Button Museum

Love this guy! Worth the trip. The Topiary King’s yard was awsome too! Read the other reviews because they said all I planned to and more. So inspirational.

I love small oddity museums and this one qualifies in the top ten for sure! I was at the Cotton Museum (Bishopville, SC) and asked what other small museums were around the area. Well a few questions later the gentleman told me about this guy at the Button Museum that had Friday night get together with lots of old cars and music. Well I was there and took the sketchy directions looking for signs and I was sure I had missed it and found small signs till I drove up this long drive way with flocks of small birds (guinea hens i think — hundreds of them). This looked like some ones home, and a big metal shed. So I parked knocked and walked in, turned the lights on and looked around and found a very interesting collection and description of this mans life! The other reviews list all the stuff you might see, and they cover it well, If you love these small museum this one will be a hoot!

On a trek from Asheville to Savannah, we decided to make the detour to Bishopville to see the Button Museum and Pearl Fryar’s Topiary Garden, and were really pleased that we did.
There are signs are every turn from the main road to help guide you to the Button Museum, which were very helpful, and I found the museum completely charming. Though we did not see Mr. Stevens himself, the sign on the museum door said «open,» and we let ourselves in, turned on the lights and had a look around. Inside we found a button-​covered piano, car, coffins, a hearse, and more, plus Mr. Dalton’s button-​adorned suit that apparently started it all. The walls were lined with autographed photos of some of the celebrities whose shows the Button King has been featured on, and there was a touching little shrine set up to his wife who passed away in 2008 and was extremely supportive of his button pastimes.
A wonderful hobby on display for the world to share in. Definitely worth the trip off the beaten path.

I met the KING… Button King that is. What an inspirational visit! We came to see buttons and left in high spirits after a memorable conversation with a truly passionate standout man. He started his career in his 60s! So it’s never too late to follow your dreams.
When I pulled up in front of the «museum» there was no one in sight, no cars parked nearby and the hangar door was locked. It was Sunday right before noon when most people around here go to church. «Bummer» I thought I’ll have to come back another time. Then here comes this tall silvered haired smiling man followed by a little feisty dog (Suzie).
He waved at us. «So you want to see my buttons? Well come on in.» That moment I knew that I’ve just met the «Button King», Mr. Dalton Stevens.
Mr. Stevens was very, very friendly during this personal tour. He was especially attentive to my little girl and answered all of her questions (you can imagine what a 4 years old would come up with seeing toilet seats, cars and coffins covered in buttons!). He volunteered to put on his signature button covered suit (his first creation) and have his picture taken with Lana in front of its famous Chevrolet. Later on he gave me his card and autographed a poster to take home. A lady relative was nice to give Lana 2 yummy home-​baked chocolate chip cookies.
The Button King liked very much the fact I was from Romania. He insisted I signed and mention this in his Guest Book.
Just in case you’re thinking to drop by on your way to Myrtle Beach they have country and blue grass concerts every Friday evening, in the hall next to the museum room.
While in Bishopville make sure to also visit Pearl Friar’s Topiary Garden featuring incredible landscaping and plant sculptures (FREE admission). This puts the «Extreme Makeover» and «Date my house» shows to shame.
Here is a custom Google Map with these 2 and other family frinedly attractions worth shouting about:

Dalton Stevens (The Button King) suffered from insomnia. In 1983 it got so bad that I got up one night and started sewing buttons on a denim suit. Two years and 10 months later I still couldn’t sleep and the suit was covered with 16,3333 buttons. It weighted 16 pounds. Now he has two cars, two coffins, an outhouse, a piano, a bath tub, sink, a few guitars and two suits that are all covered in buttons. He does not charge admission for visitors to the Button Museum but he does accept donations to help cover expenses. He has been on Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, David Letterman, Regis and Kathy Lee, Bill Cosby, Geraldo, Charles Kuralt, Ralph Emory and many more. Friday nights they perform bluegrass and country music. And Church service is held every Sunday morning from 9−11am.
Directions:
Take I-​20 towards Camden
Take the Road 31 Exit, Exit 108, towards Highway 34
If coming from Columbia, take a Left on SC-​31
If coming from Florence, take a Right on SC-​31
Turn RIGHT on Highway 34, go about 4 miles
Turn LEFT on Johnson’s Pond Road (look for Button Museum Sign)
Go down a mile, fork to the right and turn onto Joe Dority Road. It will be the first house on the left, look for the sign!
Check out his sight for examples of his music and more pictures. It was a great time and we plan on going back again and again.