Burt Reynolds Museum

It's hard to believe that Burt Reynolds has been a star for so long. As made clear at The Burt Reynolds and Friends Museum in Jupiter, he was a bridge between the stars of yester-yesteryear, like Bette Davis and Jimmy Stewart, the stars of yester-year like Dinah Shore and Henry Winkler, and the stars of today like Adam Sandler.

Reynolds’ People’s Choice awards, on display here, illustrate the point. He was big—the favorite Male Motion Picture Actor for six straight years, from 1979-1984, while three times during that period also winning favorite All-Around Male Entertainer. In 1978 that honor went to Bob Hope. In 1984, it went to Michael Jackson.

The museum is located a bit out of the way of the main Florida tourist meccas, because Reynolds grew up locally (his father was a police chief in nearby Riviera Beach). The Burt Reynolds Dinner Theater was also in Jupiter, open from 1979 until Burt’s financial problems caused it to close in the mid-90s.

Located in a former bank branch, the building still has the drive-through lane outside, and a vault inside. According to local press, Reynolds installed the smoked glass front doors, to make it seem less of a bank, and to give a sense of drama to the entry area. They also reported that Reynolds personally hung many of the photos displayed.