NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) A new exhibit is on display at North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum depicting the life of the famous entertainer Bob Hope

The exhibit will be displayed through the summer. Bob Hope: An American Treasure is usually housed in much larger museums but with the help of grants from the Bob and Dolores Hope Charitable Foundation it is now featured on the Grand Strand

One section of the exhibit features Hope’s visit to Myrtle Beach. It happened in the mid 1970’s at the Tennessee Ernie Ford Theater.  The story goes that he opened his show with the phrase “Welcome to Myrtle Beach, Gateway to Loris”.

“We’ll hear laughter ringing through the gallery,” Museum Director Jenean Todd said.

It’s a common jovial theme ringing out amidst artifacts, pictures and videos depicting the life of one of the world’s greatest and most beloved entertainers.

“I guess I just emailed at the right time,” Todd said of the museum’s good fortune in securing the traveling exhibit.

The task at hand was still very large as a crew of volunteers from around the community joined the small staff to unload multiple tractor trailers filled with memories and artifacts.

“It was a lot of work in a very short amount of time to get the exhibit here,” Todd said

From an early paycheck to easily recognizable big time awards like an Oscar and an Emmy, the displays also feature those famous Bob Hope putters used frequently in his comedy routines.

“There’s one with a fishing line so you can reel up the ball, get it where you want it, hit it, it goes where it wants then you reel it back in and start all over,” Todd said.

It’s all part of the charm and endless laughs in his repertoire leaving visitors to this museum in North Myrtle Beach well entertained all summer

“It’s such a blessing for us to receive this exhibit when we did,” Todd said

North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum Hours

  • Tuesday and Friday from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • Sunday 12 – 4 p.m.
  • Closed on Monday

Ticket Prices

  • $10 Adults
  • $8 Seniors, Students and Military (with ID)
  • $5 for children ages 5-12
  • 5 and under Free

Some of the other museums to host this exhibit are much larger including the World War II Museum in New Orleans, the Gerald Ford Presidential Library and the Green Bay Packers Museum.