Atalaya and Brookgreen Gardens is a
National Historic Landmark District
National may refer to:
Common uses
* Nation or country
** Nationality – a ''national'' is a person who is subject to a nation, regardless of whether the person has full rights as a citizen
Places in the United States
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encompassing two formerly-united properties associated with sculptor
Anna Hyatt Huntington
Anna Vaughn Hyatt Huntington (March 10, 1876 – October 4, 1973) was an American sculptor who was among New York City's most prominent sculptors in the early 20th century. At a time when very few women were successful artists, she had a thrivi ...
(1876-1973) on the coast of
Georgetown County, South Carolina
Georgetown County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, the population was 63,404. Its county seat is Georgetown. The county was founded in 1769. It is named for George III of the United Kingdom.
Geor ...
. The district includes
Atalaya Castle, now part of
Huntington Beach State Park
Huntington Beach State Park is a 2500 acre coastal preserve and state park near Murrells Inlet, in Georgetown County, South Carolina. It has a large sandy beach, few beach-goers, and numerous wild birds to watch over the seasons.
History
The pa ...
, and the sculpture garden of
Brookgreen Gardens
Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden and wildlife preserve, located just south of Murrells Inlet, in South Carolina. The property includes several themed gardens featuring American figurative sculptures, the Lowcountry Zoo, and trails thro ...
, both properties part of a large estate developed by Anna and
Archer M. Huntington
Archer Milton Huntington (March 10, 1870 – December 11, 1955) was a philanthropist and scholar, primarily known for his contributions to the field of Hispanic Studies. He founded The Hispanic Society of America in New York City, and made n ...
in the 1930s. It includes the nation's first formal sculpture garden, and one of the studios at which Huntington did her most productive work. The district was designated a
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...
in 1992.
[ and ]
Atalaya
Atalaya is a large Spanish Revival building, built in 1931-33, without architectural drawings, but with clear design ideas imparted by Archer Huntington, who was (among other pursuits) a scholar of Spanish arts. Its styling is reminiscent of Moorish architecture found in coastal
Spain
, image_flag = Bandera de España.svg
, image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg
, national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond")
, national_anthem = (English: "Royal March")
, i ...
. Roughly square in shape, it has about thirty rooms, most notably a large studio space in the southeast that was one of Anna Huntington's workspaces. The property was used by the Huntingtons as their winter quarters until about 1947, and was leased by Anna to the state in 1960 for use as a state park.
Brookgreen Gardens sculpture garden
Brookgreen Gardens is a large (more than ) nature preserve, established by the Huntingtons in 1931 as a place to showcase not just Anna's art, but that of other contemporary sculptors. The sculpture garden takes up about of the property, and is the only portion included in the landmark designation. It was the first public sculpture garden established in the United States, and is probably its largest. Its permanent collection includes numerous pieces by Huntington, and contemporaries who were working between about 1890 and 1940. The buildings of the garden include a studio in which Anna Huntington worked.
Significance
Atalaya and Brookgreen Gardens are the only major site reflective of the full range of Anna Hyatt Huntington's work and philanthropy. Although she had other studio spaces where she worked (notably at their summer estate in Connecticut, where the house no longer stands), those at Brookgreen and Atalaya are the only ones that survive. Anna Hyatt Huntington began selling sculptures in partnership with her sister in 1895, and had received numerous national and international awards for her work by the time she married industrialist and philanthropist Archer Huntington in 1923. Her work, mainly realistic depictions of animals, was in marked contrast to contemporary female sculptors, who tended to produce human representations. She came down with
tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, in ...
in the 1920s, and the South Carolina estate was developed as a natural retreat. Anna's contributions to the construction of Atalaya and Brookgreen include the fabrication of wrought iron hardware, include Brookgreen's gates. She was responsible for laying out and directing the landscaping of the sculpture garden.
See also
*
List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
This is a List of National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina, United States. The United States' National Historic Landmark (NHL) program is operated under the auspices of the National Park Service, and recognizes buildings, sites, structures, d ...
*
National Register of Historic Places listings in Georgetown County, South Carolina
*
Collis P. Huntington State Park
Collis P. Huntington State Park is a public recreation area covering in the New England town, towns of Redding, Connecticut, Redding, Newtown, Connecticut, Newtown, and Bethel, Connecticut, Bethel in Fairfield County, Connecticut. The state park ...
, Anna Hyatt Huntington's studio in Connecticut
References
{{National Register of Historic Places
National Historic Landmarks in South Carolina
Buildings and structures in Georgetown County, South Carolina
Historic districts on the National Register of Historic Places in South Carolina
National Register of Historic Places in Georgetown County, South Carolina
Huntington family