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Located 130 E Church St. at Museum Alley
Located 130 E Church St. at Museum Alley
Ridgeway, South Carolina 29130
Ridgeway, South Carolina 29130
The museum is free and open to the public during regular museum hours. Currently, we are open Fridays from 1 pm to 4 pm and Saturdays from 11 am until 4 pm. Special tours can be arranged by calling the museum committee at 803-337-3316.
"Telling Ridgeway's Story of Community, Commerce and Culture"
Ridgeway's Isaac C. Thomas Historical Museum was formerly the Isaac C. Thomas Mercantile Store of 1885. You can walk the same hardwood floors that served generations. You can see artifacts, photos, furnishings and memorabilia that actually were part of that era. Step back in time and experience when cotton was king and life was void of today's distractions. Come see us.
How it happened
How it happened
The restoration of the museum was made possible by a gift from the Thomas Family, the Town of Ridgeway and a Fairfield County hospitality grant. The greater Ridgeway Community donated and loaned artifacts, furnishings and memorabilia for the museum displays. The Isaac C. Thomas Historical Committee and other volunteers created, curated and documented the museum exhibits.
Pictured here is Charlene Herring, former Ridgeway Mayor and current Committee Chair for the Musuem.
What can you see at the museum?
Bishop desk with attached typewriter that folds into the desk
Ridgeway's original post office sorting shelf with postcards
Ridgeway's original telephone switchboard and old phone books
This diorama was created in the 1980s by artist Drayton Brook
s of Hopkins, SC to detail turn-of-the-century small town life. The photo does not do it justice. It is a "must see" on display at the museum.
2025 - 2026 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
The Isaac C. Thomas Historical Museum Heritage Series
Presentations, Workshops, Events
CALENDAR
September 20, 2025 2:00 pm Native Americans of Fairfield County and South Carolina, Pelham Lyles, Fairfield County Museum and Joshua Shumak, Native American Affairs
This program is sponsored by South Carolina humanities, a state program of the National Endowment for the Humanities; inspiring, engaging and enriching South Carolinians with programs on literature, history, culture and heritage.
TUESDAY, October 21, 2025 at 2:00 pm THE HERITAGE SERIES A Recognition of the 250th Anniversary of the American Revolution and the Women Who Served. Presenter, Penny Renwick, member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, will share the "Medallion Collection", a series of pewter coins highlighting the great women of the Revolutionary War.
October 31, 2025 Author Dr. Virginia Schafer will be sharing stories of Legendary Locals of Fairfield County at 2:00 pm at the museum.
November 8, 2025 Colonial Fairfield 1776 - 1783 Revolutionary Struggles. the Patriots, & Battle Sites presented by Pelham Lyles at 2 pm. OUR APOLOGIZES. THIS EVENT IS CANCELLED AND WILL BE RESCHEDULED FOR NEXT YEAR.
December 5-6, 2025 Holiday Home Tours and the Isaac C. Thomas Historical Museum Tour
January 2026 Museum will be closed during January.
February 2026 Presentation: The African American Experience in the Ridgeway Community
March 2026 Scotch Irish Heritage Celebration
April 2026 Workshop and Presentation: Genealogy
May 1-2, 2026 Arts on the Ridge and Museum Day in Fairfield and Richland Counties
June 2026 Visitor Tours and Stories about Historic Ridgeway
July 2026 Visitor Tours and Stories about Historic Ridgeway
August 2026 Visitor Tours and Stories about Historic Ridgeway
Many of these dates and times are tentative and may be subject to change. Please stay abreast of the possible updates on our Facebook page or by checking back on this website. Thank you.
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Email us at: history@icthomashistoricalmuseum.com
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