Scanned Memories: Atalaya Through My Lens in 1984

Scanned Memories: Atalaya Through My Lens in 1984

This post is part of an ongoing project: scanning my old slides, prints, and negatives (late 1970’s to 2004) to digital.

Click here to see all scanned image posts

In 1931, philanthropist Archer Huntington and his wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, decided they needed a winter residence to escape the harsh New York winters that exacerbated Anna’s tuberculosis. They chose the ocean beaches at Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.

Mr. Huntington designed a building based on Spanish or Moorish architecture, incorporating his own creative ideas. Anna contributed by designing wrought iron grills that protect the windows during hurricanes. The construction of the 30-room residence took two years and was arranged around three sides of a central courtyard. In the center stands a 40-foot water tower, which inspired the house’s name. “Atalaya” means “Watchtower” in Spanish. The home included studios for Anna’s artistic work and quarters for a variety of animals, including horses, monkeys, bears, and a leopard.

During World War II, the Huntington’s allowed the U.S. Air Corps to use Atalaya as a barracks. They would only return to the house for two more years, in 1946 and 1947. Archer Huntington passed away in 1955, and Anna visited Atalaya in both 1956 and 1958.

In 1960, 2,500 acres of the former estate were leased to the state of South Carolina at no cost, leading to the creation of Huntington State Park. Adjacent to the house is Brookgreen Gardens, which initially served as a showcase for Anna’s sculptures. Today, it is a premier sculpture garden featuring over 1,445 works by various artists. Click/ tap here for my 1983 visit to Brookgreen Gardens.

Atalaya was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. Click/ tap here to read a detailed history of Atalaya.

Atalaya in 1984

View of Atalaya castle framed by tall trees, with a path leading to the entrance gate, captured in May 1984.

Panoramic view of Atalaya, a historic beach house in South Carolina, featuring Spanish Moorish architecture, surrounded by palm trees and open land.

Exterior view of Atalaya, featuring weathered walls and wrought iron window grills, set against a clear blue sky.

A view of palm trees in front of a brick wall with a clear blue sky above. — The namesake water tower is to the far right.

Close-up of a stone wall partially covered with vines and small green leaves, illustrating the blend of nature and architecture.

View of the rooftop and surrounding greenery at Atalaya, showcasing the architecture and nature.

An architectural feature with an arched design made of textured materials, framed by palm trees, showcasing a glimpse of a building in the background.

Close-up view of a brick wall with decorative lattice patterns and green ivy vines growing on one side. — The watertower

Staircase leading up to a stone wall with varying textures, featuring a grassy area in front. — It was a bright sunny day when we visited, thus a few sun glares add to some of the images.

View through wrought iron grills of a window at Atalaya, showing palm trees and a green lawn outside. — Views looking out into the courtyard

View through a wrought iron grill, showcasing palm trees and manicured grass in the courtyard of Atalaya, a historic residence in South Carolina.

An empty wooden shelf unit in a corner, with an open cupboard door and light coming from a nearby window, revealing peeling paint and exposed brick walls.

The ruins of Atalaya, a historic winter residence designed by Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, surrounded by lush palm trees and greenery. — A lot of the area surrounding Atalaya was rough undeveloped beachfront…

Close-up of a green succulent plant surrounded by dry, brown foliage on sandy ground. — including spiky little plants you did not want to step on.

A scenic view of dense brush and trees under a clear blue sky with wispy white clouds.

Pictures were taken in May 1984. They were scanned to digital September 26-27, 2025.

Click here to see full-size, no watermark, images in my galleries at www.ImagesByBill.us.

Click here to see all posts with images from scanned old slides, prints and negatives.

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September 29, 2025

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