The newly-opened Folly History Museum looks back and ahead
by Liz Wolfe | Contributing Writer
The tides may change daily on Folly Beach, but its history now has a more permanent home. Thanks to the newly-opened Folly Beach Historical Society and its chair, Regina Anderson, the island’s stories, artifacts, and traditions are being preserved and shared through the Folly Beach History Museum.
The museum, which officially opened last month after years of planning, is tucked inside the Folly Beach Community Center, covers just 200 square feet, but is already filled with local treasures. Anderson and her team are making sure that what fits inside those four walls reflects the spirit of Folly, starting with an exhibit dedicated to one of the island’s most beloved pastimes—surfing.
Surfing on the Edge celebrates Folly’s deep connection to the sport since it was first introduced to the island in the early 1960s.
“Surfing hits several generations and is a huge part of Folly Beach culture, so it was an obvious choice for a first exhibit,” says Anderson.
The display draws on contributions from local surfers, books such as Surfing the South by Steve Estes, and even personal items like the original Warrior Surf Foundation logo, sketched on the back of a napkin at Chico Feo.
The community response has been enthusiastic.
“We had 80 people come to the panel discussion on our opening night,” says Anderson.
And visitors have been flowing in ever since—enjoying the relics of the past as well as exploring a touchscreen kiosk with recorded interviews, including one with local surfer Glenn Tanner reflecting on the decades he’s spent surfing Folly waves.
Future exhibits will expand beyond surfing to cover Folly’s many chapters of history: its role in the American Revolution, Civil War, and World War II; the evolution of the pier; hurricanes and erosion; and even the island’s brushes with pirates. According to Anderson, the most-requested exhibits so far are on the Civil War and Hurricane Hugo.
For Anderson, preserving history isn’t just about artifacts, it’s about people.
“We get so much information and new stories just from talking to people who come into the museum,” she says. “We have a few centenarians and people in their 80s and 90s on our island, and a subgroup of volunteers dedicated to capturing their stories. If we don’t, there is so much history that will be lost.”
The museum depends on community involvement, from donations of memorabilia to volunteer time.
“People have things in their closets and houses,” Anderson says. “One woman contacted me because her late husband’s father was the township commissioner. She was going to throw away city budgets, a plaque from the original volunteer fire department, and other items if we didn’t want them. Thank goodness she called me.”
Anderson hopes the museum will eventually have regular, expanded hours and exhibits that are accessible online so anyone, anywhere, can explore Folly’s past. But more than anything, she wants residents to feel ownership of the project.
“I just want the entire community to be engaged,” says Anderson. “The people who helped us put together the surfing exhibit are not going to be the same people who help with the future Civil War exhibit. That’s what makes it special. Everyone has a piece of Folly’s story.”
With its growing collection, rotating exhibits, and passionate volunteers, the Folly Beach History Museum may be small in square footage. Still, it’s proving to be a big step toward keeping the island’s unique history alive.
The Folly Beach History Museum is located within the Folly Beach Community Center, located at 55 Center St. For more information, email FollyHistory@gmail.com or visit www.follybeachhistory.org.
