ART, HISTORY, & CULTURE APLENTY – The Towns of Myrtle Beach South Carolina have Endless Stories to Tell
Within a varied nation, the south is a place rich in history that has defined the strong cultural landscape of Myrtle Beach. From the craftsmanship of glass blowing in Conway and on Pawley’s Island, to the stately rice plantations with endless stories to tell- and even the coming together of a community to compete for the Grand Strand’s best Chicken Bog – Myrtle Beach is redolent of its heritage, and, with Southern Hospitality in mind, welcomes visitors to indulge in it’s local customs.
Historical Homes
The Hagood House Inn
Situated in the quaint community of Aynor, SC, The Hagood House Inn delivers a historic journey back into the early twentieth century to its guests, with its old South-style wrap around porches and rockers, lovely gardens that include a 200 year old pecan tree, claw-foot tubs and wash basins circa 1900, along with a nice helping of picturesque common areas that contain an old baby grand piano, exquisite furnishings and a cozy library with fireplace. For more information call (866) 344~9337or visit www.thehagoodhouseinn.com.
Hobcaw Barony
Hobcaw Barony is a 17,500-acre wildlife refuge on the southern end of the Grand Strand on 14 former rice plantations. Its current use – aside from day-tripper visits to its interesting and remote trails – is for the purposes of teaching and/or research in forestry, marine biology, and the care and propagation of wildlife, flora and fauna in connection with colleges and/or universities in the state of South Carolina. Tours are offered throughout the year as well as of the 1930 mansion of Wall Street financier Bernard Baruch who bought the property in 1905. For more information call (843) 546-4623 or visit www.hobcawbarony.org.
Hopsewee Plantation
Located just south of Georgetown in the historic heart of the Myrtle Beach area, Hopsewee dates back to 1740 and was formerly a rice plantation and home to Thomas Lynch, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. The plantation has an impressive collection of antique furniture and showcases beautifully manicured landscapes. For an extra dose of local history, the nearby Rice Museum provides visitors with a glimpse into pre-Civil War life in the area through maps, artifacts, exhibits and dioramas depicting life on rice plantations. The plantation is open Tuesday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday from noon to 4 p.m. The plantation’s tea room is open by reservation. For more information, call (843) 546-7891, or visit www.hopsewee.com.
Litchfield Plantation
Approaching Litchfield Plantation through a canopy of majestic Oak Trees instantly conjures images of the Old South for visitors to Myrtle Beach. This one-time coastal rice plantation now houses a variety of upscale lodging options spread across 600 acres of beautiful landscape. Classically opulent room dГ©cor and a variety of formal dining options that include the prestigious Carriage House Club provide visitors with an opportunity to be enveloped by local history throughout their stay. For more information, call (800) 869-1410, or visit www.litchfieldplantation.com.
Sea View Inn
Since 1937, Sea View Inn has served as a tranquil “barefoot paradise.” Located on a private beach in the middle of Pawley’s Island, SC, the inn offers guests a comfortable and casual hideaway, full of charm and hospitality. Steeped in tradition and history, this beachfront escape is perfect for those looking to take a break from the everyday hustle and bustle, to enjoy the South Carolina coast at its finest. For more information, call (843) 237-4253 or visit www.seaviewinn.net.
Wedgefield Plantation
Dating back to South Carolina’s Colonial Period, the Wedgefield Plantation is an iconic landmark in history and Southern culture, once serving as a prison during the Revolutionary War. Located at the southern end of the Grand Strand, the lush surroundings are also home to a golf course. For more information, call (843) 448-2124 or visit www.wedgefield.com.
Museums and Cultural Landmarks
Brookgreen Gardens
Considered the finest outdoor presentation of American figurative sculpture in the world, Brookgreen Gardens was created in the early 1930s by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington on the site of four former rice plantations. Brookgreen Gardens is home to more than 900 works (550 currently displayed) by 300 of the greatest names in American sculpture, past and present. In addition to the Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington Sculpture Garden, visitors can explore the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve, containing acre upon acre of native plants and animals, and the E. Craig Wall Jr. Lowcountry Center, featuring exhibits and educational programs focusing on the area’s rich history. Guests can visit varied ecosystems and historic sites via boat or overland aboard Springfield tidal creek excursions and Trekker back-roads excursions. For more information, call 843-235-6000, or visit www.Brookgreen.com.
Franklin G. Burroughs – Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum
Considered the Grand Strand’s home for contemporary visual art in all mediums since 1977, The Art Museum has been a showcase for living Southern artists that include Myrtle Beach’s own Alex Powers, Dixie Dugan, and Ouida Salvo. Housed in a restored 1920s beach cottage with signature green-striped awnings and picturesque tea porch, the Museum has 10 galleries with visual art exhibitions changing throughout the year. The Museum also boasts works of historic regional significance including The Waccamaw Arts and Crafts Guild Collection and the Bishop Collection of Antique Maps and Prints. The Museum has exhibited works from some of America’s foremost names in the world of art, including those of John James Audubon, Ansel Adams and Jasper Johns. Special events are offered regularly. The museum is open Tuesday – Saturday, from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. and Sundays from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. Admission is free. For more information, call (843) 238.2510 or visit www.myrtlebeachartmuseum.org.
First Saturday Art Walk in Conway
Hosted by the Historic District Artists of Conway, this interesting and interactive experience is offered the first Saturday of each month. Working artists open their galleries and studios to visitors to discuss their crafts. Art Walk sights include glass-blowing and quilting demonstrations, wine receptions in galleries, and live music. For one day each October, Conway closes down streets for “Art and Antiques in the Alley,” a celebration of artistry that includes visits by antique dealers, art vendors, pottery demonstrations and many other artistic outlets. For more information visit www.cityofconway.com.
Historic Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum and Education Center
The Myrtle Beach Colored School served African-American students in the Myrtle Beach area for more than 20 years. Today, a new Historic Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum and Education Center provides a window on that past, as well as a door to the future for all. Thanks to leadership from the City of Myrtle Beach, vision from former students and a partnership among public and private entities, the old school has been preserved in spirit and recreated in fact and continues to fulfill an educational mission. For more information, call (843) 918-1000 or visit www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/coloredschool.html.
Historic Myrtle Beach Train Depot
The Myrtle Beach Train Depot is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Built in 1937, the Depot was restored and re-opened in 2004 and is available for events and gatherings. The newly restored Depot is in the heart of Myrtle Beach, providing an active link to the city’s past and a focal point for its future. It currently serves as a popular place for wedding receptions, birthday parties, family reunions and club activities. For more information call (843) 918-4906 or (843) 251-6849 or visit www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/depot.html.
Horry County Museum
Housed in a converted Post Office adjacent to the Historic District of downtown Conway, the Horry County museum features monthly exhibits by local artists in addition to its historical and regional exhibits. The central theme underlying the exhibits is the wide range of environmental conditions found in Horry County and how its inhabitants, from prehistoric to present, have adapted to these local conditions. The museum features a variety of materials from old tools and photographs to miniatures of industries such as those producing tar and turpentine. Exhibits include farming tools and implements, household items and clothing, items from an old country store, local crafts – both historical and modern, and wildlife specimens and photographs. The museum offers a variety of programs on site and has outreach for people of all ages. It also offers walking tours of Conway’s picturesque historic district. For more information call (843) 915-5320 or visit www.horrycountymuseum.org.
The Original Pawley’s Island Rope Hammock Shop
There is nothing as authentic as a hand woven Pawley’s Island rope hammock made and sold by The Original Pawley’s Island Rope Hammock Shop. Created by a riverboat captain, Joshua John Ward, in the late 1800’s, these hammock masterpieces continue to embody the fine craftsmanship of this area of South Carolina. Visitors to the Original Pawley’s Island Rope Hammock Shop can choose from hammocks in a wide variety of new colors and fabrics, as well as the original cotton that Joshua John Ward found so strong and comfortable. For more information, call (843) 237-8448 or visit www.thehammockshops.com.
Pop’s Glass Gallery and Studio
Located in historic, downtown Conway, Pop’s GlassTM Gallery & Studio is owned by Ed and Barbara Streeter. They collaborate on design and color, working as a team to create their colorful collection of blown glass. The couple also teaches classes in glass blowing, glass bead making and glass fusing. In addition, they hold free public demonstrations of glass blowing throughout the year to increase the appreciation of the traditional craft of glass blowing. For more information, call (843) 248-4527 or visit www.popsglass.com.
Rice Museum
The story of the rice culture in Georgetown County is captured here. Through maps, dioramas, artifacts and other exhibits, visitors to the museum gain a knowledge and understanding of a society based on one crop. The museum is located in the Old Market Building, erected in 1842 and the first Georgetown structure to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In the adjacent Maritime History Gallery is Brown’s Ferry Vessel, a 50′ river freighter built in 1710, sunk around 1730 and the oldest boat in North America. Other exhibits include history of the Kaminski Hardware Company; Gullah history of the S.C. low country; Miss Ruby Forsythe, one of South Carolina’s great educators; and Joseph Hayne Rainey, the first African American elected to the U.S. Congress. Visitors are invited to browse in the Museum Gift Shop and the Prevost Gallery, which provides interesting exhibits of art and history on a revolving basis. For more information, call (843) 546-7423 or visit www.ricemuseum.org.
Wheels of Yesteryear
Wheels of Yesteryear is one of the Southeast’s most impressive collections of vintage American-made automobiles and trucks. Located in the former Basketville retail location at Hwy 501 and Hwy 31, Wheels of Yesteryear features over 45 classic cars and trucks collected and painstakingly restored by automobile enthusiast Paul Cummings. Cummings’ collection consists of over 100 accurately and fully-restored cars which will all be featured in the auto showcase on a rotating basis, year-round. The collection primarily consists of Chrysler/Dodge/Plymouth MOPAR cars, commonly referred to as American Muscle, some Ford Motor Company, GM Division, and AMC Corporation examples of muscle and classic cars of yesteryear. Among the most impressive cars on display are the winged warriors and nostalgia drag cars. For more information, call (704) 604 – 4664 or visit musclecarsandmore.com.
For additional information on the Myrtle Beach Area, visit www.VisitMyrtleBeach.com or call 1.888.Myrtle1.
January 20, 2010
Posted in: United States South