The Colleton Museum is housed in the “Old Jail,” which is the third jail in the county's history. The two-story neo-Gothic structure resembles a castle and sits like a jewel overlooking one of Walterboro's main thoroughfares. Constructed in 1855–56, it is said to be built of brick from the old Jacksonboro Courthouse. The jailer and his family lived in the structure to oversee the care of the prisoners. The building was remodeled in 1937, a side porch was removed, the walls were stuccoed and painted, and rooms were added to the back. In addition to the Museum, the "Old Jail" annex is home to the Walterboro-Colleton Chamber of Commerce and various other County offices. The Museum is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rich in history from the Spanish explorers in the late 1500s to today's preservation of the pre-Revolutionary rice fields in the ACE Basin, Colleton County is a quiet reminder of an eloquent past. The Carolina territory was established in 1663 when the King of England granted land to eight English noblemen. This land grant stretched from ocean to ocean. The territory was divided into three counties as early as 1682, making Colleton one of the oldest counties in the country. Walterboro was established as a summer colony in 1784 so Plantation owners could escape the malaria brought on during the summer months along the banks of the rivers and marshes of the Lowcountry. The Plantations produced rice, indigo and, later, cotton. Rice remained a major product of Colleton County's plantations until the early 1900s. The first homes in Walterboro were built by two brothers, Jacob and Paul Walter. A portrait of their Mother hangs in the Colleton County Library as a tribute to the "Mother of Walterboro." By 1817, Walterboro was designated as the County Seat and was incorporated in 1817.

The Colleton Museum features a permanent collection which explores the history of Colleton from prehistoric times to the early 1900s. The Museum also has an on-going exhibit on “Animals of the ACE,” a natural history display featuring wild animals indigenous to the South Carolina Lowcountry.

Admission cost: FREE
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Ongoing Educational Opportunities
Traveling Trunk
"My Backyard is the ACE Basin!" is a traveling educational trunk geared for 6th and 7th grades and is available free of charge. Share with students the wonders of the ACE Basin through amazing samples, games, videos, CDs and displays. The projects and activities in this trunk are guaranteed to excite students while educating them about the plants, wildlife and need for protection of the natural resources in their own backyard. The curriculum, which is aligned with the SC Teaching Standards, can be used for one classroom period or for a full week.

This teaching tool was developed by the Colleton Museum and funded by a grant from the Gaylord and Dorothy Donnelley Foundation. If you are interested in bringing this trunk to your school or classroom, please contact the museum at (843) 549-2303

Teacher’s Environmental Network (T.E.N.)
T.E.N. was created to foster enthusiasm among teachers for learning, experiencing and sharing with others the beauty of the local environment. T.E.N. provides free lectures, field trips, supplies and education support to teachers interested in environmental education. Colleton County teachers attending T.E.N. sessions receive professional development credit.

ACE Resource Room
The ACE Resource Room offers a variety of hands-on teaching tools, books, posters, CDs, puzzles and videos for teachers to use in their classrooms. All items are available for check-out and are free of charge. Come visit the ACE Resources Room located on the second floor of the Museum.