Housed in a renovated boxcar and caboose, the Florence Railroad Museum (corner of Irby and Baroody Sts., 843/662-3351, Sat.–Sun. 2–5 p.m. Jun.–Aug.) pays homage to the city’s roots as a key railroad center in the 1800s.

For a look into the history of the area as well as a rotating art gallery, check out the Florence Museum (558 Spruce St., 843/662-3351, Tues.–Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Sun. 2–5 p.m., $1). Standing exhibits include an Asian and African collection, Mediterranean artifacts, pueblo pottery, and artifacts from the infamous Mars Bluff incident of the Cold War era in which an atomic bomb was accidentally dropped in the area, the non-nuclear portion exploding.

As you’d expect from its name, the War Between the States Museum (107 S. Guerry St., 843/669-1266, Wed. and Sat. 10 a.m.–5 p.m., $2 adults, $1 children) focuses on local life during the Civil War, including a scale model of the Florence Stockade. Note the odd days of operation.