Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture park and nature preserve in Georgetown County, South Carolina, covering roughly 3,680 hectares (9,100 acres). The grounds include themed gardens with sculptures by American artists, walking trails through different ecosystems, and a small zoo featuring regional animal species.

Four former rice plantations were combined in 1932 when Archer Milton Huntington and Anna Hyatt Huntington established the grounds as a nature preserve and sculpture garden. The design developed over the following decades through the expansion of the collections and the opening of additional areas.

The name comes from an 18th-century plantation whose layout still shapes the arrangement of paths and waterways today. Visitors follow these historical lines through avenues and ponds that were once created to irrigate rice fields.

The grounds can be explored on foot or using provided vehicles, with wide paths allowing access to all sections. A visit typically takes several hours, depending on which gardens and routes you choose.

In winter, the paths are lit with thousands of candles that form geometric and organic patterns along the waterways. This lighting follows the original plantation layout and highlights the symmetry of the historical structures.

Location: Georgetown County

Architects: Anna Hyatt Huntington

Part of: Atalaya and Brookgreen Gardens

Website: http://brookgreen.org

GPS coordinates: 33.52056,-79.09972

Latest update: December 14, 2025 20:08