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Columbia,SC (WACH)--Midlands residents have a chance to see a brand new traveling exhibit on a South Carolina hero.

An exhibit for Robert Smalls is now at the South Carolina State Museum and has been viewed by more than 80,000 people around the nation.

Smalls was born an enslaved person but later escaped and became a hero in the Civil War. He also served five terms in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The exhibit features ship models of the Planter, artifacts, and letters further explaining his heroic exploits. It will be at the museum until the end of January.

Museum Outreach Manager Jeff Powley said the exhibit comes at a good time.

"I think it is an important part of South Carolina history. Not only to know about some of the roles African-Americans played in the Civil War, but since this is the sesquicentennial year of the Civil War, there are celebrations all over South Carolina and the east coast. So we wanted to make sure that our native son Robert Smalls was included."