On Site Tours and Programs

The blue crab’s life cycle begins with millions of microscopic eggs that eventually develop into active predators with powerful claws. Learn all about the intriguing life of the Atlantic Blue Crab and the important role they play in the coastal ecosystem and lowcountry history. Experience recreational harvesting, cooking, cleaning, and eating of the blue crab! (This is a hands-on learning experience and includes just a taste of blue crab meat).

FAMILY FRIENDLY
April, May, September, & October: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9:30 am.
June- August: Tuesdays and Thursdays 9:30 & Fridays at 3 PM
November: Thursdays, except Thanksgiving, 9:30-11:30am.
$15 Adult / $10 Child (ages 4-12) / Children under 4 are free.

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Get up close and personal with some native butterflies! Learn about local butterflies and see all four stages of their life cycle (egg, larvae, chrysalis, and adult butterfly) during a guided walk through the Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat. Discover just how easy it is to attract butterflies to your yard and how to increase butterfly numbers in the wild. This tour includes a 20-30min interactive indoor presentation prior to a guided walk through the Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat.

May: Fridays from 3:00-4:00pm.
June, July, & August: Tuesdays from 3:00-4:00 pm AND Fridays from 9:30 – 10:30 am.
September & October: Fridays from 11:00am-12:00pm.

This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY indoor/outdoor experience.
$10 Adult / $5 Child (ages 4-12) / Children under 4 are free.

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The Civil War is one of the most important events in the history or our country. South Carolina played a key role in the development and ending of the war. Hilton Head Island was home to thousands of Union soldiers during the Civil War. Find out why they were here and how they spent their time. Historic photographs, maps and artifacts tell the story of Hilton Head from 1861-1865.

Thursdays from 3:00–4:00pm
$7 per person (ages 7+) / No children under the age of 7 please.

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This is a casual “Meet and Greet” to learn about the alligators, snakes, and other critters that share Hilton Head Island with us. Take this opportunity to walk-in and see these animals up close, gets hands-on and hold a critter or two, take pictures of or with your favorite critters, and learn more about these amazing animal and how to safely share the Lowcountry with these important critters.
No reservations are required.

FAMILY FRIENDLY. Children must be accompanied by a participating adult.

Special Spring Break programs – April 6th, 13th, and 20th – from 10:00 am – 1:00 pm
June, July, and August: Wednesdays and Fridays from 10:00am-1:00pm.
$10 Adults / $5 Child (ages 5-12) / Children under the age of 5 are free.
No reservations are required. Tickets may be purchased in advance online or in person the day of the program.

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Drop in and explore the Coastal Discovery Museum’s Discovery Lab!! Visiting the lab is a fun educational experience for all ages. Get a closer look at some live lowcountry animals like fish, horseshoe crabs, hermit crabs, frogs, lizards, snakes, and a friendly alligator. Discover unique and fascinating stories about the lowcountry’s history and environment through hands-on, interactive displays and games.

Open House:
March, April, & May: Mondays from 2:00-4:00pm.
June, July, & August: Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:00-4:00pm.
September, October, & November: Mondays from 2:00-4:00pm.

No reservations required.
$2 per person (ages 5 and up) / Children under the age of 5 are free.
FAMILY FRIENDLY. Children must be accompanied by an adult.
Everyone must have fun!!

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Throughout the year, the Museum offers lectures and discussions about the Lowcountry’s history, culture, and environment. Topics vary and guest presenters come from around the region.

Select weekdays at 2 PM (typically Mondays and Wednesdays)  from  October–May the Discovery Lecture Series is offered.
$7 per person (for the majority of programs)

Click Here for a full list of Discovery Lectures – 2019- 20.

There is something special happening AFTER HOURS at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to participate in these unique experiences. Topics, activities, times, and fees vary. Click Here find out what unique experiences you can participate in on Thursday evenings.

Programs are held from 5 – 7 PM most Thursday evenings.
Prices vary depending upon the program. Please check the calendar to see pricing for each one.
Appropriate for ages 10 and older.

2020 Programs –Click here for programs.

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Begin your Honey Horn experience with this guided tour around the museum’s picturesque and historic grounds. Visit the salt marsh, see historic buildings, and learn about the gardens, plants and trees on site. Your museum guide will share stories about Honey Horn’s past and its natural history.

Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11:00am-12:30pm.
$10 Adults / $5 Children (ages 4-12) / Not recommended for children under the age of 4.

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Experienced professional photographer Scott Moody provides an opportunity for a unique family portrait experience at the Coastal Discovery Museum. The beautiful Honey Horn setting with its majestic live oaks, salt marsh boardwalks, and historic buildings is a great alternative to the beach for your family’s portrait. The fee includes the photography session and printable high resolution images.

Scott Moody has worked as a professional photographer for over 30 years in the Lowcountry. He provides professional portraits captured digitally. The customer then has the ability to print products and images on your own.

Time vary with the sunset. Portraits are offered Sunday through Friday. All reservations must be made over the phone.

Descended from horses brought to the Lowcountry in the 1500s, there are now around 300 Marsh Tackies left in existence.   Learn about the history of these adaptable horses and take a trip to our historic barn. There you will meet the museum’s two resident horses Comet and Hawk and learn about their care and conservation.

September-May: Fridays from 2:00-3:00pm.
$10 adult / $5 child (ages 4-12) / No children under the age of 4 please.
Limited to 15 participants.

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Discover the fascinating lives butterflies from egg, to caterpillar, to chrysalis, to adult! Explore the Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat with your guide and get an up close look at all four stages of the butterfly life cycle. Create a simple seed craft to take home and start your own butterfly garden.

Preschool programs are designed for ages 4-6 and require at least one registered adult. Other family and friends are welcome to register too. Only registered participants will be admitted into the program area.

June, July, August: Tuesdays from 10:00-10:30 AND Tuesdays from 11:00-11:30.
$5 per person / children under 3 are free.
This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY outdoor experience.

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Alligators, snakes, and turtles oh my! Take a closer look at the fascinating and unique characteristics of local reptiles and amphibians. Interact with a few live critters and discover the importance of these often misunderstood animals. Learn how to protect these amazing creatures and safely enjoy sharing the lowcountry with them.

This FAMILY FRIENDLY indoor experience is also a nice escape from the afternoon heat or rain!
PLEASE NOTE: This program only accommodates 24 participants. Reservations are HIGHLY recommended.

March, April, May: Wednesdays from 3:00-4:00pm
June, July, & August: Tuesdays from 1:00pm-2:00pm.
September, October, and November: Wednesdays from 3:00pm-4:00pm.
$10 Adult / $5 Child (ages 4-12) / Children under 4 are free

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The Salt Marsh is a unique environment with a fascinating tale that is often overlooked. Most coastal creatures depend fully or partially on the Salt Marsh. The role the Salt Marsh plays as a filter for water and a nursery for many of the creatures that inhabit the coast is vital for the functioning of the coastal ecosystem. Learn from an expert how and why this particular environment is so important. Considered one of the most productive ecosystems on earth, the Salt Marsh is a place worth visiting and exploring while on Hilton Head Island.

September-May: Fridays from 10:00-11:30am.
$10 adults / $7 child (ages 4-12) / Not recommended for children under the age of 4.

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Take a closer look at some fun and fascinating sea creatures! What does a spider crab feel like? How does a horseshoe crab eat? Who lives in those shells? Come and find out during this hands-on interactive experience.

This program is designed for younger elementary ages and requires at least one registered adult. Other family and friends are welcomed to register too. Only registered participants will be admitted into the program area.

June, July, August: Fridays from 2:30-3:00pm
$5 per person / children under three are free.
This is a FAMILY FRIENDLY indoor experience.

Sea turtles live an extraordinary life. Explore the amazing journey of Loggerhead Sea Turtles from egg to adulthood. Discover just how easy it is to help protect these fascinating sea creatures. You will not see live sea turtles but this is a hands-on, eye-opening, experience filled with unique educational materials to see, touch, and interact with.

This FAMILY FRIENDLY indoor experience is also a nice escape from the afternoon heat or rain!
June, July, & August: Thursdays from 1:00pm-2:00pm.
$10 Adult / $5 Child (ages 4-12) / Children under 4 are free

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Want to learn about nature and have fun at the same time? Take a narrated Segway tour! Travel through the property, traversing wooden boardwalks over the salt marsh, winding through the Live Oaks draped in Spanish moss. Catch a glimpse of historic Marsh Tacky horses. All while standing tall on your off-road, pollution free, Segway. Great for seniors, families, and friends. Ages 8 and older. Tours range from 1 ¼ to 1 ¾ hours, including training. Extended tours (14 and older only) leave the plantation to nearby Jarvis Park. $69 to $89 per person depending upon the length of the tour.

All booking for these tours is arranged through Segway of Hilton Head. Book online by clicking here or call 800-800-0424. If you don’t find the tour online, please call for availability.

Learn about the history of the Sweetgrass basket, one of the Lowcountry’s best known art forms, from a local Gullah basket maker. Then, try your hand at starting a basket of your own using locally found natural materials.

Select Saturdays at 10:30am.
Upcoming classes:     3/7, 3/28, 4/4, 5/16, 6/20

$65 per person.
Please note: A minimum of 5 participants is required for this class to occur.
Reservations required: call 843-689-6767 ext. 223 or register online.

“A Tisket at Tasket – Bring a Bottle and Make a Basket” – Evening Basket Classes – Thursday 5/21/20 – 5 – 7 PM.   Join Daurus Niles for this special evening edition of the Basket Making class. Bring friend, and enjoy a glass of wine while working to make your own Sweetgrass Basket.

$65 per person.
Please note: A minimum of 5 participants is required for this class to occur.

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Please call the Museum if you have a group interested in a Sweetgrass Basket Class on a day that is not on the schedule. Special arrangements may be possible.

Hilton Head Island has a fascinating history, from the earliest Native Americans inhabitants that harvested oysters and hunted Black Bear to the modern day residents and visitors who flock here to play tennis and golf. The island has gone through numerous changes and uses by diverse groups of people, from logging to farming, to hunting and finally today mostly as a tourist retreat and home to over 35,000 full time residents. Learn from a museum docent about these changes, and the tale of its participants from Native Americans, to Gullah islanders to modern day residents.

September-May: Tuesdays at 3:00-4:00pm.
$7 per person (ages 7+) / No children under the age of 7 please.

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What lives under the sea? There is an amazing world of marine life under that sparkling blue ocean. Take a closer look at some of the smaller marine creatures. Find out what lived in those shells you find on the beach, feed a horseshoe crab and watch it chew with its legs, help a hermit crab find a new home, and much more! This program is geared towards adults and children upper elementary age and older.

This FAMILY FRIENDLY indoor experience is also a nice escape from the afternoon heat or rain!
June, July, and August: Fridays from 1:00-2:00pm.
$10 Adult / $5 Child (ages 4-12) / Children under 4 are free.

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