Our Facilities

The county's main museum occupies the former Dr. John Frank Kinney home, built in 1902. This facility features exhibits which take visitors on a journey through time. You will see excellent Native American artifacts and rare Civil War finds, explore our agricultural past and our military history, and learn about the development of our community.  Also in the main museum is a gift shop where you will find books about Marlboro County’s history, notecards and postcards, and items created by local artisans.

The Jennings-Brown House is one of the most historic homes in Bennettsville. Built in 1826 by one of Bennettsville’s first physicians, Dr. E.W. Jones, it takes its name from the Dr. J. Beaty Jennings and J.J. Brown families, who lived there 1854-1902 and 1930-1968, respectively.  During the Civil War, Union Army Maj. Gen. Frank P. Blair used the home as his headquarters when his 17th Army Corps captured Bennettsville on March 6, 1865.  The home was restored in 1976 by the Marlborough Historical Society to serve as a house museum.

The Medical Museum is housed in Dr. J.F. Kinney’s former medical office next to the main museum. Two of Kinney’s sons followed him into medical practice, and items in this museum come from the Kinney physicians as well as other medical practitioners in the county. You will see examples of examination rooms through time, interesting and unique medical instruments, and portraits of many leading Marlboro physicians.

The Bennettsville Female Academy dates from the 1830s and is adjacent to the Jennings-Brown House. This two-room school was a private school from 1833 to 1881. It was organized in 1830 by leading citizens to provide educational opportunities for young ladies in the community. It is furnished as a mid-19th century school house.

The Marlboro County Printing Museum was created as an Eagle Scout project by Lee McNiel, whose family has owned the local newspaper, the Herald-Advocate, for generations. Visitors will learn about the history of printing from the earliest times to the present.