The first Jewish citizens of Sumter arrived from Charleston around 1815 and established Temple Sinai as a Reform congregation in the early 1900s. Completed in 1913, the synagogue is Moorish revival and has uniquely-crafted stained glass windows. In 2015, the remaining members of the congregation reached out to Sumter County Museum and HW Exhibits to convert its fellowship hall into the first Jewish history museum in South Carolina. Initially they wanted a temporary or movable exhibit, but we arrived at this permanent version with newly constructed curving walls and elements that echo the cabinetry in the sanctuary. The design incorporates artifact cases, custom illustrations, large scale photo collages, interactive Seder table, audio stations, unique wallpaper patterns, and a donor wall.

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Project Manager Rachel Bragg, with HW Exhibits