Myrtle Beach, South Carolina may be best known for its beautiful water and white sandy beaches, but it should never be forgotten that this diverse metropolitan area has much more to offer.
Rich with history, culture and beautiful natural wonders, Myrtle Beach can be a feast for your body and mind. You don’t have to wait for the next rainy day to pack up and head to one of the many museums Myrtle Beach has to offer!
That’s why we’ve compiled a quick breakdown of some of the best. That way, you’ll known exactly where to go the next time you are looking to expand your mind inside Myrtle Beach.
So, without further ado, let’s start breaking down some of the best.
History museums
One of the very best places to begin your museum tour in Myrtle Beach is at the North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum. Here, you can learn about the rich history of the region, from the Native Americans who ruled the region, to the first Western settlers to arrive, and beyond. You’ll leave with a much greater appreciation for the tourist hotspot that now is Myrtle Beach.
Another fantastic way to learn about the history of the region is to take a look at the living history that still exists. Get a taste of the 18th century living that this area once offered at the Kaminski House Museum and Stewart Parker House. These two relics offer guided tours so that you can get a great idea of what it was like to call Myrtle Beach home back before the 20th century. You’ll also get the opportunity to learn about what life was like for some of the men and women who called these two buildings home.
Another fantastic museum stop in Myrtle Beach is the South Carolina Maritime Museum. Here, you’ll learn about the rich history of the South Carolina coast’s seafaring way of life. This museum is located in Georgetown, which is quite fitting considering it is the state’s second-largest port.
Another must-visit when it comes to the history of the region is the South Carolina Civil War Museum in Myrtle Beach. Here you will be able to study and learn from artifacts from the American Civil War including artillery, firearms, cannons, and more. You’ll also see a number of pictures and other documents that have been preserved so that we can now learn from that traffic clash of our nation.
Another crucial history to visit is the Myrtle Beach Colored School Museum. This thought-provoking trip through time allows us to ponder what this country was like back during the time of segregation, and how far we have come as a nation towards equality.
Art museums
Don’t let the fact that Myrtle Beach is rich with history museums distract you from the beautiful art museums that also call the city home.
Perhaps the most well-known is the Franklin G. Burroughs-Simeon B. Chapin Art Museum. Boasting 10 full galleries, an art studio and robust resource library, this museum serves as the primary hub for all fine art in the Grand Strand. Not only is the art within the museum special, the building itself – a 1920s cabana-style villa – is undoubtedly a work of art in its own right.
The other fantastic art museum in the area is the Brookgreen Gardens. What makes this museum so unique is that it is not really a museum at all – rather a vast sculpture garden that is so special that is has been added to the list of National Historic Landmarks. The museum’s late founder, Anna Hyatt Huntington, envisioned the sculpture garden to be an outdoor gallery for her own sculptures and other artists. Now, it holds more than 1,400 works of art from over 350 sculptors.
Interactive
Some of the very best museums the city has to offer are just as much fun as they are informational. These great places to bring your kids will teach them a lot without them even realizing it!
This Myrtle Beach museum could be easily confused for an arcade from 30 or 40 years ago! Here, you and your family will be able to take a fantastic journey back in time to see – and of course play – some of the most beloved pinball games in history. This nostalgic must-see is located right by the Myrtle Beach Convention Center and just four blocks away from the ocean. That’s why it’s a perfect place to cool down, grab some food, and have some fun after another long day at the beach.
The Children’s Museum of South Carolina as calls Myrtle Beach home. Here, kids can learn and play with a bunch of different hands-on activities. Whether it’s a banker, archeologist, builder, pirate, farmer and more. All children need to do to learn in this fun and exciting museum is keep an open mind. Of course for kids, that isn’t a difficult task at all.
Another fantastic museum to take your little ones is the Broadway at the Beach’s WonderWorks. This place of learning is truly disguised as a massive playground, complete with 100 hands-on exhibits. Here your children can see what its like to put on a NASA space outfit, lie on a bed of nails, create massive bubbles, play chopsticks on a massive ground piano, and be nearly blown away by hurricane-force winds. On top of all that, the WonderWorks offers a laser tag area, a ropes course, and many other things to enjoy.
For fun
If you’re not all that interested in learning and just looking from some good old-fashioned entertainment, head over to the Hollywood Wax Museum to see life-like wax dolls of some of your favorite celebrities such as Dolly Parton, Beyoncé Knowles, Johnny Depp, Clint Eastwood and more.
Finally, the last museum on this list that you might want to visit is the Wheels of Yesteryear museum, which will let you take a look at some of the most beautiful cars in the history of automobiles.