Rice Museum, Georgetown

We were quite disappointed with our visit to the Rice Museum. The first building was oddly laid-out and truly had rather bland and few exhibits. The large wall map of the former plantations was of interest. Our guide took us to the next building...we walked through a gift shop to an elevator to view the salvaged remains of a boat on the third floor. We also watched a rather odd video about the rice culture. Our guide then left us to explore the second floor, which didn't take us too long. Sorry, Georgetown! We were truly prepared to enjoy the Rice Museum, but it didn't impress us positively. I would recommend that tourists and snowbirds spend their money at Brookgreen instead: sculpture gardens, rice culture, and animals, oh, my!

The Rice Museum was an good experience. But we took a tour by ourselves, so a little awkward. It was neat to learn about South Carolina's involvement in the rice industry.

While surfing the internet this evening, I found myself in Yahoo Travel, checking out some of my favorites and searching for new ones for my next road trip. I suppose I might be an angry handicapped person, if handicapped, but certainly hope not. I will admit that I haven't looked around the museum to see how handicap friendly they are. I can tell you that the staff is well informed, friendly, and very, very professional. I certainly have never heard a raised voice within the establishment. Now, after trying to set the record straight, I should let you know the reasons that I go there every time I am in Georgetown. I took the tour another time recently because a new addition was added in 2006. The exhibits are very professionally presented in this very old building lending an ambiance that I don't feel in the modern buildings being built today. Having been introduced to the Rice Museum by a group of friends from Winston-Salem, I understand why these ladies go shopping there for their jewelry, gifts, and artwork. Now, I do, too.

i visit the rice museum whenever we are in georgetown and am always so pleased not ony wiht the history lessons waiting around every corner, but the attractive displays of art, jewelery and fine gifts from every corner of the world! Not to mention the folk art and crafts from local artists. Definitely out of the ordinary and lovely unique pieces that you will not find anywhere else in the area!! The staff is always so helpful and friendly and accomodates everyone. My father, a world war 2 veteran finds access to all of the exhibits including the browns ferry vessel on the third floor,more than adequate. When i read the handicapped persons review below, i could not believe it!! I suggest that this person actually go to the rice museum and experience it before they write such rubbish.elevators are available to take people up to the exibits to see the videos- the videos are not in the elevator for heavens sake- how absurd!! The rice museum also participates in community and local events such as art exhibits featuring local schools which i really appreciate- thanks to all of the hard work to the staff of the rice museum for making it such a wonderful experience everytime i visit- please take an afternoon and see for yourself... You will be glad you did!

I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Rice Museum, and found it to be well worth the price of admission. It was fascinating to learn about a culture and whole industry in the county to my South (I am in Horry County). So little outside of Georgetown County is known about the Rice era in Georgetown, and how knowledgable the staff is about this period in our nation's history, as well as being able to answer the questions I had. I work in the hospitality industry and I will be telling my friends and customers about the Rice Museum. It is well worth the time and the trip to Georgetown!

I have visited the Rice Museum several times in the past several years and always find this historic little set of buildings to be an oasis of historicity in this gem of a quaint old city. The building itself is quite a treat with its historic staircase and shelving dating back to its origins as a company store. But the real treat is what is inside. The first floor has some splendid exhibits of local art which change frequently and are always very exciting to look at; the second floor includes a very informative and delightful exhibit of local South Carolina history including a video/interactive display of Miss Ruby�s Elementary School in Pawleys Island, SC. Another fascinating and delightful exhibit pertains to the first African American Congressman in the United States, Joseph H. Rainey, who was born in Georgetown and represented the Georgetown District. The third floor of the museum houses the famous Browns Ferry River Boat, the oldest Colonial vessel in the United States which was completely reconstructed and installed in the museum. In addition to all of this the museum houses a wonderful shop where there are many delightful gifts and pieces of art and jewelry to be found that are sure to delight even the hardest of people to buy for! I have bought many gifts here for relatives and friends, including pieces of exquisite jewelry, and had them shipped across the country, and my recipients have always been delighted in the gifts they have received. A gift from The Rice Museum is a rare gift indeed one of my friends once told me! Contrary to what others may have said on this board, the museum is completely accessible, the videos are NOT in the elevator, the elevator is working, and the staff is always delightful, accommodating, and helpful. I have always felt welcomed, at ease and comfortable at The Rice Museum. I especially feel warmly welcomed by Miss Tess, the museum�s official CAT who greets everyone who walks in the door and ensures that everyone has a wonderful time.

I am handicapped and called ahead to check accessibility. Was told part of building is accessible and then told that the inaccessible part was on video watched in an elevator. HUH? I double checked with the man I was speaking to about that. And he said yes. I found out he was wrong. I informed him a video in an elevator was insulting and not worth the admission price. He was then rude and said I couldn't expect a small historical building to just put in elevators everywhere. He hung up on me. When I called to speak to a manager, the other staff member stammered around and gave the phone back to the man who hung up on me. He was reluctant to give me the manager's name, a good time to call and refused completely to give me his name so I could inform the manager who the problem was with. He informed me I was the rude one (when my husband could hear him yelling at me from across the room) and started to hang up on me again. When I called to verify his statement about the video in the elevator, I found out he lied. Then was told that the manager would look into the problem. But that their policy is to be as accommodating as possible to all people. I told her the problem now wasn't the accommodations but the attitude of her staff to the handicapped. She assured me she'd look into. When I asked for an apology from the rude staff member she wanted to know what I expected him to apologize for. That's when I said that I knew not to expect that because it would be insensitive to the staff member's feelings but that being rude to the handicapped is ok.