwallis. Lafayette is considered both an American and French hero.
So, what does he have to do with Edisto Island? Something pretty significant. Lafayette returned to America in 1824-25 at the invitation of President James Monroe, and he visited all 24 states in the union and was welcomed back as a national hero. One of his stops was on Edisto Island in 1825, where he was lavishly entertained at William Seabrook’s elegant plantation, Seabrook House. At one point, Seabrook was the wealthiest man in the country.

During the festivities, the Seabrooks had their infant daughter christened with Lafayette standing as her sponsor. He named her Carolina Lafayette Seabrook, and her wedding veil can be seen in the Edisto Island Museum.

05/01/2026

EDISTO ISLAND MUSEUM’S BOOK OF THE MONTH CLUB (MAY)

A few months ago, in one of our weekly History Nuggets, you learned a bit about an amazing Edistonian named Hephzibah Jenkins Townsend. By reading our May Book Club selection, you can learn more about her. “Her Way: The Remarkable Story of Hephzibah Jenkins Townsend, written by Rosalie Hall Hunt, is a book of historical fiction that is based very closely on Hephzibah’s life.

The book is not only about Hephzibah’s strength of character and personality, but also about her strong faith and how that led her through her life. Although her life was not easy nor without tragedy – she lost more than half of her 15 children to deadly diseases – her faith never wavered. She was instrumental in founding a missionary society that became the blueprint for missions-supporting organizations today. Hephzibah was also responsible for building the Old First Baptist Church on Edisto Island. She, along with her slave Bella, made and sold baked goods to raise the necessary funds for the church. It is the oldest church still standing on Edisto Island, and the ruins of her ovens also remain on the island.

We sell “Her Way” here in our Museum Gift Shop and on our website, and it is one of our most popular books.

04/30/2026

To help us celebrate our 40th Birthday Jubilee, we will be having an extravaganza raffle that will begin tomorrow (Friday, May 1). The raffle will include two tickets to the 2026 Edisto & Beyond Tour, a $40 gift card for the Museum Gift Shop, an Edisto Island Museum T-shirt and other goodies. Raffle tickets are $5 each, and will be on sale on our website (see link below) and in the Gift Shop. The drawing will be on Tuesday, September 1st, and you don't have to be present to win. There is no limit on how many tickets you buy, so buy early and often to help us celebrate our big birthday!

To celebrate our 40th Jubilee, we are holding an extravaganza raffle with great prizes. Two tickets to the 2026 Edisto & Beyond Tour (Oct. 24th) - valued at $150 A $40 gift card to be used in the Edisto Island Museum gift shop A family membership in the Edisto Island Historic Preservation Societ...

04/29/2026

These are the John Jones paintings that are still available. Quite a few people asked for photos of them, so we're posting what we've got. It will be hard to choose which one you like best, but I will tell you two look great together. They are all $250 each, and we will ship (for a small fee).

04/27/2026

HERE IS THIS WEEK'S HISTORY NUGGET:



DID YOU KNOW…The Motown sound is closely associated with Detroit, but it also has roots here on Edisto Island. James Jamerson, who was born on Edisto in 1936, played bass on more than 70 number one Motown hits, including songs by Stevie Wonder, the Temptations, the Four Tops and Marvin Gaye, among others. He was a key member of the Funk Brothers, who were studio musicians for the Motown label. Jamerson is regarded as one of the most influential bass players of all time. In 2023, the South Carolina General Assembly honored Jamerson by designating Steamboat Landing the “James Lee Jamerson Memorial Highway”on Edisto.



The Funk Brothers were never listed on records by name until Jamerson was credited for playing the bass on Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On.” Here’s a little back story that you can think about the next time you hear that song. When Marvin was recording the song, he said he wanted James to play bass, but James was not in the studio at the time. So, Marvin sent someone to go get him and bring him to the studio. When James got there, he was so drunk he couldn’t sit on the stool to play. So, “What’s Going On” was recorded with James lying on the floor on his back and playing the bass with his usual style of using only his right index finger. It was a smash hit for Marvin Gaye. Paul McCartney of the Beatles cites Jamerson as having the biggest influence on him.



And, if you want to hear James playing in isolation, listen to the beginning of “My Girl” by the Temptations (click on the link below and skip the ad). It’s pure James, and it is one of the most well-known beginnings of a beloved song ever. Smokey Robinson, who wrote “My Girl,” said you could play that song in Italy where no-one speaks English, and everyone would know the song by the introductory notes. It’s true!



James Lee Jamerson died in 1983.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y3KJ7d2qBoA

04/23/2026

We are thrilled to let you know that we have just received some more beautiful paintings from John Jones. Here are three of them.

04/20/2026

DID YOU KNOW...Dowsing is a practice using metal rods to locate unmarked graves, often employed by genealogists, archeologists and cemetery researchers. It has been used several times here on Edisto and will be demonstrated during the upcoming Edisto & Beyond Tour on October 24th. We are including properties (called Sacred Grounds) where there are unmarked graves. Tour participants will be able to try their hands at dowsing, while respecting these graves and ensuring they are protected.

The FBI has determined it an “unproven method,” finding that it lacks scientific credibility. However, some believe it is an effective method for finding bodies, and it is included as part of some crime scene investigator training programs, including those provided to US government agencies.

Dowsing is simply based on detecting electromagnetism beneath the ground. There is a property in bones under pressure called piezoelectricity, which generates an electric field and that generates magnetism which has a resonance frequency. The metal dowsing rods work to find this magnetism to identify unmarked graves. Dowsers are also able to identify the s*x of the deceased.

On Edisto, this practice has been used on Cypress Trees Plantation, which will be on the tour. Thirty-seven graves have been identified. It has also been used to locate the Con Bailey Cemetery, which is located on property purchased by St. Francis Episcopal Church. In 2023, the method was used on Botany Bay Plantation to locate 16 unmarked graves. The graves were then confirmed by the SC Department of Natural Resources using the scientific method of ground penetrating radar.

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EIHPS Board member, Frank Burnett, helping Miss Lavinia Armstrong learn to use the dowsing rods. Miss Lavinia is a direct descendant of Samson Reed, who is the only marked grave in the Con Bailey Cemetery. Reed was born into slavery and served in the US Colored Corps during the Civil War.

04/14/2026

🚨 FOUND: Columbia, SC

Chocolate poodle with harness found by Columbia Place mall running from Two Notch Rd.

Not chipped.

➡️ Contact 803-908-9081 with proof of ownership to clam.

Dog is safe at Final Victory and on stray hold. If unclaimed after 5 days of searching for owner, we will check adoption applications for a good match. 🤎