Heritage Sites

Tourism research rates the act of visiting historic sites and museums among the nation’s top three most popular trip activities. Lucky for our readers, the Lowcountry is ideally positioned to deliver every benefit of Heritage Tourism. (The National Trust defines cultural heritage tourism as “travel to experience the places, artifacts and activities that authentically represent the stories and people of the past and present.” It includes cultural, historic and natural resources.)

The Lowcountry is a land of infinite stories. From awe-inspiring old churches and slave communities to sculpture gardens, graceful historic districts and captivating museums, many of these stories have been carefully preserved or carefully restored. These places make our communities interesting and vibrant – filled with sites you will want to return to again and again.

Please call individual listings or visit websites for current schedules and detailed information. Please remember to tell them Lowcountry Companion sent you!.

Brookgreen Gardens
Hwy. 17, Murrells Inlet
843.235.6000, 800.849.1931
www.brookgreen.org

From its beginning in 1931 when Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington created this non-profit outdoor museum, it has been a sanctuary designed to restore spirit and soul. Wide, expansive lawns with majestic oaks and world renowned sculpture invite you to relax. Smaller, enclosed gardens encourage private reflection. Every day Brookgreen offers a selection of tours, programs, and exhibits for all ages. Stroll through the Gardens on a guided tour or explore a multitude of magical, tucked-away spaces on your own.

The thousands of acres of Brookgreen’s Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve are rich with evidence of the great rice plantations of the 1800s, as well as with the native plants and animals of the Lowcountry. Explore the property’s history through programs at the Wall Lowcountry Center, and by traveling by boat or overland vehicle deep into the Preserve.

Take advantage of another special treat by walking the Lowcountry Trail, an elevated boardwalk through live oaks to the Ricefield Overlook. The vista across what was once Brookgreen Plantation’s main ricefield is intriguing and beautiful. Along the way archaeological digs reveal the remains of four structures and the site of an overseer’s residence with a kitchen, smokehouse, and cabin. Interpretive panels at each location offer a peek into the lives of plantation owners, the overseers, and enslaved Africans.

A self-guided walking tour, The Oaks History and Nature Trail, is situated along Oaks Creek on the southern-most edge of the property. The Oaks was an indigo and rice plantation owned by the Allston/Alston family from the 1730s through the early 1900s.

It was home to SC Governor Joseph Alston and his wife, Theodosia Burr Alston, the only child of Aaron Burr. Their marriage in 1801 was followed by a series of tragedies that included the death of their only son, Theodosia’s disappearance at sea in January of 1813 and Joseph’s death in 1816.

Brookgreen opens daily from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for ages 65 and older, $5 for ages 6 – 12, and free for children five and younger. Take full advantage of the fact that these rates include admission for seven full days! See Lowcountry’s Calendar of Events for additional detail.

Atalaya
(Inside Huntington Beach State Park)
Hwy. 17, Murrells Inlet
843.237.4440 www.southcarolinaparks.com

In 1930, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington purchased a vast stretch of real estate that once operated as four Colonial plantations. The following year, they began construction on a home they called Atalaya – a Spanish word for “watchtower.” A philanthropist, academic and visionary, Mr. Huntington brought in craftsmen to teach area residents the skills necessary for building his unusual new home.

Atalaya (pronounced at-a-lie-ya, not at-alay- a) and Brookgreen Gardens were constructed together from 1931-33. Archer Huntington hired mostly local labor, thereby supporting about one hundred families during this time. This made the Huntingtons the largest employer in Georgetown County during the height of the Great Depression.

Anna Hyatt Huntington was a renowned twentieth century sculptor, and Atalaya included indoor and outdoor studios for her work. At 40,000 square feet, the home occupies almost an acre. This includes a large interior courtyard, bear pens, dog kennels, a library and an oyster shucking room. Interestingly, as large as the house is, the Huntingtons did not entertain here. The home served as a retreat for them during the winter months. Atalaya was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1992, and it is the only home/studio of an artist in the SC State Park System.

The Spanish Revival/Moorish style of the Huntington’s winter residence was unlike anything the Carolinas had seen before. It still is. The story is too splendid to deliver in short order. Fortunately, you can visit; the home is the celebrated centerpiece of Huntington Beach State Park. Atalaya is open year round from 9 AM to 5 PM. In order to help preserve and protect Atalaya, there is now a $1 admission fee for entry into the house. Visitors six and older will be charged this fee each time they enter the house, in addition to the Park’s regular admission fee.

Guided tours and the Atalaya Visitors Center are available from March through October. Atalaya is handicapped accessible. If you’re interested in supporting the Park, you may want to inquire about getting involved with Friends of Huntington Beach State Park, a group dedicated to helping the Park provide quality outdoor recreation and educational opportunities, as well as maintaining the Park’s natural and cultural resources. Learn more about the Friends at www.huntingtonbeachstatepark.com.

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