Area Information

Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens-image

The Brookgreen Gardens in Pawley's Island, SC are the creation of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington of Connecticut, who purchased the old Brookgreen rice plantation and some neighboring land to open the garden to the public in 1932.

Situated on Waccamaw Neck in Georgetown County, South Carolina between the Waccamaw River and the Atlantic coast, it is the country's first public sculpture garden and has the largest collection of figurative sculpture by American artists in an outdoor setting in the world. It is also a nature and historical preserve with a small zoo, and a nature exhibition center. Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington first visited the property in 1929. They were captivated by beauty of it, so they purchased nearly 10,000 acres of forest, swamp, rice fields and beachfront. They intended to establish a winter home on the Atlantic, but Anna saw the potential of the property and they quickly began to develop her vision. Archer, stepson of philanthropist Collis Huntington, and Anna have donated property and contributed much to US arts and culture in a number of states. Her sculpture of Joan of Arc is a feature of New York City's Riverside Park.

Brookgreen Gardens is designated a National Historic Landmark. About 550 works of American figurative sculpture are displayed at the Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington Sculpture Garden. Many of the works are creations of sculptress Anna, but other artists are also featured. There are boat tours to Sandy Island and a self-guided tour nature trail to show off the 2000 identified species of life, including majestic longleaf pines, Spanish moss draped live oaks, and vistas of the river and nearby marshland. The Brookgreen Gardens are a true South Carolina beauty.