“Hemingway’s Heroine”
Exhibit
Showcasing Ava’s close friendship with Ernest Hemingway. This exhibit will feature, for the first time, a movie costume reproduction. Danielle Lynch, a fashion designer from Raleigh who has been inspired by Ava’s fashions, has recreated the iconic black satin, single-shoulder strapped dress Ava wore in The Killers, which was was selected in 2008 for preservation by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
Discover the real
Ava Gardner
as you take the self-guided tour through more than 5,000 square-feet of exhibit space. You’ll see extraordinary costumes, movie posters and awards that represent Ava’s 50-year career as a leading Hollywood actress. The Museum also houses a collection of personal items of china, jewelry, clothing and fine art, including 40 portraits by Bert Pfeiffer, an artist whose collection was donated to the museum in 2001.
Museum
History
The man behind it all is Thomas M. Banks of Pompano Beach, Florida, a former publicist for
Columbia Pictures, who collected Ava memorabilia for over 50 years.
Museum
Campaign
More than 15 years after our most recent remodel, we are seeking an upgrade to our fire suppression system which will assist in guarding the collection for fans of Ava and Hollywood in the event of a catastrophe. This project is estimated to cost $100,000. We are asking Ava's fans and fellow history buffs to help us preserve a unique piece of cinematic history and an iconic treasure of Hollywood as well as North Carolina. The official page of the Ava Gardner Museum and Estate can be accessed below:
