Museums in Spartanburg

Looking for an indoor place to play AND learn?! The Children’s Museum of the Upstate, with locations in both Greenville and Spartanburg, is THE go-to family destination for indoor exploration! TCMU-Greenville offers 80,000 square feet of play-based learning across three floors, while TCMU’s downtown Spartanburg location houses 10,000 square feet across two floors focused on early childhood development and Kindergarten readiness. Exhibits and free weekly programs at both locations are designed to encourage hands-on discovery, intentional learning, and unforgettable family fun.

• Best For: Families with children of all ages
• Ages: TCMU Greenville: ages 0–12 | TCMU Spartanburg: ages 0–6
• Price: TCMU Greenville: General Admission $20 | SC Resident $15 | Under 1 free | EBT/WIC $5 | Educator, Military, Senior $12
• Price: TCMU Spartanburg: General Admission $15 | SC Resident $10 | Under 6 months free | EBT/WIC $5 | Educator, Military, Senior $8
• Membership: $150+, includes unlimited visits to both locations
• Hours: Tue–Sat 9 am–4:30 pm | Sun 11 am–4:30 pm | Closed Mondays (Aug–May) | Open 7 days a week in June & July
• Parking: Greenville: Heritage Green parking deck nearby | Spartanburg: Magnolia Street Parking Garage (first 15 min free, then $0.50/hr up to $4)
• Pro Tip: Plan for at least 3 hours in Greenville — three floors means there’s always more to explore!

Top Questions Parents Ask About TCMU:

Can we leave and come back? Yes! Admission covers all-day exploration. You’ll get a sticker at check-in to re-enter during museum hours.
Are strollers allowed? Absolutely, stroller parking is available at both locations.
Is it accessible? Yes, both museums are fully wheelchair and ADA accessible, with elevators and accessible bathrooms. Sensory backpacks available upon request.

Two TCMU Locations:
Greenville: 300 College Street, Greenville, SC 29601 | 864.233.7755
Spartanburg: 130 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306 | 864.586.2904

Learn more about TCMU Greenville and TCMU Spartanburg

This FREE local museum showcases the history of Spartanburg’s railroads with views of local train lines. See trains and models up close! The museum has a restored 1947 Southern Railway caboose and a Thomas the Train table for kids.

Location:

• 298 Magnolia Street
  Spartanburg, SC 29306
  864.278.4453

Visit the Hub City Railroad Museum website for more information.

Chapman Cultural Center is home to several local museums, Ballet Spartanburg, and the Spartanburg Little Theatre.

Location:

• 200 East St. John Street
  Spartanburg, SC 29306
  864.542.2787

Find out more on the Chapman Cultural Center website.

Learn about BMW’s history and see examples of their past vehicles in this Greer museum. The BMW Zentrum Museum’s hours are 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Monday through Friday.

Guided plant tours are available and great for field trips. Students will have the chance to see how the cars are built, and tours will cover subjects like science, engineering, and history. Plant tours are limited to students ages 12 and up, and closed-toe shoes are required.

Location:

• 1400 SC-101
  Greer, SC 29651
  888.868.7269

Find out more on the BMW Zentrum Museum website.

The Johnson Collection (TJC) is an art gallery in downtown Spartanburg which showcases rotating exhibits from the Johnson family’s collection. These curated exhibits aim to highlight the history and diversity of the South, and they are FREE to view by the public on Wednesday-Saturday from 12 to 4pm.

Location:

• 154 West Main Street
  Spartanburg, SC
  864.594.5840

As “a museum without walls,” The Johnson Collection also loans pieces to display at various sites around the City of Spartanburg. Find a convenient map and list of its works available to view in Spartanburg on The Johnson Collection website.

For more information, visit The Johnson Collection website.

This local museum offers family programming, public art exhibits, and more. Admission is free, but donations are accepted.

Location:

• 200 East St. John Street
  Spartanburg, SC 29303
  864.978.1429

Find out more on the Spartanburg Art Museum website.

The Spartanburg Science Center is a downtown museum with live animal exhibits, an extensive collection of fossils, bones, rocks and minerals, and engaging children’s activities like engineering challenges. With only $5 admission and Free Family Saturdays once a month, put this place on your list to encourage a love of science in your children!

Birthday Parties: Stare at the stars. Play with robots. Create chemical reactions. Spartanburg Science Center adds intrigue to any birthday party! Whether you’re a kid in age or in your spirit of wonder, celebrate with the Spartanburg Science Center for an extra element of surprise and excitement.

Field Trips: Offers standards-based, hands-on science education for groups aged Kindergarten – 8th Grade. Programs can be held at the Science Center, they can come to you, or you can work with them to arrange field trips to natural habitats.

Homeschool: The Spartanburg Science Center offers grade-level field trip programs in all major fields of science, and they are sometimes able to host homeschool family groups on days when not normally open to the public. Contact jschmid@spartanburgsciencecenter.org with inquiries.

Summer Camps: Be on the lookout for STEAM Summer Camps at the Spartanburg Science Center, featuring a wide array of topics for rising K4 through rising 8th grade. Previous camps have covered animals, LEGO Robotics, Minecraft, coding, pre-algebra readiness, the solar system, nature walks, and much more.

Location:

• 200 East St. John Street
  Spartanburg, SC 29306
  864.583.2777

Visit the Spartanburg Science Center website for more information.