Brookgreen Gardens

State: South Carolina. Type: sculpture garden, nature preserve and zoo just south of Murrells Inlet, spanning 9,100 acres of former rice plantation land, forest, swamp and beachfront. Founded in 1932 by Archer Milton Huntington and sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington as the first public sculpture garden in the United States. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992. Holds roughly 1,445 works of American figurative sculpture.

Brookgreen Gardens occupies 9,100 acres just south of Murrells Inlet on South Carolina's coast, assembled from four former rice plantations that Archer Milton Huntington and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, purchased after visiting the area in 1929 and being captivated by its natural beauty. They founded the gardens in 1932 as the country's first public sculpture garden, and the property today displays about 1,445 works of American figurative sculpture, including pieces by Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Gutzon Borglum and Anna Hyatt Huntington herself, arranged through a series of themed garden rooms. Beyond the sculpture collection, Brookgreen includes the Lowcountry Zoo, nature trails documenting more than 2,000 identified plant and animal species, and the Lowcountry Trail, which weaves historical interpretive panels on the site's rice-plantation past into the walking experience. The property's National Historic Landmark status, granted in 1992, reflects both its artistic significance and its preservation of plantation-era Lowcountry history. Seasonal events, including the popular Nights of a Thousand Candles light display, add to its year-round appeal.

Brookgreen Gardens sits just south of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, along the state's Grand Strand coastal region, spanning 9,100 acres that include garden and sculpture areas, forest, swamp, former rice fields and a stretch of beachfront.

The Grand Strand area of coastal South Carolina has a humid subtropical climate with hot, humid summers and mild winters, typical of the broader Lowcountry coastal region; specific seasonal averages for the immediate Murrells Inlet area were not confirmed in sources reviewed.

Cooler months (fall through spring) generally make for more comfortable walking through the extensive garden grounds than peak summer heat and humidity; the seasonal Nights of a Thousand Candles event draws visitors specifically in the winter holiday season.

Archer Milton Huntington and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, visited the Murrells Inlet area in 1929 and were captivated by its natural setting, leading them to purchase four former rice plantations and found Brookgreen Gardens in 1932 as the first public sculpture garden in the United States. The gardens were built to showcase American figurative sculpture within a designed landscape, and the collection grew to include work by prominent American sculptors such as Augustus Saint-Gaudens and Gutzon Borglum alongside Anna Hyatt Huntington's own pieces. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978 and received National Historic Landmark designation in 1992, recognizing both its sculpture collection and its role in preserving the physical and historical fabric of the former rice plantations, including the human history of enslaved laborers who worked that land.

Visitors walk through themed garden rooms viewing the roughly 1,445 sculptures on display, visit the Lowcountry Zoo, and explore nature trails that pass through habitats supporting more than 2,000 identified species. The Lowcountry Trail combines a walking path with historical interpretive panels covering the site's rice-plantation era. Seasonal programming, including the Nights of a Thousand Candles holiday lighting event, draws additional visitors at specific times of year.

The themed sculpture gardens, showcasing works by artists including Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Gutzon Borglum and Anna Hyatt Huntington, form the heart of a visit. The Lowcountry Zoo and the Lowcountry Trail, with its historical interpretive panels on the plantation era, are the other major sections of the property.

Brookgreen Gardens is located on South Carolina's Grand Strand near Murrells Inlet, within reach of Myrtle Beach International Airport for air travelers, followed by a drive to the site; a personal or rental vehicle is the practical way to reach and get around the grounds.

As of research, general daytime admission gates close at 4:30 p.m.; confirm current opening time and any seasonal variations, including hours for special evening events like Nights of a Thousand Candles, on the official Brookgreen website before visiting.

General admission tickets, valid for seven consecutive days and covering all gardens, galleries, the Lowcountry Zoo and the Lowcountry History Center exhibits, were priced as follows per the operator's site: adults (13-64) $25, seniors (65+) $23, children 4-12 $14, and children 3 and under free. Confirm current pricing on brookgreen.org, since rates can change.

A full day is recommended to see the sculpture gardens, the Lowcountry Zoo, and walk the Lowcountry Trail, given the scale of the 9,100-acre property; the seven-day ticket validity also allows visitors to spread a visit across multiple days.

Murrells Inlet and the broader Myrtle Beach Grand Strand area, both close by, offer extensive lodging ranging from beachfront resorts and condos to standard hotel chains, reflecting the region's status as a major coastal tourism destination.

Murrells Inlet is well known regionally for its seafood dining, particularly along its "MarshWalk" restaurant district, with a wide range of additional dining options available in the broader Myrtle Beach area a short drive north.

Myrtle Beach State Park sits directly across Highway 17 from Brookgreen Gardens, making the two a common pairing for a single day trip. The wider Myrtle Beach Grand Strand, with its beaches and attractions, is a short drive north.

Myrtle Beach International Airport is the nearest airport with regular commercial service. A car is the practical way to reach and explore Brookgreen Gardens given its rural coastal setting and the scale of the grounds.

Given the property's scale and the mix of garden paths, trails and boardwalks, comfortable footwear and sun protection are advisable, particularly in the humid coastal summer. As with any zoo and nature-trail environment, follow posted signage around animal enclosures and natural habitats. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable walking shoes for the extensive garden grounds and trails, sun protection and water for a full day outdoors, and a camera for the sculpture collection are all worth bringing.

Because general admission tickets are valid for seven consecutive days, visitors staying in the Myrtle Beach area for a longer trip can split a visit across more than one day rather than rushing through the 9,100-acre property in one go. Pairing a visit with nearby Myrtle Beach State Park, directly across the highway, is a popular way to combine gardens and beach in one day trip. Checking the schedule for seasonal events like Nights of a Thousand Candles is worthwhile if visiting during the holiday season.

Dial 911 for any emergency. For general visitor questions, contact Brookgreen Gardens through its official website.

Brookgreen Gardens - https://www.brookgreen.org

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.