The Porgy House: A Cottage That Helped Shape an American Classic

Some places tell the story of Folly Beach. Others helped shape American history.

The Folly Beach Historical Society has unveiled a new exhibit at the Folly Beach History Museum titled “The Porgy House: A Cottage on an Island in a Culture,” highlighting one of the island’s most significant historic homes and its connection to one of the most celebrated works in American music.

Built in 1933 as the summer home of author DuBose Heyward and his wife, Dorothy Heyward, the Porgy House became far more than a beach cottage. It was here that the Heywards collaborated with composer George Gershwin on the libretto and music for Porgy and Bess, blending literature, music, and the rich cultural traditions of the South Carolina Lowcountry.

While staying on Folly Beach, Gershwin immersed himself in the region’s Gullah Geechee culture, visiting local African American churches and gathering places to better understand the traditions, rhythms, and voices that would become woven throughout the opera. The influence of the Lowcountry can still be heard in the music and storytelling that have made Porgy and Bess an enduring American masterpiece.

The exhibit also explores the opera’s complex history. Although Porgy and Bess was written and first performed in 1934, it was not staged in Charleston until 1970 because of the continued segregation of audiences. Visitors can learn more about that milestone through photographs and artifacts from the 1970 Charleston production.

In addition to these historical pieces, the exhibit features first editions of Heyward’s original novel Porgy, architectural drawings of the Porgy House created by the American College of the Building Arts, and personal correspondence between the Heywards and Gershwin, including a letter bearing the playful heading “Follywood.” The original Porgy House still stands today at 712 West Ashley Avenue, serving as a lasting reminder of Folly Beach’s place in American cultural history.

The Folly Beach Historical Society collaborated with the South Carolina Historical Society, the Charleston Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, photographer Charles McKenzie, filmmaker Lauren Waring Douglas, and many other contributors to bring this exhibit to life.

Visitors can explore the exhibit inside the Folly Beach Community Center, located at 55 Center Street. The display is housed in the glass cases across from the Folly Beach History Museum, making it an easy and worthwhile stop for anyone interested in the stories that have shaped the island.

Whether you’re a longtime history enthusiast or simply looking to discover another side of Folly Beach, The Porgy House: A Cottage on an Island in a Culture offers a fascinating glimpse into the people, places, and traditions that continue to make Folly unlike anywhere else.