Image above: Looking through the gated windows of Atalaya Castle, 2025, America's Best History.
Spotlight on Lesser Known History
Atalaya Castle, South Carolina
America's Best History Spotlight
On this page we're going to Spotlight the lesser known historic sites and attractions that dot the history landscape across the USA and are worth a visit if you're in their area. And while they may be lesser known, some are very unique, and will be that rare find. You'll be, at times, on the ground floor, or maybe even know something others don't. It'll be fun. Visit them.
Atalaya Castle, South Carolina
It was built along the Atlantic Ocean as the winter home of a sculptress and industrialist. Anna Hyatt Huntington and Archer Huntington were rich and famous, although their move south from New York for months per year, was not the only early transplants from the north for better weather. It was a common occurrence. Uncommon was the shelter that Archer Huntington had designed. It would be of Moorish architecture, in the form of a castle, as he was an expert in Spanish studies. Perhaps more uncommon is that the beach here has gotten bigger, due to a jetty, and the house now sits back several hundred yards.
Today the castle is part of Huntington Beach State Park and can be visited daily. Yes, you can go to the beach and castle from the same parking lot. They hold an annual festival here in September, and tours most days. And if you are in the area, don't miss the across street sculpture garden that they founded, Brookgreen Gardens.
Image above: The front gate and Atalaya Castle, 2025, America's Best History.
Sponsor this page. Your banner or text ad can fill the space above.
Click here to Sponsor the page and how to reserve your ad.
Info, What's There Now, History Nearby
Atalaya Castle, South Carolina
Today you can visit the castle and gardens, although they are treated as two locations. Actually a visit to Atalaya Castle is part of your visit to Huntington Beach State Park, whether you want the beach or not. There are two entry fees, but the Castle extra is only two dollars and includes, most days, a guided tour.
Image above: The ocean face of the castle, 2007, Ron Osborne. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons. Below: Walking within the covered gateway of the inner courtyard, 2025, America's Best History.
Where Is It
Atalaya Castle is fifteen minutes south of Myrtle Beach in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, just off Route 17, which parallels the ocean. It is located in Huntington Beach State Park, across from Brookgreen Gardens, Atalaya Road, Murrells Inlet, SC 29576.
Minute Walk in History
Step inside Atalaya Castle — the Moorish-inspired winter home of Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, the world-renowned sculptor and founder of Brookgreen Gardens. Located in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, this historic coastal estate blends Spanish architecture with Lowcountry heritage, offering a rare look into Gilded Age design, art, and preservation.
What is There Now
Atalaya Castle, South Carolina
There is a large parking lot that holds visitors to the beach as well as Atalaya Castle. The castle has a small Visitor Center/Gift Shop. It has gone through significant renovation, but that work is still continuing. The goal is to keep the home as close in appearance to the time when the Huntington's would have lived here. Don't expect luxury, but it was luxury in the 1930's for the rich, and a place for Anna to continue sculpting.
When Open and How Much
Open daily, except some holidays. Huntington Beach State Park - $8 adult; $5 S.C. Senior; $4 Youth 6-15; Free for children 5 and younger. Atalaya - $2 person ages 6 and up. Children 5 and under free.
Fees and hours are subject to change.
Photo above: Stairway from the Courtyard to the ramparts of the castle, 2025, America's Best History.
Website
Atalaya Castle
Huntington Beach State Park
History Nearby
Yes, there are the beaches of the Grand Strand stretching from Murrells Inlet and Pawley's Island on the southern end, through Myrtle Beach in the center, and Cherry Grove Beach to the north. Lots to do there from natural history with some American Revolution sites on the Liberty Trail and Civil War treasures sprinkled around the state. And of course, there's the Huntington's Brookgreen Gardens across the street.
Photos, History, and More Spotlights
Building of Atalaya Castle
It was a masonry structure built to no (take that architects) design beyond the imagination of Archer Huntington. Two hundred feet by two hundred feet in size. Local labor was used during the depression era building of the castle from 1931 to 1933. The name translates to watchtower; the one at Atalaya is square, forty feet high, and holds three thousand gallons of water. Three sides of the buildings hold thirty rooms as living quarters. The other side is a studio with skylight for sculpting. Anna also had her hand in the design; she came up with the wrought iron rods which protected the windows from hurricanes.
Photo above: South side of the double sided Courtyard, 2025, America's Best History.
Buy Second Edition
America's Best History Timeline
Great book to keep middle school to college students up to date on their American history.
How It Became Part of the Park?
Its history during World War II saw the Huntington's allow the Army Air Corps for its use, as an attack by German U-boats was a constant threat. It was used as a barracks as well as housed the radar unit. In 1947, after the war, they came for the last winter as residents. It would become a state park, per lease, in 1960.
Today you can rent the Castle for weddings, or just visit for its history.
Image above: Tour guide taking you through the interior of the castle, 2025, America's Best History. Below: Wayside exhibit, Atalaya Castle, 2025, America's Best History.
The Huntingtons
Anna Hyatt was born in 1876 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Her primary focus at the beginning of her career were sculptures of animals, which had been fostered by her zoology professsor father. By 1915, she was the first woman to have a public statue erected on Riverside Drive, New York City, Joan of Arc. Her marriage to Archer Huntington occurred without fanfare in 1923. In 1930, after her diagnosis for tuberculosis, she moved south to Murrells Inlet with her husband to take advantage of the weather in her recovery. She lived until ninety-seven years of age.
Archer Milton Huntington was her industrialist husband, one of the wealthiest men in the USA. He had inherited much of his money from his father, biological or adopted, and became a philanthropist and scholar of Hispanic studies.
Photo above: Painting of Anna Hyatt Huntington as she's working, 1915, Marion Boyd Allen. Courtesy Wikipedia Commons. Below: Flowered interior of covered walkway through Courtyard, 2025, America's Best History.
T-Shirts and Souvenirs
America's Best History T-Shirts, Sweatshirts, Backpacks, and other Souvenirs from the official gear of americasbesthistory.com.
November Spotlight
Brookgreen Gardens, South Carolina
October Spotlight
Museum of the American Revolution, Pennsylvania
