What are the opening hours?

Monday 9:30am - 4:30pm Tuesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 4:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 4:30pm Friday 9:30am - 4:30pm Saturday 9am - 5pm Sunday 12pm - 5pm

Ava Gardner

Official Page of Ava Gardner: The Golden-Age Hollywood Star
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Visit for information on the Ava Gardner Museum
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This is the Official Page of the Ava Gardner Estate and the Ava Gardner Museum. The Ava Gardner Museum is home to an incredible collection including original scripts, photos, costumes, and personal effects of screen legend Ava Gardner—a true Hollywood “Cinderella” story. Experience her rise from a local country girl to one of Hollywood’s film goddesses. Born near Smithfield, Ava’s friends and co-s

tars included Mickey Rooney, Clark Gable, Frank Sinatra, and Gregory Peck. Her grave site is located in nearby Sunset Memorial Gardens, approximately two miles from the museum. Merchandise is available for purchase. Wheelchair accessible, public restrooms. Free parking along street and rear lots. Admission per person:
$12 adults; $10 seniors, military, teens; $8 children ages 6-12, under 6 - Free. Special group rate of $10/person for 10 or more. Group Heritage Tours $15.00/person (price includes museum admission, subject to availability, please call for details)

Please also consider becoming an Ava Advocate for $36/year (individual) or $60 (family- up to 5 people). Includes a yearly calendar, unlimited admission (excluding special events), and a 15% discount in the gift shop! Hours: Monday- Friday 9:30am -4:30 pm, Saturday 9am- 5pm, Sunday 12pm- 5pm. During instances of inclement weather we may operate on delay or close for safety reasons. Please keep updated by checking our Facebook or calling the museum. Closed: Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

08/31/2026

Today’s the day—and we’re all smiles! 😁

Just like Ava, we can’t hide our excitement! The countdown is over, and it’s Ava’s day on Turner Classic Movies’ ! ✨ Have you tuned in yet? Which films are you looking forward to most?

And don’t fret once the credits roll! Stay tuned for more information about the Ava Gardner Museum’s annual Ava Gardner Festival, taking place October 2–4 in Smithfield, NC.🎬

For more information: https://bit.ly/4xgjG62

08/28/2026

Our countdown to Ava Gardner’s day on is almost complete! ⏰

One of Ava’s most iconic roles was as “Maria Vargas,” a Spanish nightclub dancer turned movie star, in ‘The Barefoot Contessa’ (1954). The character is celebrated for her beauty, pursued by the public, and surrounded by people who believe they know her. Ava understood that experience better than most. ❤️

Ava wrote about the role in her autobiography: “Of all the pictures I’ve made…there’s no doubt that The Barefoot Contessa is the one that most people identify me with. That damn advertising line, “The World’s Most Beautiful Animal,” will probably follow me around until the end of time.”

Maria Vargas is glamorous, mysterious, independent, vulnerable and, ultimately, unwilling to let the world completely define her. Ava’s portrayal of Maria as she faces the complexities of becoming a star is one of her most memorable, celebrated, and magnificent performances. Don’t miss your chance to see it on August 31 on TCM. 🎬

Interested in learning more about Ava’s iconic roles? Stay tuned for more information about the Ava Gardner Festival taking place in Smithfield, NC October 2-4!

08/26/2026

We’re getting closer to Ava Gardner’s day on Turner Classic Movies ! 💫 Today, we're celebrating Ava as “Maxine Faulk” in ‘The Night of the Iguana’ (1964).

The film starred Ava alongside Richard Burton and Deborah Kerr on a set filled with intrigue. The cast was able to produce a tremendous film - and one of the most memorable of Ava’s career.

Maxine’s bold, unapologetic, and sultry persona was grounded in an earthy performance by Ava and punctuated by her return to a natural southern drawl.

Be sure to catch Ava as Maxine in ‘The Night of the Iguana’ at 10:15 PM on Monday, August 31 on TCM! 🦎

You can learn more about Ava’s role in this film by visiting the Ava Gardner Museum! When’s the best time to do it? During our upcoming Ava Gardner festival which will occur at the museum on October 2-4! Stay tuned to learn more! ✨

08/21/2026

We continue our countdown to all things Ava during with her unforgettable performance as “Eloise ‘Honey Bear’ Kelly” in ‘Mogambo’ (1953), a remake of Clark Gable’s 1932 film ‘Red Dust.”

For Ava, the film was more than a remake. She had what she called a “special attachment” to it. She had seen ‘Red Dust’ as a child alongside her mother, both of whom were smitten by Gable. This film provided her with an opportunity to bring that experience full circle and work with Gable for the third time. Additionally, filming ‘Mogambo’ launched a deep and important relationship that would last a lifetime - her friendship with Grace Kelly. 💛

Beyond her relationship with her costars, the film brought Ava acclaim unlike anything she had received before. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination, the only one of her career. She later wrote that “as far as my career as an actress went, Mogambo was probably as close to a pinnacle as anything I’ve done.”

Don’t touch that dial and be sure to settle in at 8 PM on Monday, August 31 for Ava’s stellar performance in ‘Mogambo’ on TCM. 🐘

Interested in learning more about Ava’s unforgettable performances? Be sure to check back for more information about the Ava Gardner Festival happening in Smithfield, NC on October 2-4! ✨

08/19/2026

We’re counting down to a full day of Ava Gardner on Turner Classic Movies by highlighting a few of the wonderful films in the lineup! 🎬

Directed John Huston and starring Paul Newman, 'The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean' (1972) stars Ava in a brief but memorable role as Lillie Langtry, the celebrated actress whom Judge Roy Bean worships from afar.

Langtry was a tremendous beauty whose image captured the public imagination, much as Ava’s own beauty and screen presence made her one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars. In a role that required legendary beauty, unmistakable charm, and a larger-than-life presence, Ava was a perfect fit. 🩷

Catch ‘The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean’ on TCM on Monday, August 31 at 5:45 PM…and be sure to tune in to all of the movies before and after, too!

Want to continue the Ava excitement even after August 31? Stay tuned for more information about the Ava Gardner Museum’s annual Ava Gardner Festival, which will occur in Smithfield, NC on October 2-4! ✨

08/17/2026

Attention, Ava fans! 📣

Ever wanted the opportunity to watch Ava on screen for an entire day? August 31 is your chance.

That’s right - two weeks from TODAY you can settle in for a full day of all things Ava. We are very excited that Ava is closing out Turner Classic Movie’s month-long series ! 💫

The line-up is stellar and full of films you don’t want to miss! Which movie are you looking forward to most? 🎬

Wondering how you can stay connected with Ava even after August 31? Stay tuned for more information about the Ava Gardner Museum’s annual Ava Gardner Festival, which will occur in Smithfield, NC on October 2-4! ✨

08/14/2026

Did someone say ? 🎬 Can you finish the line?

“The measure of love is…..” ♥️

Hint: This is a line spoken in ‘Pandora and the Flying Dutchman’ (1951) starring Ava and James Mason.

Drop your answers in the comments! 👇

08/13/2026

in 1947, ‘Singapore’ premiered, starring Ava alongside Fred MacMurray. 🖤

A mysterious tale of pearl smuggling, romance, and lost memories, 'Singapore' is also notable as one of four film noirs Ava starred in. Can you name the other three? 🎬

08/07/2026

Smile! It’s Friday! 😀

Here’s a collection of Ava smiles to get your weekend off to a great start!

08/05/2026

we celebrate the birthdays of two figures in Ava Gardner's career—both of whom she collaborated with three times.

🎬 Robert Taylor was born on this day in 1911 and was Ava’s costar in “The Bribe” (1949), “Ride, Vaquero!” (1953), and “Knights of the Round Table” (1953). Beyond the screen, the two shared a brief and mostly secret romance. It was a time that Ava called a “magical little interlude.”

🎥 John Huston was born on this day in 1906. He directed Ava in “The Night of the Iguana (1964), “The Bible” (1966), and “The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean” (1972). Huston was Ava’s favorite director to work with, and the feeling was mutual. She recounted in her autobiography that “the director I trusted most of all was John Huston.”

Two very different relationships, but two important partnerships in Ava’s career.

Address

325 E Market Street
Smithfield, NC
27577

Opening Hours

Monday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Friday	9:30am - 4:30pm
Saturday	9am - 5pm
Sunday	12pm - 5pm

Telephone

(919) 934-5830

Website

http://www.avagardner.org/

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