Brookgreen Gardens
Located south of Myrtle Beach, Brookgreen Gardens is a sculpture garden, wildlife preserve, and historic site. The garden is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. This is a fantastic article to read.
Founded in 1930, the garden is home to the largest collection of American figurative sculpture. The Brookgreen Gardens’ mission is to collect, conserve, and display art in a cultivated garden setting and educate the public about sculpture, horticulture, and Lowcountry history.
Sculpture Garden
Located on the coast of South Carolina on Waccamaw Neck between the Waccamaw River and the Atlantic Ocean, Brookgreen Gardens is America’s first sculpture garden. This National Historic Landmark is home to the world’s largest collection of figurative sculptures in an outdoor setting by American artists.
Visitors can stroll through the gardens, which showcase various themes such as a spiritual connection between mother and child, as depicted by the bronze sculpture Joy of Motherhood. There are also indoor galleries, including the Bleifeld Gallery which features 132 black and white prints of sculptures made by more than 80 sculptors from the early to mid-19th century. Another popular place for viewing the artwork is the Offner Sculpture Learning and Research Center, which was once a garden shed for the staff.
Founded in 1931, the not-for-profit organization’s mission remains to promote and exhibit sculpture while conserving local plants, animals, and history. Brookgreen Gardens is an award-winning destination that combines art, gardens, and a zoo to educate and delight visitors. The experience is not to be missed by anyone visiting the Myrtle Beach area.
Zoo
Sculptures of animals abound throughout the gardens. Some are quite erotic which might surprise visitors to this conservative part of the country.
The Garden’s mission includes educating the public about American figurative sculpture as well as South Carolina native plants and animals. The 9,000-plus acre property is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums.
A former rice plantation, Brookgreen Gardens honors the enslaved people who worked the land and their descendants in its exhibits and programs. The Garden’s VP for Creative Education and Gullah Geechee descendant Ron Daise offers tours of the grounds to share the culture, history, and language of this unique coastal community.
The zoo features native animals such as river otters, fox squirrels, and white-tailed deer that live in enclosures that mimic their natural habitats. There’s also a butterfly garden where guests can observe ten species of butterflies from their chrysalises to adulthood. Admission to the zoo and the Brown Sculpture Court is included in a full day’s ticket. Discover more exciting places here.
Enchanted Storybook Forest
Throughout the gardens, you will find structures that have been built just for kids. The Enchanted Storybook Forest is the best example. This open-air structure is covered with translucent Plexiglas, which allows sunlight to pass through while maintaining visual contact with parents and children. The design was created by Mozingo + Wallace.
Other kid-friendly attractions include the Whispering Wings Butterfly House and the Children’s Nature & Sensory Trail. These trails engage the senses at several stations as kids feel, see, hear, and touch their way through the learning experience.
Brookgreen Gardens is also home to an accredited zoo and native animals. The zoo is a great place to get up close and personal with a variety of animal species from both South Carolina and around the world. Visitors to the zoo can also take advantage of Creek Excursion Boat Rides from March through November.
Boat Rides
In addition to the sculpture garden, a botanical garden, and a Lowcountry Zoo, Brookgreen Gardens offers many boat rides and excursions for guests! The Creek Excursion is a one-hour narrated boat tour that takes visitors through historic rice fields and lets guests get close to alligators, waterfowl, and osprey. This tour is offered daily from March through November and is included in your garden admission!
You can also explore the grounds of the former plantation on the Southern Trek, a back-roads circuit that features a cemetery and explains burial practices on a plantation. You can even take a boat to an unspoiled barrier island for a shell-hunting cruise!
Whether you want to visit a butterfly house, take a scenic boat ride, or let your children’s imaginations soar in the Enchanted Storybook Forest, there is something for everyone at Brookgreen Gardens. This is a must-see attraction for families visiting the Myrtle Beach area! Check out our latest specials for great deals on vacation packages to Brookgreen Gardens! Continue reading about Huntington Beach State Park.
Driving directions from Bird Dog Power Washing to Brookgreen Gardens
Driving directions from Brookgreen Gardens to Huntington Beach State Park
