State Museum completes accessibility renovation project with $200,000 lead donation from Aflac

All museum public restrooms now fully ADA accessible; Wellness and mother’s rooms added

Through support from the State legislature and a $200,000 accessibility-focused capital gift from Aflac, the South Carolina State Museum is proud to announce all 10 of its public restrooms are now fully compliant, in accordance with The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), an important step forward in making the museum accessible to the more than 1.1 million adults and countless children living with a disability in South Carolina. 

Aflac’s generous support also funded two mother’s spaces to provide privacy and comfort for nursing mothers and a wellness room to provide a quiet space for guests to rest and rejuvenate.

“Every South Carolinian deserves to have equal access to their State Museum and its programs,” says Karen Hall, State Museum Foundation Director. “This renovation project is the first and one of the most important steps in the museum’s Reimagine the Experience project, as we work together with partners like Aflac and our shared community to ensure the museum is fully accessible for our guests.”

This important gift from Aflac marked the first corporate donation to the Reimagine the Experience project, which aims to renew the museum’s permanent exhibition galleries and educational spaces, incorporating more immersive experiences and continuing to expand the museum’s accessibility focused resources.

“Aflac has a long history of providing an inclusive environment for our own workforce, so we are very proud to help remove accessibility barriers and offer guests with disabilities the best possible experience at State Museum, a wonderful educational resource in South Carolina,” said Bob Ruff, senior vice president, Group Voluntary Benefits, Aflac. “Through our culture of care, we are committed to fostering a sense of belonging, which extends to the communities we serve. Supporting the State Museum’s vision to increase accessibility across its spaces and programs is one way we are expressing this promise.”

About the South Carolina State Museum

Over the past 35 years, the South Carolina State Museum has been committed to collecting, preserving and showcasing the rich culture, art, natural history, technology and innovation of the Palmetto State. Through a comprehensive collection of over 1.1 million objects and four floors of stimulating exhibitions and displays housed within the historic Columbia Mills Building, the State Museum provides educational environments that entertain, inspire and enrich the lives of millions of visitors and students from across South Carolina. For more information about the museum, visit scmuseum.org