Myrtle Beach Historical Society

Myrtle Beach Historical Society
Name	Myrtle Beach Historical Society
Formation	1969
Type	Historical society
Headquarters	Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
Region served	Horry County, South Carolina
Leader title	Executive Director
Leader name	(various)
Website	(official site)

Myrtle Beach Historical Society The Myrtle Beach Historical Society is a nonprofit cultural institution based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina dedicated to documenting and interpreting the history of Horry County, South Carolina, the Grand Strand, and adjacent coastal communities such as Conway, South Carolina and Pawleys Island, South Carolina. Established during the late 20th century amid regional growth and tourism linked to attractions like Broadway at the Beach and the Myrtle Beach Boardwalk, the organization preserves artifacts, archives, and structures associated with local figures, commerce, hospitality, and maritime life.

History

The organization was founded in 1969 as part of a wave of preservation efforts following development tied to projects like Interstate 95 improvements and the expansion of Myrtle Beach International Airport. Early leadership included civic leaders with ties to institutions such as Horry County Council and the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce, and collaborations with regional entities including Coastal Carolina University and the South Carolina Historical Society. The society has navigated changing contexts involving the rise of tourism from destinations like Hilton Head Island and Charleston, South Carolina, natural disasters such as Hurricane Hugo and Hurricane Matthew (2016), and municipal initiatives connected to the City of Myrtle Beach waterfront redevelopment.

Mission and Activities

The society’s mission centers on collecting, conserving, and communicating the heritage of the Grand Strand, linking themes from early settlement by families associated with Winyah Bay trade routes to 20th-century developments in hotels, rail connections like the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad, and military mobilization related to nearby bases such as Joint Base Charleston. Core activities include archival stewardship in partnership with repositories such as the South Carolina Department of Archives and History, oral history projects modeled after programs at Library of Congress collections, and public outreach coordinated with organizations like the South Carolina Humanities Council and local museums including the Horry County Museum.

Collections and Exhibits

Holdings encompass photographic collections documenting landmarks such as the original Myrtle Beach Pavilion and the development of attractions like SkyWheel Myrtle Beach, artifact assemblages from hospitality enterprises including period hotels on Ocean Boulevard (Myrtle Beach) and maritime objects connected to shrimping and fishing industries that used waters off Waccamaw River. The society curates rotating exhibits that reference broader cultural histories exemplified by figures and places like Kingfisher Inn, Horry County courthouse (Conway) imagery, and transportation narratives involving the Seaboard Air Line Railroad. Collaborative exhibits have been staged with institutions such as Atalaya Castle (Huntington Beach State Park), Brookgreen Gardens, and Myrtle Beach Convention Center event programming.

Programs and Education

Educational programming targets schools in districts like Horry County Schools and community groups including chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution and Boy Scouts of America (Scouting) units, offering curricula tied to state standards referenced by the South Carolina Department of Education. Public lectures feature scholars from Coastal Carolina University, authors with works on Lowcountry history, and preservationists affiliated with the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The society produces oral histories, walking tours of the Myrtle Beach Historic District, and teacher resources that connect to topics such as coastal ecology near Debordieu Colony and economic histories linked to ports like Georgetown, South Carolina.

Facilities and Preservation

Facility stewardship has included maintenance of historic structures and archival storage meeting standards promoted by the American Alliance of Museums and conservation guidance from the National Archives and Records Administration. The society has engaged in preservation projects affecting properties within municipal planning areas tied to the City of Myrtle Beach redevelopment and has advised on mitigation strategies following storm events catalogued by agencies like the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Partnerships with local preservation organizations and developers, alongside grant-funded conservation work, have supported maintenance of period architecture and interpretive sites.

Governance and Funding

Governance is overseen by a volunteer board composed of members drawn from civic institutions such as the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce and academic partners including Coastal Carolina University, with day-to-day operations led by professional staff and volunteers who coordinate with municipal entities like Horry County Council. Funding streams include membership dues, donations from foundations active in the region, grants from arts and humanities funders such as the South Carolina Arts Commission and revenue-generating activities tied to collaborations with local tourism partners including Visit Myrtle Beach. The society also solicits support through fundraising events paralleling practices at regional organizations like the Horry County Historical Society.

Category:Organizations based in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina Category:Historical societies in South Carolina