For Rhonda Lidell, the State Museum is one of the few cultural-educational attractions of Columbia.

“I used to live in Atlanta, where there were a lot of museums and other attractions,” said Lidell, 36, who brought her two children and their friend to the museum Sunday. “We come here at least four times a year, and I’m frightened about (the governor’s proposed) budget cuts.”

Gov. Mark Sanford’s proposal to phase out public funding for the museum leaves a big question mark over its future.

“If the museum closes, all we’ll have left in Columbia is the zoo,” Lidell said.

The future of the museum was on the minds of other weekend visitors.

Fred and Lib Burke of Sumter regularly took their two now-grown sons to Discovery Place in Charlotte. Now, the couple like to come to the State Museum in Columbia when they have a few hours to spare — including on a cold, rainy Friday afternoon just before closing time.

“It’s a beautiful museum,” Lib Burke said Friday.

Fred Burke, an industrial contractor, has a special fondness for the museum’s mineral and fossil exhibits. He marveled at a fossilized snake found in a slab of marl unearthed at a cement quarry.

The Burkes said the State Museum also has provided unique educational opportunities.

“We need all the educational opportunities we can get in South Carolina,” Fred Burke said. “They should get more support.”

Other weekend visitors were Clarence Cain of Columbia and his two sons, Bryant, 3, and Brendan, 5.

“We come to the museum regularly,” Cain said. “Brendan’s a fanatic about dinosaurs. Bryant likes to play in the Bird House (children’s play area).

“I grew up in Dillon, and we rode bikes and climbed trees,” Cain said. “Today, kids can be exposed to so much more. ... I would hate to see anything negative happen to the museum.”

Lionel and Angela Martin of Columbia looked for something different to do Friday other than a movie, dinner out or a trip to the zoo, another favorite destination.

“We wanted something out of the box,” said Lionel Martin, 29.

Martin was last at the museum for a high school field trip. Likewise, most of Angela Martin’s memories were from childhood and family outings there.

“It’s a great location. It’s stimulating. It’s just a great option to have,” Lionel Martin said. “It would be a shame if anything happened to close it or cut the hours.”

Reach Berman at (803) 771-8417 or pberman@thestate.com.

Staff writer Paul Wachter contributed to this article.