[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 142 (Monday, September 24, 2007)]
[House]
[Page H10702]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HONORING THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF BROOKGREEN GARDENS IN MURRELLS INLET, 
                             SOUTH CAROLINA

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 186) honoring the 75th anniversary 
of Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina.
  The Clerk read the title of the concurrent resolution.
  The text of the concurrent resolution is as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 186

       Whereas 2007 is the 75th year that Brookgreen Gardens is 
     open to the public;
       Whereas in 1930 philanthropist Archer M. Huntington and his 
     wife, sculptor Anna Hyatt Huntington, purchased 9,100 acres 
     of South Carolina land that stretched from the Waccamaw River 
     to the Atlantic Ocean;
       Whereas within the tract of such land were the remnants of 
     four rice plantations, including the Oaks, Springfield, 
     Laurel Hill, and Brookgreen;
       Whereas the Huntingtons created Brookgreen Gardens on a 
     300-acre parcel of land with massive live oak trees which 
     were planted nearly two centuries earlier;
       Whereas in 1932 the Huntingtons opened Brookgreen Gardens 
     to the public and established it as both a nature preserve 
     and a showcase for American figurative sculpture;
       Whereas Brookgreen Gardens consists of two main components: 
     the Huntington Sculpture Garden and the Lowcountry History 
     and Wildlife Preserve;
       Whereas more than 550 works by hundreds of American artists 
     are displayed in the Huntington Sculpture Garden;
       Whereas the Lowcountry History and Wildlife Preserve is 
     rich with evidence of the great rice plantations of the 
     1800s, contains native and domestic animal exhibits, and is 
     the only zoo accredited by the Association of Zoos and 
     Aquariums on the coast of either North Carolina or South 
     Carolina; and
       Whereas Brookgreen Gardens is designated a National 
     Historic Landmark by the National Park Service: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate 
     concurring), That Congress honors Brookgreen Gardens in 
     Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, on its 75th anniversary of 
     being open to the public.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) and the gentleman from New Jersey (Mr. 
Saxton) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from West Virginia.


                             General Leave

  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members may 
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks 
and include extraneous material on the measure under consideration.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from West Virginia?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, House Concurrent Resolution 186, introduced 
by our colleague on the Natural Resources Committee, Representative 
Henry Brown, honors the 75th anniversary of Brookgreen Gardens in South 
Carolina.
  When Brookgreen Gardens opened to the public in 1932, they were the 
first public sculpture gardens in the country. The gardens reflect the 
distinguished career of Anna Hyatt Huntington, a sculptor whose work 
spanned a period of 70 years.
  On October 5, 1992, the Secretary of the Interior recognized the 
significance of the site by designating Brookgreen Gardens as a 
National Historic Landmark based on the more than 550 works of American 
artists displayed in the sculpture portion of the gardens.
  Mr. Speaker, we support House Concurrent Resolution 186 and recommend 
its adoption by the House.
  I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of H. Con. Res. 186. House Concurrent 
Resolution 186 recognizes Brookgreen Gardens in Murrells Inlet, South 
Carolina, in honor of the 75th anniversary of its opening to the 
public.
  In 1931, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington founded Brookgreen Gardens 
to preserve the natural flora and fauna and to display objects of art 
within that natural setting.
  Today, Brookgreen Gardens is a Natural Historic Landmark and contains 
more than 550 works from American artists in what was the country's 
first public sculpture garden.

                              {time}  1415

  The Gardens also offer a nature and historical preserve, small zoo, 
and a nature exhibition center. To honor the 1932 opening of the 
Brookgreen Gardens to the public, I urge my colleagues to support this 
bill.
  Additionally, I would like to recognize the strong efforts of 
Congressman Henry Brown for his persistence and diligent work in 
bringing this resolution to the floor.
  Mr. BROWN of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of 
H. Con. Res. 186 which honors the 75th anniversary of Brookgreen 
Gardens, one of the most beautiful places in coastal South Carolina.
  In 1931, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington founded Brookgreen Gardens 
to preserve the native flora and fauna of coastal South Carolina and to 
display objects of art within that natural setting. Today, Brookgreen 
Gardens is a National Historic Landmark and contains more than 550 
works from American artists in what was the country's first public 
sculpture garden.
  Brookgreen Gardens also offers a nature and historical preserve; it 
also includes a small zoo that is accredited by American Zoo and 
Aquarium Association, and a nature exhibition center. The natural 
exhibition center and zoo exhibit educate visitors on the unique 
species and issues of coastal South Carolina.
  In conclusion, I would like to thank the rest of my colleagues from 
the South Carolina delegation. They have shown unity in celebrating the 
75th anniversary of Brookgreen Gardens by unanimously agreeing to be 
cosponsors of this resolution.
  To honor the 1932 opening of Brookgreen Gardens to the public, I urge 
my colleagues to support this bill.
  Mr. SAXTON. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from West Virginia (Mr. Rahall) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 186.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the concurrent resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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