duration: 1.5 hrs
cancellation_summary: • Cancellation Policy: Full refund minus $5 admin fee prior to one day in advance. No refund if cancelled within one day.
description: Join the Coastal Discovery Museum as we commemorate our 40th anniversary with a once-in-a-lifetime speaker series honoring the visionaries, storytellers, and creators who have shaped Hilton Head Island since 1985.

Through Legends & Luminaries of Hilton Head, you’ll hear firsthand accounts from local icons who have inspired the community, preserved our heritage, and guided the island’s transformation. From music and journalism to Gullah culture, historic landmarks, and the island’s artistic renaissance, each evening will bring the stories of Hilton Head to life in unforgettable ways.
Times and dates vary. Each lecture is $10.

Speaker Series Pass is available until September 30th. The price for all eight lectures is $70.

If you choose this option, you will receive a confirmation email with a "code" . Use that code to register for each lecture.

September 30, 2025 & November 4, 2025 Gregg Russell - Music & Memories: If This Old Tree Could Talk 5:00-6:30pm / (5:00 Wine & Social, 5:30-6:30 Speaker)

Since 1977, Gregg Russell, the island's beloved singer, songwriter, and actor, has entertained audiences under the iconic oak tree in Harbour Town, performed across the country, appeared in films, and collaborated with renowned artists. He will share memories of his early days on Hilton Head, his friendship with Charles Fraser (the founder of Sea Pines), and his lifelong dedication to bringing laughter and song to generations of families through his performances and humanitarian efforts

October 7, 2025 & October 9, 2025 David Lauderdale - From Headlines to History: A Lowcountry Reporter’s Tales 5:00-6:30pm / (5:00 Wine & Social, 5:30-6:30 Speaker)

For four decades, David Lauderdale has chronicled Hilton Head’s milestones, influential figures and everyday people who give the island its character. An award-winning reporter, columnist, and senior editor at The Island Packet and The Beaufort Gazette who retired in 2020, he continues to reflect and write about the people and events that shape the island’s history and community.

October 23, 2025 Emory Campbell and Louise Cohen - Gullah Days: Stories From the Heart of Hilton Head 3:00-4:00pm (4:00-4:30 Wine & Social)

Emory Campbell and Louise Cohen bring to life Hilton Head's Gullah heritage and how the community has navigated the island's transformation over four decades. Dr. Campbell, a leading voice in cultural preservation, is the founder of Gullah Heritage Consulting Services, and the former Executive Director of Penn Center. Dr. Cohen, founder of the Gullah Museum of Hilton Head Island, is a recognized storyteller and historian. Together, they tell stories of tradition, change, and enduring spirit of the Gullah community.

October 30, 2025 Ruthie Edwards- The Greenery: From Humble Nursery to Island Landmark 5:00-6:30pm / (5:00 Wine & Social, 5:30-6:30 Speaker)

In 1973, Ruthie and Berry Edwards bought a small Hilton Head nursery with six employees and two trucks. They moved a historic 1873 church by barge and transformed it into a garden center and gift shop, growing the nursery into The Greenery — now 100% employee-owned, and one of the region’s most respected landscaping companies. Ruthie will share how a modest family venture became a story of growth, resilience, and community.

November 11, 2025 Margaret Golson Pearman - Growing Up with Charlie’s Bistro 5:00-6:30pm / (5:00 Wine & Social, 5:30-6:30 Lecture)

Certified sommelier Margaret Golson Pearman shares stories about her father, Charlie Golson, and the early days of his family-run bistro, Charlie’s L’Etoile Verte, known for its French-inspired coastal cuisine and cozy atmosphere. She reflects on what it was like to start a restaurant on Hilton Head in the early 1980s and how she and her brother Palmer have carried forward their father’s approach to food, hospitality, and community

November 20, 2025 : Wyman Fraser-Davis - Reflections on Charles Fraser and the Making of Sea Pines 5:00-6:30pm / (5:00 Wine & Social, 5:30-6:30 Lecture)

Wyman Fraser Davis, daughter of Charles Fraser, shares personal stories of her father, visionary founder and developer of Sea Pines Resort. She will reflect on his legacy, offering life lessons that reveal his deep love of the land, his delight in learning, and unwavering dedication to protecting Hilton Head Island.

December 4, 2025 Louanne LaRoche - Artist and Pioneer of Hilton Head’s Round Table 5:00-6:30pm / (5:00 Wine & Social, 5:30-6:30 Lecture)

Louanne LaRoche, artist and former owner of Hilton Head’s Red Piano Gallery (1980–1995), was instrumental in shaping the Round Table, a group of 15 prominent artists who met weekly to share ideas and foster creativity. She will share stories about the gallery, the Round Table, and the vibrant artistic community they helped build on the island.

December 11, 2025 JR Richardson, Marc Putereri, and Chuck Scarminach :Hilton Head Island from Heel to Toe: Tales of Community, Planning & What’s Next

JR Richardson, a resident since 1955, developed Coligny Plaza, Windmill Harbour, and the South Carolina Yacht Club, while serving in civic leadership roles. Marc Puntereri helped guide Sea Pines through pivotal transitions and co-founded the Cypress Group retirement communities. Chuck Scarminach, former General Counsel of the Sea Pines Company and co-founder of Novit & Scarminach law firm, shaped land-use policy and community association law. Together, they share personal perspectives on four decades of growth and the challenges and opportunities for Hilton Head's next era.

what_is_included: - Admission to one or all eight sessions of the Legends & Luminaries series
- Intimate storytelling and reflections from island pioneers, creators, and cultural icons
- Opportunities to connect with Hilton Head’s history through music, art, journalism, and community stories
- Special 40th Anniversary programming exclusive to this series