Its claim to fame is that it is the birthplace of Sports Illustrated. I love to take people to the clubhouse here because it is not only one of our city’s most historic buildings, it is one of the most beautiful. Pine Lakes International Country Club 5609 Woodside Ave, Myrtle Beach I am so proud of my city, that, when it would have been so easy to just let the memory of this place fade and be eventually forgotten forever, they purchased the property, renovated or recreated the structures and created not only a historic site but a center for the community. It was on the Chitlin Circuit, a string of venues nationwide where black performers were welcomed to play during a time of segregation. It is mindboggling that the greatest names in 20 th Century music played right here in Myrtle Beach from the 1930s to the 1960s at a club on Carver Street called Charlie’s Place. Charlie’s Place Historic Site 1420 Carver Street, Myrtle Beach
MYRTLE BEACH GAY PRIDE WEEK 2021 SERIES
Nearby, there is a historic marker telling the story of the series of pavilions that stood on that spot or nearby since Myrtle Beach’s earliest days that served as the place where some of our collective happiest memories were made from 1908 to 2006. Soon after the war, The Gay Dolphin Gift Cove opened and remains one of the most unique gift shops on the East Coast. During WWII, the Army Air Corp airmen stationed in Myrtle Beach would have frequented those places and the Fun Plaza around the corner while they had a little time for R&R. The Bowery next door opened in 1944 and rose to international prominence in 1980 when the greatest act in country music, Alabama, got its start there. Peaches Corner’s sign even says that it’s been here since 1937 which is a year before we officially became a town. Blending in with the new are venues that have been here since Myrtle Beach’s beginning. There are so many fun things to do in our Boardwalk Entertainment District along the Boulevard where you’ll find the SkyWheel, all of the Ripley’s (Believe It or Not) attractions, and various eateries and shops. (most notably between 9 th and 11 th Avenues), Myrtle Beach I call him “Myrtle Beach History Personified.” Myrtle Beach Boardwalk (especially the former Pavilion site, The Bowery, Peaches Corner, Fun Plaza, and The Gay Dolphin) North Ocean Blvd. His prints and books are must-haves for locals and the most quintessential souvenirs for visitors.
Stop by his gallery in the afternoon when you have the best chance of catching him as he is still on the go, not only taking pictures but installing prints of his most classic images in homes and businesses all over town. He is now considered one of our city’s most beloved historians.
MYRTLE BEACH GAY PRIDE WEEK 2021 PROFESSIONAL
He has captured Myrtle Beach on film (or digitally) for more than 70 years since starting his professional career as a photographer at the Myrtle Beach Pavilion’s souvenir photo kiosk when he was 13 years old. Jack Thompson Photo Gallery in The Myrtle Beach Historic District On the corner of 9 th Avenue North and Kings Highway at Nance Plaza, Myrtle Beach These are some of my favorite places where I take my guests or encourage them to visit on their own when they are here. If you have an interest in discovering Myrtle Beach’s fascinating past, the best way to go about it is to explore the historic sites that make our history come alive. Our visitors and residents over the years have included celebrities, military heroes and world-renowned artists who have left their mark. It brims with fun, diverse, and often surprising stories that sometimes go back more than a century. I grew up in Myrtle Beach and have always been enthralled by its local history.