The succinctly-named Rice Museum (633 Front St., 843/546-7423, www.ricemuseum.org, Mon.–Sat. 10 a.m.–4:30 p.m., $7 adults, $3 ages 6–21, 5 and under free) is just that: A look back at the all-important staple crop and its massive effects on Georgetown, which at one point accounted for half of America’s rice production.

There are actually two components. The Old Market building, often simply called “The Town Clock” because of its 1842 timepiece, hosts the bulk of the archival information on the impact of rice-growing on the region’s history and economy. The adjacent Kaminski Hardware building includes a 17-minute video on the rice industry, a good Gullah/Geechee cultural exhibit, and a gift shop.

However, the Rice Museum’s main claim to fame is its collection of regional maritime history, including the remains of the oldest colonial boat in North America, the 50-foot Brown’s Ferry Vessel, built in 1710.

Several key exhibits in the Rice Museum trace the fundamental but generally reluctant role of African Americans in the rice industry, almost all of whom were slaves and comprised nearly 90 percent of the local population during rice’s height.

You’ll learn the story of Joseph Rainey, the first African American elected to the House of Representatives, who once worked in the fields around Georgetown. You’ll learn about Miss Ruby Forsythe, who spent her life teaching African American children in a one-room school on Pawleys Island.

Most visitors to the Rice Museum take a one-hour guided tour, included in the price of admission.