A trip to the museum might not be at the top of your party’s list of things to do in Myrtle Beach. But once you’ve soaked up lots of rays and had all the seafood you can eat, a visit to a local museum is a great way to spend a few hours out of your rainy day. Here are four worth checking out:
Burroughs & Chapin Art Museum of Myrtle Beach: This historic Myrtle Beach beach home was relocated to Springmaid Beach on the south end of Ocean Boulevard to serve as a community arts center. Named for the men regarded as the city's founding fathers, this three-story museum is home to visual arts exhibits on a regular and touring basis, a collection of works by Southern artists, and a library and classroom space for special seminars and how-to courses. The museum also features some old photos from Myrtle Beach's glory days, including the old Pavilion site and the aftermath of Hurricane Hazel in 1954. The works of local artists are also on display. There is no admission fee but donations are accepted. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily except 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday.
Children's Museum of South Carolina: Let your little ones exercise their minds as well as their bodies at this fun and educational museum. Located across Oak Street from the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, CMSC provides a wide range of activities for kids, including an arts and crafts section where children can get creative with drawing and painting projects and career center where they can pretend to work at a bank, hospital, pizzeria and more. Many of the exhibits are designed to spark kids' imaginations and to explain the world around them in easy-to-understand concepts. The Nature Center is the most popular attraction, where kids learn about the unique ecology of the South Carolina coast and see some of the state's notable creatures in person. Be sure to check for special events, like book readings for toddlers and crafts projects for pre-teens. CMSC is open from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and from noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.
Horry County Museum: The new and improved location marks a major upgrade in for the Horry County Museum. In fact, the facility was featured in The Animal Planet’s hit TV series “Tanked” as the crew built a special aquarium inside the spiral staircase featuring native species from local waters. The museum highlights both the natural history of the Carolina coast as well as the human settlement of the area. Conway, which is the county seat and home of the museum, is featured for its contributions in agricultural, timber and turpentine production that played a major role in ship-building on the 18th and 19th centuries. Learn fun facts about the area and enjoy a day in historic downtown Conway and a stroll along the Riverwalk for a fun family getaway.
South Carolina Hall of Fame: One of area's best-kept secrets is located in a wing of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and is open to the public. Glass-encased displays honor native South Carolinians who went on to fame, including Revolutionary War hero Francis “The Swamp Fox” Marion, novelist Pat Conroy, jazz great Dizzy Gillespie, seventh US President Andrew Jackson, New York Yankees legend Bobby Richardson, and three-time NASCAR champion Cale Yarborough. The exhibit highlights the achievements of several African-Americans, from Robert Smalls' hijacking a Confederate ship to freedom to astronaut Ronald McNair's ill-fated trip aboard the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster. There is no admission fee and the exhibit is open during regular Convention Center hours.
(Posted: 5/21/15)
