Brookgreen Gardens
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In 1931, Archer and wife, renowned sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, founded Brookgreen Gardens as a non-profit garden museum, to preserve the native flora and fauna and display objects of art within its natural setting.
Long regarded as as one of the nation’s most beautiful botanical displays, Brookgreen also contains the largest and most comprehensive collection of American figurative sculpture. Works include pieces from the early 19th century through the present and today draws sculptors from around the country to their annual workshops. Since 1999, the Gardens have hosted a Sculptors in Residence program, which allows visitors to interact with a current sculptor as they work as well as inspiring students and practicing sculptures in their own works as part of the Carroll A. Campbell, Jr. Center for American Sculpture programs.
Brookgreen Gardens is also home to the The Lowcountry Zoo and is the only zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) on the coast of North and South Carolina. The zoo contains native animals of the coastal Lowlands in their natural habitats, the animals were either bred and raised in captivity or were obtained from a wildlife rehabilitation center after sustaining a major disability due to injury. Also part of the zoo is an exhibit of domestic animals as would have been found on Lowcountry Plantations as well as an aviary with native birds built over an existing cypress swamp.
Daily programs and excursions are part of the events at Brookgreen. Gardens, trails, outdoor and indoor art exhibits, the zoo and a cafe make Brookgreen Gardens an ideal family destination.
Brookgreen Gardens
1931 Brookgreen Gardens Drive / Murrells Inlet, SC
phone: 843-235-6000
2009 Southeastern Tourism Society ’s “Top 20 Events in the Southeast” for Nights of a Thousand Candles, Brookgreen’s holiday festival.
Top Public Gardens - Coastal Living Magazine
2009 Readers’ Choice Award- Public Garden Category - Southern Living Magazine
2009 Non-Profit Management Excellence - South Carolina Association of Non-Profit Organizations
2009 Attraction of the Year Award from the Myrtle Beach Herald
2008 Incredible Customer Experience Award from the Myrtle Beach Chamber of Commerce
