Brookgreen Gardens
by Gail Lang

For those who enjoy immersing themselves in art and beauty, I've found the most exquisite location just south of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. It combines the beauty and versatility of over 500 sculptures, representing more than 230 great American masters, with the gentle beauty created by God himself.

More than 9000 acres of a former indigo and rice plantation were purchased in 1930 by Archer Milton Huntington to display the sculpting works of Anne Huntington. This land was set up with the intention of being public gardens to exhibit and preserve the flora and fauna of the region while also providing a backdrop for displaying American realistic sculptures. On July 13, 1931, Brookgreen Gardens was officially founded as the first public sculpture garden in the United States. The Huntingtons donated eight of their own works of art, and then set about acquiring other American sculptures. In 1932 Brookgreen Gardens was opened to the public as a place to find fine American sculpture and natural beauty combined.

It is the versatility of the sculpture themselves that add to the uniqueness of Brookgreen Gardens. The Huntingtons were interested in assisting struggling artists, as well as acquiring sculpture for the Gardens. For this reason, the collection, although it is limited to realistic sculpture, contains a wide range of subjects and themes. The placing of each piece also adds to their beauty. Some are displayed in great rooms and hallways, while still others are scattered about the thousands of acres surrounded by lush forests and gardens, highlighting the beauty created by hand with that created by God. Brookgreen Gardens is definitely the finest public sculpture garden in America and is also a National Historic Landmark.

The entrance to Brookgreen Gardens only gives a hint to the marvelous wonders that lay waiting to be discovered. Their collection of sculpture represents just about every major American representational sculptor of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. The care and attention given to the selection, placement and preservation of each sculpture and to the gardens themselves provide a place of solitude for any soul that would seek peace and beauty.

The first thirty years of sculpture acquisition represents the personal tastes of Archer and Anna Huntington. In 1963, C. Paul Jennewein was appointed as the Garden's president of the Board of Trustees and there was a shift in sculpture acquisition. They have since formulated a collection policy for acquisition of pieces: (1) the sculpture must be of permanent materials suitable for outdoor exhibition; (2) the sculpture must be of the figurative style and compatible with the existing collection; (3) the sculpture must not be site specific; (4) the sculpture must not be a memorial or a portrait of a specific person or persons; and (5) the artists must be an American citizen. Selections of pieces, wether donated or purchased, must be approved by their art committee assuring the quality and integrity of Brookgreen Gardens for our children to enjoy in years to come.

As words cannot truly describe the beauty and serenity of Brookgreen Gardens I've assembled photos taken from our walks to share with you. Stroll through the gardens and enjoy the beauty created by the combination of flora, fauna, stone, iron, brass and heart.