Brookgreen Gardens

Established in 1931 as a non-profit garden museum, Brookgreen Gardens has become a National Historic Landmark. Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington established the garden to preserve native flora and fauna as well as display objects of art within a natural setting. Anna was a nationally recognize sculptor during the Great Depression.

Brookgreen Gardens has one of the largest collections of figurative sculptures, in an outdoor setting, by American artists in the world. It is also home to the only zoo that is accredited by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums on the coast of the Carolinas. These sculptures are enjoyed by walking one of the many trails, taking an overland vehicle tour or boat tour. There are thousands of acres to explore.

The gardens of Brookgreen are considered the “floral jewel of South Carolina’s coastal community.” On the 9,200 acre property there is a mix of forested swamps, salt marsh, sandy ridges and fresh tidal swamps, designed to keep the integrity of the natural landscape intact. A variety of specialty gardens abound throughout the property. The Live Oak Allee garden is comprised of 250 year old live oak trees that were planted in the 1700s when it was a thriving rice plantation.

The Lowcountry Zoo at Brookgreen Garden has added a butterfly house that has dozens of species available. The house named for inhabitants, Whispering Wings, will eventually house over 66 different species of butterflies. Other inhabitants of the zoo were born and bred in captivity at an Association of Zoos and Aquariums institution or were obtained from a wildlife rehabilitation center after sustaining a major disability due to injury. Many of these animals could not survive in the wild.

Festivals and events occur at regular intervals at the Gardens. Group and educational tours are available and must be scheduled in advance. Weddings, holiday parties and business luncheons can be arranged through a variety of packages. Dining is also available on the premises at the Old Kitchen, The Pavilion Restaurant and Courtyard Café. There are also a variety of picnic spots to choose from. During the summer evenings join the staff and volunteers for Cool Summer Evenings. Nine weeks of the summer Wednesday through Friday there will be a series of musical and theatrical shows under the branches of the old Live Oaks.