Market Hall Renovation Project / Confederate Museum

Part of Civil War @ Charleston Website

Information on U.D.C. Confederate Museum

Oct. 1996: Work Begins; U.D.C. Needs Computer

Work began on the rennovation in October 1996. Early stages of the restoration empahsize cleaning and dehydrating the building, which has a major moisture problem which must be resolved before major work can be done.

The U.D.C. Museum has recieved an older Mac computer to index its collections. They need help with software and operating it. Call June Wells telephone 723-1541 if you know of some individual or business that might be able to make a suitable donation.

Update 3/1/96

Kathy Townsend says contracts for minor exterior preparatory work will be let soon and this work should be underway by early April 1996. More detailed and involved exterior work will begin in Summer 1996. Major interior work will begin in November when tenants in the basement of the hall vacate.

January 23, 1996
Mayor Riley Commits to Renovation in State of the City Address

"One of our most beautiful and historic buildings is the Market Head Building. built in 1841 at a time when grand public buildings were constructed at the entry to a city's public market. Severely damaged and closed after Hurricane Hugo, this building has been painstakingly researched to insure that its restoration does justice to this important building. The design plans and specifications are concluded and renovation will begin this year. Upon completion, this building will house the very fine Confederate museum."
Charleston Mayor Joseph P. Riley
State of the City Address

The Charleston United Daughters of the Confederacy Museum

Charleston's Historic Market Hall (See 1865 Photograph) functioned as the home of the United Daughters of the Confederacy's (U.D.C.'s) Museum from 1890's until 1989 when damage from Hurricane Hugo extensively damaged the building, forcing the museum to relocate to temporary headquarters at 34 Pitt Street in Charleston. Many experts consider it the 4th. most important collection of Confederate artifacts on Earth.

The U.D.C. museum is open in temporary Quarters at 34 Pitt. Street in Downtown Charleston on Saturday and Sunday from 12 noon to 4 p.m. See Mapquest Interactive Atlas Map of Map to Confederate Museum, Market Hall (Centered on 250 King Street) Telephone 723-1541. They welcome visitors for a nominal admission fee.

Items on display include:

Secession Flag, (See Image on right) Flew in Charleston December 1860.
1st. Confederate National Flag to fly over Ft. Sumter.
Regimental & Battle Flags
Uniform Insignia and Buttons
Ship Model for CSS Palmetto State Ironclad
Over a dozen original Confederate Uniforms, enlisted and commissioned officers. Including uniforms of Cornelius Irvine Walker and Brig. Gen. Arthur Manigalt, both of the 10th. S.C. Volunteer Infantry
Uniform of Samuel Tupper Hyde, of the 1st. S.C. Infantry Battallion (later 27th. SC), killed at Battery Wagner, July 18, 1863, aged 17 years.
Large Collection of Civil War Images, bonds, currency and documents.
Spurs and Matchbox belonging to Maj. Gen. P.T.G. Beauregard.
Sword belonging to Thomas G. Sheppard, Gregg's 1st. S.C. Infantry, killed at 2nd. Mannasas.
Camp Equipment, including chairs, officer's chests, a general's messkit, candlelabra made of bayonets.
Knap sacks and blankets.
Samples of Confederate cannon shot, shells and bolts.
Examples of original rifle & pistol cartridges
Many other swords, rifles and pistols.
Reunion and United Confederate Veteran's Memorebelia.

Other Information on the The United Daughters of the Confederacy

The U.D.C. has an excellent national website with information on the organization, its historic background and links to chapters and projects across the nation. The South Carolina state group is currently publishing the "blue books" a collection of first person recollections of the war gathered early in this century from the surviving veterans and families and written into blue notebooks (thus the name). This collection will add a great deal of primary source material to the published stock available to researchers.

The Renovation Project

An extensive study has been made of Market Hall which was suffering from heavy moisture damage, cracking and structural problems from the 1886 earthquake and the damage caused by the Hurricane. Final plans and specifications are being drawn up in preparation for the reception of bids this Spring. Renovation work is expected to begin this summer and take approximately two years. The City of Charleston has promised to renew the U.D.C. lease will be renewed so that the museum can return to its home for another century.

Kathy Townsend of the City of Charleston staff is coordinating the project. She will be providing updates for this site.

The City of Charleston welcomes donations for the costs of the renovation which are expected to exceed 2 million dollars. The U.D.C. also needs donations for the conservation of artifacts.

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