Coastal Discovery Museum Hilton Head
As you are putting together your list of things to do while visiting Hilton Head Island, we highly recommend the Coastal Discovery Museum Hilton Head. The Coastal Discovery Museum is full of wonder. With an indoor Museum and 68 acres filled with outdoor exhibits, you will find many interesting facts about the island and the ecosystem that makes Hilton Head unique. If you are searching for a special way to connect with nature, enjoy a romantic day out, or teach your kids about the amazing ecosystem that makes up the Island, this is the place to go.
Where is the Coastal Discovery Museum Located?
The Hilton Head Coastal Discovery Museum is located at 70 Honey Horn Drive Hilton Head Island SC, just off of Gumtree Road. When you first get onto the Island, across the long bridge of US Highway 278, take your first exit onto the William Hilton Parkway and your first right at the light is Gumtree Road. Honey Horn drive is on your left and the entrance gates will be swung open for your arrival during the open times at the Museum.
Coastal Discovery Museum Information:
Location: 70 Honey Horn Drive , Hilton Head Island, SC
Park Hours: Monday – Saturday 9 am until 4:30 pm
Park Hours: Sunday 11 am until 4:30 pm
Admission: Free Admission to all who visit. Donations are welcome.
Tours and Events: Guided Tours are available for an additional fee. Check the Official Calendar at the Hilton Head Coastal Discovery Museum for upcoming tours and events.
Reviews: Take a look at the latest
TripAdvisor Reviews for the Hilton Head Coastal Discovery Museum
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Tip for First-Time Visitors to the Hilton Head Island Coastal Discovery Museum:
When visiting the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island, it is important to know that the Museum is free. This was amazing, knowing that you could walk around the entire 68-acres and take your time looking at all of the exhibits they have available.
Of course, if you want a more in depth knowledge, scheduling one of the tours of the grounds or tours on the water would be a great option. The tours are not free but it is always nice to have a guide to explain things around you and answer your questions.
If you are interested in more, check out the Tours available at the Coastal Discovery Museum.
Start your visit at The Discovery House
The Discovery House at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island is one of those special places that feels like a bridge between the past and present. Having visited recently for the fourth time, I can say it’s one of those spots that keeps drawing you back with something new to discover. While Honey Horn was purchased to grow Sea Island Cotton in 1789 by John Hanahan, the Discovery House was not built until William J. Graham purchased the property in 1854. The house used today as the central point of the museum is much larger than the 4 room home originally built on the property.
We love visiting the Coastal Discovery Museum, and each time we walk through the Discovery House, we imagine the families who lived behind these walls in centuries past. Today, the Discovery House serves as the heart of the Coastal Discovery Museum. It hosts many different exhibits to share the history of Hilton Head beginnings. Each of the rooms is filled with historical items worth exploring. There are also models of ships from the shrimp boat “Miss Kathleen” to the transportation ferry “Clivedon”. Informative panels add depth to your knowledge, helping you understand the island’s ecology and history even more. Whether you’re learning about local wildlife, the Gullah culture, or the Lowcountry’s maritime history, there’s always something that makes you pause and think.
The Discovery House also functions as an information center with great people and information to guide you through your best experience as you visit the Discovery House and all of the outdoor exhibits. Look around the gift shop, where you will find some great local crafts and books about the area. Once you are finished looking through the Discovery House, be sure to take the time necessary to explore the outdoors. The Coastal Discovery Museum is a living museum, always changing with the beauty of the seasons and the tides.
An Immersive Outdoor Experience at Coastal Discovery Museum Hilton Head
You will be amazed once you start walking along the paths that take you to the many exhibits. As you venture through the 68-acres, you will get to visit many of the historic structures built on the island around the 1930’s. Your kids will love the shell path that takes you to the different areas to learn about the island and its ecosystem. They will enjoy the surroundings so much that they will not even realize they are learning along the way.
With each step, you’re surrounded by the beauty of Hilton Head’s marshlands, towering oaks, and vibrant wildlife. Trust me, this is not only a fun experience, but the sheer peacefulness of the Coastal Discovery Museum in Hilton Head SC makes this one of our top picks on the island. The grounds are vast and beautiful, but what sets this museum apart is its interactive blend of education and nature.
One of our favorite parts was the hands-on approach to learning. Instead of confining everything indoors, the museum spreads across its outdoor setting, so you constantly interact with the environment as you learn. You truly experience the ecosystem in action; watching birds soar overhead or seeing the delicate marsh grasses sway in the breeze adds a special element to the visit.
The Birds Eye Theater
The Birds-Eye Theater: One of the first exhibits you will encounter as you walk past the Discovery House is the Birds-Eye Theater. Nothing happened in this theater when we were there, but it is a very cool design worth looking at. It has three long seating areas made of large raised areas from the ground and covered with pieces of stone. At times, public programs will be shown in this area. You can check with the staff to get the latest information on any events.
Metal Art
Throughout the Coastal Discovery Museum, you will see metal art, both large and small. Pay close attention to the artwork and see if you can figure out where some of the metal came from. It is pretty neat when you realize that much of this art is built from metal that would otherwise be scrapped.
Insect House
We might not enjoy insects in our homes, but they serve a great purpose for the ecosystem. The insect house is a neat area to view insects from a different perspective.
Karen Wertheimer Butterfly Habitat
What a fascinating place to visit and explore the many different butterflies up close. I would recommend taking some amazing pictures in the Butterfly Habitat. It is a great place to learn about these beautiful creatures floating effortlessly around you. It is also a great place to learn what attracts the butterflies. This can help you set up your home space to attract butterflies.
Pro Tip: Use slow-motion with your camera to capture the butterflies’ wing movements from a different perspective. This makes for an amazing social post.
Carnivorous Plant Garden
This is one of the most unique finds at the Coastal Discovery Museum. I had no idea there were so many plants that could eat insects. While you might have heard of the Venus Flytrap, many others you might not have seen before. It is truly astonishing to see these plants up close and understand how they play a role in the delicate natural system around us. I have to say that I spent some extra time just watching these plants in action during our visit.
Osprey Outlook Boardwalk
There are many scenic stops along the path, but one of our favorites was the Osprey Outlook Boardwalk. We loved that we could walk out on the wooden path to the large wooden structure that overlooks the salt marsh. From here, we saw many birds, including a few Osprey. You also get to learn more about the Marsh from the saltwater, marsh mud, Jarvis Creek, and the fish and animals that live here. It is a great place to get some wonderful photos.
Oyster Alley Boardwalk
Take a stroll on the wooden boardwalk to Oyster Alley. When the tide is low, you can see many oysters appear from the wetlands beneath you. At the end of the wooden path is a large covered pavilion over top of the marsh area. This is a great place for pictures and better understanding of the marsh area below you.
Did you know?
The waterway you see at the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island running beneath the Oyster Alley and Osprey Outlook Boardwalk is Jarvis Creek. For more fun, visit Jarvis Creek Park, located just around the corner on Jarvis Park Rd, where you can take a beautiful walk around the lake, see alligators, and have a picnic. Kids will love the large playground area, where they can run, play, and swing. This is a great place for families and romantic walks.
Great Outdoor Fun at the Coastal Discovery Museum Hilton Head SC
Large Open Grassy Areas and the Barn: As you walk around the property, you will run across a huge, open grassy area. You will often see kids running around and playing or families enjoying the open field. A long path nearby takes you through an amazing assortment of large trees with hanging moss. This is a great place to get some fantastic pictures of the natural development around Hilton Head Island.
The Pavilion
The Pavilion is a large space used for events held at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Depending on the time of year you visit, you might see schoolchildren enjoying lunch around the pavilion, a public function, or possibly even a wedding. This museum’s beauty is used for so many things, and once you visit, you will understand why.
Plants and Trees
Learn about plants and trees native to the area. Pay close attention to the plaques along your walking path. If you are taking a guided tour, the tour guide points out many of the different plants and trees around you. One of the oldest trees is located in the Coastal Discovery Museum. It has been dated back to 1595, making it over 400 years old. This Southern Red Cedar is absolutely beautiful. We sat under it for a few minutes to take in its grandeur. It is among many other oaks and other trees covered in moss, making this a very shaded spot to take a rest. It is also neat to learn about the different plants.
The Native American Shell Ring: A Replica at the Museum
It was also fascinating to find a replica of a Native American Shell Ring at the Coastal Discovery Museum. This replica was designed after the ancient structures built by local tribes over 4,000 years ago. In fact, it is made to be very authentic from real oyster, whelk, clam shells, and animal bones. The shell ring at the Coastal Discovery Museum Hilton Head South Carolina is a great educational tool for understanding the cultural significance of these rings throughout the Lowcountry.
While the Native American Shell Ring at the Coastal Discovery Museum is a Replica, you can see a real authentic shell ring in Hilton Head. Take a drive to the Sea Pines Forest Preserve, where you can spend hours walking around the beauty of Hilton Head and look at a Shell Ring that is well-preserved and used by the natives years ago. We have been to the forest preserve on many occasions and every time we pass by the Indian Shell ring, we wonder about the conversations the Native Americans had together. It is a truly wonderful experience, well worth the trip. However, keep in mind that there is an entrance fee to access Sea Pines if you’re not staying there.
Coastal Discovery Museum FAQ
Entrance to the Coastal Discovery Museum in Hilton Head is free. Paid tours are also available to give you additional information or a different perspective of the Museum.
Absolutely! Don’t let the word “Museum” scare you off. There are plenty of fun things for the entire family and it is one of the top destinations in Hilton Head. The exhibits are amazing and the information provided at each of the exhibits help to start valuable conversations and thoughts throughout your visit.
Pets are welcome to visit and be with you on the outdoor grounds as long as they stay on a leash. Unfortunately, pets are not allowed at any of the indoor areas or indoor exhibits.
There is so much to do, you will be surprised at all of the exhibits on display at the Coastal Discovery Museum. Be sure to check out the the Birds Eye Theater, a replica of a Native American Shell Ring, and the butterfly habitat just to mention a few. The museum also features trails that lead you around the full 68-acre complex with beautiful gardens, huge trees and historic buildings. There is something for everyone to explore.
Yes, the Hilton Head Coastal Discovery Museum offers many different tours, including “Land Tours” and “Water Tours”. Each tour is unique and led by knowledgeable guides. If it is your first time to the Museum, it is well worth learning more about the Lowcountry’s ecosystem and history.
The Coastal Discovery Museum is open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The grounds remain open for 30 minutes after closing to give you time to get things together before the main gates close. Hours might be different if you are taking one of the “Land Tours” or “Water Tours”.
Yes, there is no admission fee to the Coastal Discovery Museum on Hilton Head Island. However, they will gladly accept a donation to support the museum’s operations. You might be inclined to give something back once you see how amazing this property is. It is quite amazing!