Join the SCSM Foundation for Moonlight & Milestones, a Black-Tie Gala
September 17, 2026
Saturday, October 17, 6:30 -10 p.m.
The South Carolina State Museum Foundation will host Moonlight & Milestones(opens in new tab), a black-tie, red-carpet gala on Saturday, October 17, 6:30-10 p.m.
The gala’s celebratory theme pays homage to the Museum’s recent facility upgrades, the introduction of spectacular new exhibitions, and its master plan to renovate and modernize nearly 225,000 square feet of public gathering space starting in 2028.
“We will be celebrating where the Museum is today while looking ahead to an even more exciting future,” says SCSM Executive Director Amy Bartow-Melia. “Moonlight & Milestones will give guests an exclusive look ahead at new experiences, exciting opportunities to learn and connect, and MORE SCSM.”
Guests will enjoy delicious drinks and small bites as they journey from gallery to gallery, exploring new exhibitions, American Battleground: South Carolina’s Revolution and In the Making: Contemporary Craft from South Carolina, while also getting a sneak peek at some of the exciting transformations preparing to unfold through the Foundation’s Make Way for MORE(opens in new tab) Revitalization Campaign.
From 6:30 to 8 p.m., attendees will experience a variety of interactive installations and creative storytelling that highlight key components of the upcoming wing, gallery, and exhibition updates, including a 25,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art Innovation Wing. At 8 p.m., the celebration will move downstairs, where an assortment of cocktails, petite plates, and a decadent dessert feast will be served. Live music will commence, and the dance floor will open.
“It will be a highly polished but engaging night of discovery, dancing, and socializing,” says SCSM Foundation Executive Director Mary Kathryne Wadford. “We want guests to escape their everyday, explore the Museum under the moonlight, and relish what they see, hear, taste, and experience. We want them to leave wanting MORE.”
Moonlight & Milestones supports the Foundation’s Make Way for MORE Revitalization Campaign, a catalyst for transformations and MORE SCSM than ever before.
Attire for Moonlight & Milestones is black-tie gallery chic.
Tickets are $175 and can be purchased at https://scmuseum.org/events/
For more information, contact Mary Kathryne Wadford at marykathryne.wadford@scmuseum.
For more information about Make Way for MORE, visit
https://scmuseum.org/make-way-
