Atalaya and Brookgreen Gardens

Brookgreen Gardens

By anoldent - Brookgreen Gardens 42, CC BY-SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6

LOCATION:  Atalaya Rd, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576

SIGNIFICANCE: Home of female sculpture.

DESIGNATION: National Register of Historic Places

The house, called Atalaya, was home to famous sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington. Built in the 1930s, the house had 30 rooms and several staff quarters. The property also includes an extensive garden that features Huntington’s work. In addition to the extensive grounds, the property is located 150 yards from the ocean within the boundary of the Huntington Beach State Park in Georgetown County, SC. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

 

Born in Massachusetts in 1876, Anne Hyatt developed an interest in animals from a young age. Her father was a zoology professor and paleontologist. He encouraged his daughter’s fascination with animal anatomy.

 

By her early 20s, Hyatt was already creating and exhibiting her own work. Over the next several decades, she continued to produce some of her most notable works and she even spent time sculpting in Paris. Hyatt was one of the few notable female artists at the time and she was able to earn a substantial income with her sculptures.

 

In 1923, Anna Hyatt married Archer Milton Huntington, who made a fortune from the railroad industry. Huntington, a lover of the arts, supported his wife’s career. She in turn helped him established several museums across the United States.

 

While the couple lived in New York, they built Atalaya as their winter home. The house was designed with a library for Archer and an art studio for Anna. Their South Carolina home has one of the largest collections of American sculptures in the world. The grounds and building are open seven days a week.

Sources:

Atalaya National Register of Historic Places Nomination: https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/84002045_text

 

“Anna Hyatt Huntington.” Smithsonian American Art Museum. Accessed 03-26-2019. https://americanart.si.edu/artist/anna-hyatt-huntington-2361

 

“Anna Hyatt Huntington.” National Museum of Women in the Arts. Accessed 03-26-2019. https://nmwa.org/explore/artist-profiles/anna-hyatt-huntington