Atalaya

Atalaya (AH-tuh-lie-yuh), Spanish for watch tower, was the winter home of Anne Hyatt Huntington and Archer Huntington and is located in Murrells Inlet South Carolina at Huntington Beach State Park.

 

Archer Huntington, born March 10,1870 in New York, was the heir of his fathers railroad and shipyard fortunes. His father was Collis P. Huntington- owner of the South Pacific, Central Pacific and C. & O Railroads and the Newport News Shipyard and Dry Dock Company.  Archer was raised in luxury amid great homes, priceless art works and social obligation associated with the wealthy.  Educated privately and widely traveled, he decided at an early age to devote his resources to scholarly and philanthropic pursuits. By 1894 he had decided to give his life to writing poetry and establishing museums.

Anna Hyatt was born in Cambridge Massachusetts on March 10, 1876 and grew up within creative and academic surroundings. As a child, Anna spent summers at her family's home," Seven Acres" on Cape Cod. Her father, Alpheus Hyatt was a professor of paleontology and zoology at M.I.T. and Boston University and helped form what is now Woods Hole Marine Science Laboratory, MBL. Anna's mother, Audella, was an artist.

At the age of 13 Anna produced her first sculpture and began a career that spanned over 80 years. Largely self-taught, Anna won virtually every major sculpture award.

Anna and Archer were married in New York on March 19, 1923. With their shared birthdays and their anniversary, March 10th became known as "the 3 in 1 day".

Anna suffered from tuberculosis and her doctors prescribed rest and a warmer climate. Searching for a healthier environment, Archer came across a pamphlet advertising the sale of four decrepit rice plantations in South Carolina. The Huntingtons fell in love with the land and purchased it. The plantations historically were, Brookgreen, Laurel Hill, the Oaks and Springfield all along the Waccamaw River.

Archer had Atalaya built by local labor during the Great Depression, 1931-1933. His vision was inspired by the Moorish fortresses found along the Mediterranean. Archers vision included a watchtower (Atalaya) in the center courtyard surrounded by a 200' X 200' masonry structure said to be made of over 30 million locally made bricks.  The bricks were put together in the slump joint mortar style locally called "the Huntington Squeeze".  Atalaya contains and abundance of rooms that allowed the Huntingtons to pursue their artistic endeavors: studios, kennels, stables and animal pens to accommodate Anna's modeling and sculpting needs. and a library and study to accommodate Archers love of writing poetry.

Atalaya was placed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
Atalaya and Brookgreen Gardens became a National Historic Landmark in 1992.

Diane and Austin are Atalaya Intrepretive Hosts through January.