The Village Museum

04/17/2026

The Village Museum will be closed tomorrow! Y’all come out to see us at the Jimmy “The Cat” Dupree event tomorrow at noon.

04/11/2026

‼️ The Village Museum is seeking stage sponsors for the Jimmy Dupree event scheduled for this Saturday. ‼️

Those interested in sponsoring live music 🎶 for the event are requested to reach out by April 13th. We appreciate your consideration and look forward to a successful Centennial Event.

04/08/2026

03/26/2026

On this day in Civil War history (March 25, 1864)
The most notable direct combat in the village occurred in the spring of 1864.
• The Engagement: A detachment of the Santee Light Artillery stationed in McClellanville to guard the coast, engaged Union troop barges, which were trying to capture the blockade runner Little Ada.
• The Outcome: The Confederate battery successfully fired on the Union vessels, causing them to abandon their mission. This was part of a broader pattern of "hit and run" coastal warfare where Union raids attempted to destroy salt works or capture supplies, and local batteries moved quickly to intercept them.

03/20/2026

The finishing touches are complete on the 1927 gas pump! Thanks to Dr. Eddie Collins for donating the topper.

03/08/2026

The Village Museum went out to the Cape Romain Lighthouse with the Cape Romain Lighthouse Preservation Society and the scaffolding crew in order to make plans for phase 1 of the Lighthouse Stabilization Project. If you care about the Lighthouse, please consider donating to this worthy project.

02/26/2026

In honor of Black History Month, the Village Museum honors Robert Blake, the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor!

Robert Blake was enslaved on Blake’s Plantation (Santee Coastal Reserve) in St. James Santee Parish (McClellanville community).

In late June of 1862, Union naval forces conducted raids along the South Santee River. They freed approximately 400 enslaved people, among them was Robert Blake, who later enlisted in the US Navy.

On December 25, 1863, during the Battle of Legareville on the Stono River near John’s Island SC. For his Valor, Blake was awarded the Medal of Honor in 1864, making him the first African American to receive the Medal of Honor!

To learn more about the forgotten history of our Parish, come visit us at the Village Museum.

02/26/2026

02/24/2026

On this day in the Revolutionary War - February 24, 1782

Today we remember the Battle of Wambaw Bridge, a dramatic clash that unfolded in the final months of the American Revolution. On this day in 1782, Patriot militia under Col. Archibald McDonald were caught off guard by a rapid British cavalry assault led by the formidable Lt. Col. Benjamin Thompson.

The surprise attack forced the Patriots into a difficult retreat across Wambaw Bridge, yet the moment stands as a testament to the determination of local fighters who continued resisting long after major battles elsewhere had ended. Their courage reminds us that the struggle for independence was fought not only on famous fields, but also here at home.

The Village Museum would like to thank the Berkeley North Historical & Cultural Association for erecting the Historical Marker!