About the CMSC Where learning is fun for everyone!
Come "Touch, Explore, and Play..." while learning about your world through the interactive exhibits and programs at The Children's Museum of South Carolina. We serve our state and local communities, as well as visitors to Myrtle Beach's Grand Strand area.
Our commitment to education & fun can be experienced in all of our exhibits and educational programs. Working together collaboratively with our communities and schools, student participation is enhanced in the sciences, technology, the humanities and culture.
Each year thousands of visitors from schools, childcare centers, churches, and camps in Myrtle Beach and other surrounding communities, along with tourists from around the world, enjoy our Museum every year. Special programs offered by the Museum, such as Tales for Tots and Digitalis Planetarium, are extremely popular with the adults and children who visit the Museum. The Museum is also honored to participate in several community-based festivals held annually.
Growth of CMSC
The mission of The Children's Museum of South Carolina is to promote and stimulate self-discovery through interactive learning experiences, which will enhance every child's understanding of his or her global community.
Since its inception, the Children's Museum of South Carolina has experienced tremendous growth. In 1994, the Museum opened its doors, occupying a modest 1,200-square foot retail space in a local mall. The Museum was well received by all who visited. As a result, CMSC began to expand.
In March of 1995, CMSC acquired a 7,500 square foot facility and the task of restructuring the space into a museum environment began. During this period, 10 exhibits were designed, built and purchased. In March of 1996, the Museum once again opened its doors to the community. As a result of continued support, the Museum acquired an additional 1,200 square feet of space in the summer of 1998.
As the Museum continues to experience growth, it is steadily challenged to meet the needs of our community and state as a provider of a family-oriented learning environment that promotes interactive learning. As the local resident and tourist populations continue to increase, the need to provide quality family-oriented experiences increases. This is evidenced by CMSC's steadily increasing number of visitors and voiced through visitor surveys at the Museum.
Board of Directors & Staff
Executive Board of Directors
- Neal Bowers, President
- Melody Breeden, Vice President
- Barbara Vahey, Secretary
- Dale Zeglin, Treasurer
Board of Directors
- Andrew Parness
- Crystal Lemmons
- Greg McCollum
- Jerome Christia
- Melody Breeden
- Molly Causey
- Samantha Slapnik
- Tim Ruedy
- Traci Miles
The Children's Museum Staff
- Melanie McMurrain, General Manager
- Elaine Fogleman, Visitor Services Coordinator
- Sarah Weber, Educational Programs Coordinator
- Tonya Kesler, Senior Play Specialist
- Jennifer Conner, Outreach Educator
- Libby Viau, Educator
- Sheila Tago, Play Specialist
- Jessica Gregory, Play Specialist
- Allysa McNutt, Play Specialist
