DCHCM prepares Revolutionary War Exhibit, revamps Gallery

The Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum (DCHCM) is entering one of the most ambitious periods in its history, having just opened a sweeping Revolutionary War exhibit and preparing a major overhaul of its Grand Gallery, anchored by an extraordinary loan that Executive Director Brian E. Gandy calls “a major coup” for the Pee Dee region.

The museum has completed a new Revolutionary War exhibit built around the collection of Mike Smith of Hartsville. It features more than 50 dioramas depicting the American Revolution and pairs them with the sights and sounds of the era, immersing visitors in the conflict that shaped the nation.

The transformation begins in the portrait hallway leading into the Visitor’s Gallery. One wall now honors Francis Marion, the “Swamp Fox” of Revolutionary War lore, while the opposite wall celebrates the nation’s Documents of Freedom. The exhibit continues in the Visitor’s Gallery and spills into the Grand Gallery, where a dedicated exhibit stall completes the experience.

The headline of the coming season is the reworking of more than a third of the Grand Gallery, with a reopening anticipated in mid-January. At its heart will be a faithful recreation of a room from Center Hall, the residence of South Carolina’s 45th Governor, David Rogerson Williams, a Darlington County native.

The centerpiece is an original piece of furniture that belonged to Williams, on loan from the South Carolina Governor’s Mansion Foundation from the collections housed in the Governor’s Mansion. Gandy describes the piece as “Smithsonian-quality.” Such loans from the Foundation are extremely rare, making the arrangement a significant honor for the museum and the region.

The room will also include:

• The original pen-and-gouache drawing by John Ross Key, grandson of Francis Scott Key

• A copy of Governor Williams’s official portrait

• Portraits of his wife, Sarah Power; their son, John Nicholas Williams; and his son, David Rogerson Williams II

• Period-accurate wallpaper and heart pine wainscoting

Together, the details are designed to create the impression that the Governor has only just stepped away from the table. The display will also let the museum tell the story of Williams’s accolades and achievements as one of Darlington County’s most distinguished leaders.

The gallery renovation goes well beyond the Governor’s room. All major graphics have been reprinted and will be rehung, and several sections are being substantially reworked:

• Reconstruction: A major new addition will explore the period between Emancipation and the Election of 1878.

• World War I and the Depression: The Jamison section will be reworked, alongside expanded coverage of Bootlegging and Moonshine.

• Native American history: The section will be reimagined with a new view.

• The Modern Era: This section will be completely revamped.

• World War II: New artifacts will be added to the collection on display.

Gandy says the changes reflect their vision for the institution and expressed his enthusiasm for what lies ahead. “I am excited about these opportunities,” he said, extending an invitation to members of the community and the press to visit the museum and discuss the projects in greater depth at their convenience.

With a new Revolutionary War exhibit already open and a reimagined Grand Gallery on the horizon, the DCHCM is positioning itself as a must-visit destination for history lovers across South Carolina.

For more information or to arrange a visit, contact the Darlington County Historical Commission and Museum at (843) 398-4710, email them at dchc@darcosc.net, or see their website at https://darlingtoncountymuseum.org/