A region-wide campaign to document the rich and under-recognized heritage of the region surrounding Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

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Covering the area from Winyah Bay to Cape Fear, this project area encompasses Horry and Georgetown Counties in South Carolina, and Brunswick County in North Carolina. It includes many historic communities, including not only Myrtle Beach, but also Georgetown, Plantersville, Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet, Sandy Island, Atlantic Beach, Conway, and Little River, South Carolina; and Shallotte, Calabash, Bolivia, and the Brunswick islands in North Carolina.

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The need for cultural preservation in this area is URGENT, because massive growth is continually pushing out long-established communities, forever altering the historic and natural landscape, and accelerating the loss of historical memory. The area is also exceptionally vulnerable to damage from hurricanes and flooding.​​​​​
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What we'll do (2026–2028)
 

• Record oral histories with residents.

• Digitize family archives and photos, and materials from historic businesses.

• Build an online archive so people can easily find and use these materials alongside other public collections.

• Place historic markers across the region.

• Create classroom lessons and programs for local schools.

• Host hands-on workshops that teach people how to preserve their family and community history.​

 

Whole South Heritage Works is collaborating with a team representing many of the region’s leading history museums, archives, and historical societies, as well as independent scholars and documentarians.

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Guiding committee 

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• ​Chapin Memorial Library

• Charles Joyner Institute for Gullah and African Diaspora Studies, Coastal Carolina University

• Atlantic Beach Gullah Geechee Organization

• Horry County Historical Society

• Horry County Museum​

• Horry County Archives, Coastal Carolina University

 

We’re growing this group and welcome inquiries from new partners.  We especially encourage entities in Georgetown and Brunswick Counties to reach out. 

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How you can help

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Share stories!

Do you have memories of growing up in this region? We’d love to talk with you about potentially setting up an interview.

 

Share old photos or documents!

We are also very interested in preserving private citizens’ and businesses’ photos and historic records. Would you like to share your family photos, old family letters or documents, or another special item? We’ll digitize them, you’ll keep the originals, and we’ll credit you as the owner in any public presentation. You’ll also receive digital copies that you can share with your family.

Share contacts!

Do you know of a community elder who might be interested in being interviewed, or of someone with a collection they might allow us to digitize? We would love to contact them. 
 

 

Please Donate!

This work depends on community support.

Please consider donating to Whole South Heritage Works

and sharing this project with friends and neighbors. 

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