Ava Gardner Heritage Trail

Ava Gardner was buried in Sunset Memorial Park in Smithfield, in January 1990, where more than 3,000 mourners paid tribute to the local NC star. Beyond the walls of the Ava Gardner Museum visitors can drive along sites in the Smithfield area that pertain to Ava's childhood....see where she was born, where she grew up, attended dances, and key landmarks associated with her family here. Some sites are privately owned so we ask that you drive by only. The most visited site on the heritage trail is the gravesite at Sunset Memorial Gardens, which is approximately 1 mile west of Downtown Smithfield on HWY 210.

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