North Myrtle Beach Times Serving our Community and the Grand Strand for over 50 years
On Wednesday, January 21, 2026, the Rotary Club of Little River had the pleasure of welcoming Dick Hester, North Myrtle Beach historian, as their guest speaker.
Mr. Hester shared the fascinating story of the North Myrtle Beach Area Historical Museum, how it was founded and its role in preserving the area’s rich past. He explained that what is now North Myrtle Beach was originally made up of five independent beach communities—Windy Hill Beach, Atlantic Beach, Cherry Grove Beach, Crescent Beach and Ocean Drive (OD) Beach—each with its own mayor, town government and distinct identity.
As these communities grew, four of the five cities eventually merged, forming the City of North Myrtle Beach. Mr. Hester also shared that he had the honor of serving as the Mayor of North Myrtle Beach following the merger, providing a unique, first-hand perspective on this pivotal moment in local history.
It was an engaging and educational presentation that reminded us how these once separate towns came together to create the vibrant community we know today.
The club thanks Mr. Hester for sharing his knowledge and helping the club better appreciate the roots of North Myrtle Beach.
