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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 will be closed on Friday, April 3rd and Saturday, April 4th, 2026.
Programs Coming for April and May 2026
April 25 - 26, 2026 The American Revolution times in Fairfield County 1776 - 1783
May 1-2, 2026 Arts on the Ridge and Museum Day in Fairfield and Richland County. Scroll down for our CALENDAR OF EVENTS.
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. Rescheduled for February 21, at 2 pm.
December 5-6, 2025 Holiday Home Tours and the Isaac C. Thomas Historical Museum Tour. Homes toured are The Ivy Veranda and the Pecan Hill Estate.
January 2026 Museum will be closed during January.
February 21, 2026 Rescheduled Presentation: Colonial Fairfield 1776 - 1783 Revolutionary Struggles, the Patriots, the Battle Sites.
March 6, 2026 Scots Irish Heritage Celebration. 11 am to 5 pm. 11 AM - 1 PM Enjoy the music from an Irish Band on, 1 PM - 2 PM enjoy bagpipers and their music on the Isaac C Thomas Historical Museum porch, celebrate 100 years of Ridgeway Township with a Proclamation Presentation, 2 PM - 3 PM share in the Scots Irish history in South Carolina and hear about the Scots Irish history of Ridgeway, and from 3 PM to 5 PM share in a round-table of citizens and visitors sharing their legacy with artifacts and stories. If you would like to share your Scots Irish heritage contact Charlene Herring to be put on the round-table schedule. 803-960-1132.
April 25 - 26, 2026 1776 - 1783 American Revolution in Fairfield County
May 1-2, 2026 Arts on the Ridge and Museum Day in Fairfield and Richland Counties
Arts and Architecture on the Ridge is coming on May 1st and 2nd, 2026. The museum will host a judged art contest themed Landscape Paintings of Ridgeway and Fairfield County. The museum will be open on Saturday May 2nd at 11 am for viewing of the artwork and there will be tours of St Stephens Episcopal Church in Ridgeway. An outdoor reception with wine and music will be held on Friday, May 1st at 6 pm on the Tearoom Patio. Selected artwork will be available for sale, and the public is welcome to both events.
For artists wishing to enter the paintings should be submitted by Friday, April 24, 2026, to Charlene Herring. Prizes will be awarded to first place at $300, second place $200 and third place at $100.
You can contact Charlene Herring on 803-960-1132 for questions and details.
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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