Location

The museum is located at 325 E. Market Street in downtown Smithfield, NC and is readily accessible from US 70 Highway and Interstate 95, Exit 95.

From Raleigh, NC, the museum is a short 40 minute drive on US 70 east. South of Clayton take "US 70 Business" into Smithfield.

From Interstate 95, take "Exit 95" onto US 70 west for a one mile drive to the museum. US Highway 301 passes through Smithfield also.

The museum occupies approximately 6000 square feet and contains and a large collection of memorabilia including theater posters, promotional photos by the movie studios, media coverage including photos and papers, numerous articles of clothing worn by Ava at notable occasions, copies of books about Ava, personal family pictures and related artifacts, her acting awards, and many of her films on video tape. A video documentary is available for showing to all visitors.

Origin of Ava Collection

The Ava Gardner Museum exists largely as a result of Dr. Tom Banks, a psychologist, and his wife, Lorraine, a school librarian, who together from their home in Florida collected Ava memorabilia as a hobby. The couple had planned to donate their collection to a university in New York state, but after a contact with a Smithfield reporter in 1978, they decided it would be better located in Ava's native territory. In addition to the collection donated by the Banks family, there are many additional items donated or loaned by family, friends and fans of Ava.

Beginning in 1980, Dr. Banks operated his own museum in Ava's childhood home near Smithfield for nine years during summer months. In August of 1989 he suffered a stroke at the museum and died a few days later. Ava died six months later in January of 1990. Lorraine Banks donated the collection to the Town of Smithfield in the summer of 1990. In January of 1991, Lorraine Banks died unexpectedly in Florida.

AVA Advocates

The museum receives donations from visitors and is supported by annual memberships of AVA Advocates. Memberships available are: Member, $25; Sponsor, $50; and Fellow, $100. Donations are tax deductible.

Membership application by mail to:

AVA Advocates
325 E. Market Street
Smithfield, NC 27577
Telephone: 919-934-5830