Establishment of the first museum in the American colonies

Background. In 1770, Charleston had 11,000 inhabitants, half of whom were enslaved, and ranked as the fourth-largest port in the colonies after Boston, New York City, and Philadelphia. South Carolina's economy was devoted to plantation agriculture dependent on enslaved labor, producing a majority-Black population from the colonial period onward. The city also carried a reputation as one of the least healthy locations in the Thirteen Colonies for ethnic Europeans.

Founding. The Charleston Museum was founded on January 12, 1773, and is recognized as the oldest museum in the United States. It opened to the public in 1824. At the time of its founding, Charleston—then known as Charles Town—had never been incorporated during the colonial period, because the Carolinas' Fundamental Constitutions were never ratified.

Legacy. The Charleston Museum is located in the Wraggborough neighborhood. Its collection includes historic artifacts, natural history, and decorative arts. The museum's current building was completed in 1980. The legacy row's claim about formal incorporation in 1915 is not supported by the provided passages, which only confirm the 1773 founding and 1824 public opening.