Brookgreen Gardens, Art museum in Georgetown County, South Carolina
Brookgreen Gardens is an art museum with botanical grounds in Murrells Inlet spanning about 9,100 acres and displaying over 1,400 American sculptures outdoors. The works are distributed along planted pathways where visitors walk between art objects and gardens.
Founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, the gardens occupy land from four former rice plantations. This transformation from agricultural estates to an art destination marked a significant shift in how the land was used.
The Lowcountry Trail features steel figures and interpretive panels showing plantation life, including the roles of owners, overseers, and enslaved African Americans. These displays help visitors understand the complex history embedded in the landscape.
Visitors should wear sturdy shoes since the paths have varying surfaces across the expansive grounds. Plan for half a day to a full day to explore the collections at a comfortable pace.
The grounds also house a zoo with local wildlife, archaeological remains of plantation structures, and a historic family cemetery. These additional sites give visitors a broader view of the area's history and ecology.
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