Marlboro County’s Museum Complex features five properties in downtown Bennettsville: the Historical Museum, the Jennings-Brown House, the Bennettsville Female Academy, the Medical Museum, and the Printing Museum.

The Historical Museum, headquarters for the complex, is located at 123 South Marlboro Street, in a beautiful Victorian home built in 1902. This facility features exhibits permanent and changing exhibits including Native American and Civil War artifacts, a military room, and more.

Also in the main museum is a gift shop where you will find books about Marlboro County’s history, notecards and postcards, and items created by local artisans.

The Jennings-Brown House is one of the most historic homes in Bennettsville. Built in 1826 by one of the town’s first physicians, Dr. E.W. Jones, it takes its name from the Dr. J. Beaty Jennings and J.J. Brown families, who lived there 1854-1902 and 1930-1968, respectively.  During the Civil War, Union Army Maj. Gen. Frank P. Blair used the home as his headquarters when his 17th Army Corps captured Bennettsville on March 6, 1865. The Jennings-Brown House has been restored to represent life in the mid-1850s.

The Bennettsville Female Academy, adjacent to the Jennings-Brown House, was a private school for girls from 1833 to 1881. It is furnished as a mid-19th century school house.

The Medical Museum, housed in Dr. J.F. Kinney’s former medical office next to the main museum, is dedicated to the medical history of Marlboro County with examples of examination rooms through time, interesting and unique medical instruments, and portraits of many leading Marlboro physicians.

The Marlboro County Printing Museum allows visitors to follow the evolution of printing and newspapers from earliest times to the present.

The main museum is open from 10 am to 4 pm Monday-Friday, and other times by appointment. Tours of the other facilities may be arranged through the main museum.  For more information, please contact:

Ms.  Lynn McQueen

Museum and Cultural Affairs Director

P. O. Box 419

Bennettsville, SC  29512

Telephone:  843-479-5624

Email:  lmcqueen@marlborocounty.sc.gov