- Attraction: Ava Gardner Museum
- Location: 325 E Market St, Smithfield, NC 27577
- Industry: Museum
- Website: https://www.avagardner.org
Picture wandering through 5,000 square feet of Hollywood magic where gowns once worn by a legendary film goddess hang beside love letters from Frank Sinatra.
The Ava Gardner Museum transforms a simple downtown Smithfield building into an intimate portal back to the Golden Age of cinema, celebrating the extraordinary journey of a tobacco farmer’s daughter who became one of Hollywood’s most captivating stars.
Born just seven miles away in the rural crossroads of Grabtown, Ava Gardner’s rise from small-town North Carolina to international stardom reads like a true Hollywood fairy tale.
This remarkable museum houses what many consider the world’s most comprehensive collection of Gardner memorabilia, offering visitors an unparalleled glimpse into both the glittering public persona and intimate private world of the woman who captivated audiences alongside Clark Gable, Gregory Peck, and her famous husband, Frank Sinatra.
Stunning Movie Memorabilia & Personal Treasures
Movie Costumes & Jewelry: You’ll find yourself mesmerized by the museum’s extraordinary collection of Gardner’s actual movie costumes, including the stunning red gown she wore in the 1951 film “Show Boat” and elegant pieces from classics like “Mogambo” and “The Barefoot Contessa.” The jewelry displays are equally captivating, featuring not just the sparkling pieces she wore on screen, but personal items including the watch that she gave to Frank Sinatra during their passionate marriage.
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Keep Exploring →Original Scripts & Movie Posters: The museum showcases original scripts, photographs, and movie posters spanning Gardner’s five-decade career, creating a visual timeline of Hollywood’s Golden Age. You’ll discover memorabilia from some of her greatest films including “The Killers,” “On the Beach,” and “Seven Days in May,” complete with stories about her legendary co-stars of the era.
Personal Letters & Intimate Artifacts: One of the museum’s most fascinating features is a collection of personal correspondence, including an absolutely captivating letter from Gregory Peck asking her to star in his upcoming film, complete with promises to shoot in Madrid instead of Paris to accommodate her preferences. The “Archiving Ava” exhibit reveals items from her own personal collection – letters, photographs, gifts, and sentimental mementos that she kept throughout her life, offering an extraordinarily intimate look into her private world.
Portrait Gallery & Fine Art: The museum houses an impressive collection of 40 portraits by artist Bert Pfeiffer, whose entire Gardner collection was donated to the museum in 2001. Additional galleries feature Ava-inspired artwork from movie promotions as well as original fine art that showcases the global inspiration Gardner provided to artists across multiple disciplines.
Immersive Museum Experience & Interactive Features
Introductory Film Experience: Your visit begins with an engaging 18-minute biographical film that introduces Ava’s life story, providing essential context that enriches everything you’ll see throughout the museum. This intimate video features personal interviews and commentary from family members, childhood friends, co-stars, and even one of her husbands, Mickey Rooney.
Comprehensive Library Resources: The museum’s library section includes four detailed binders – one with portfolio pictures, another covering “the men of her life,” a third about her career, and the last focusing on her family. This allows you to dive deeper into specific aspects of Gardner’s life that particularly interest you.
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Discover MoreInteractive Displays: The museum features interactive kiosks where you can browse images that separate fact from fiction about Gardner’s life, highlighting her North Carolina roots, lasting friendships, charitable work, and complex relationship with the media.
Atmosphere & Historic Setting
Downtown Charm: The museum occupies a beautifully renovated building in downtown Smithfield that opened in 2000, creating an elegant 6,400-square-foot space that feels both intimate and professionally curated. Outside, you’ll find a striking mural created by Greensboro artist Brian Lewis that overlooks a yellow rose garden – yellow roses were Gardner’s particular favorite.
Professional Quality Displays: Visitors consistently praise the museum’s display quality, noting that the exhibits rival those found in major museums, with thoughtful curation and detailed written descriptions accompanying each artifact. The chronological arrangement helps you follow Gardner’s journey from childhood through her discovery by MGM, movie career, marriages, and later life in London and Spain.
Intimate Scale: The museum’s relatively intimate size allows for a personal experience where you can examine details closely, and knowledgeable docents often provide additional stories and insights that aren’t found on the display cards.
Other Considerations
Reasonable Pricing: Admission costs $12 for adults, with discounts available for seniors ($10), military ($10), and children 6-12 ($8), while kids under 6 enter free. Though some visitors initially find the price slightly high, most agree it’s justified once they see the remarkable quality and breadth of the collection.
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Keep Exploring →Convenient Location & Parking: The museum offers convenient free parking both on the street and in rear lots, making it easily accessible for visitors. Many travelers discover it as a perfect stopping point when traveling I-95, often exceeding their expectations.
Heritage Tour Options: For groups of 10 or more, the museum offers a Heritage Tour for $15 per person that includes museum admission plus visits to Gardner’s birthplace, gravesite, and other significant local locations. Her burial site is located just two miles away in Sunset Memorial Gardens.
Gift Shop & Membership: The museum features a well-stocked gift shop with Gardner-themed merchandise, and you can become an “Ava Advocate” member for $36 annually (individual) or $60 (family), which includes unlimited admission and a 15% gift shop discount.
Annual Festival: Each October, Smithfield hosts the Ava Gardner Festival featuring heritage tours, guest speakers, and film screenings of Gardner’s movies at local venues, making it an especially magical time to visit.
Ava Gardner Museum
📍 325 E Market St, Smithfield, NC 27577
