Honey Horn, Hilton Head Island, South Carolina

Honey Horn historic site covering 63 acres on Hilton Head Island, SC, is the site of the Coastal Discovery Museum, and is the remaining portion of 1000 acre tract dating from the late 1700s.  The site has several historic buildings with the oldest being the original house now called Discovery House, built in 1859.  The Horse Barn houses two Marsh Tacky horses that are native to the Low Country. They are a distinct breed of horse originating from horses brought by the Spanish in the 1400s.

I was fortunate to be one of the artists who was allowed access to the site prior to being opened to the public–and before the existing dwellings were renovated.  I found the old–sometimes falling down–structures fascinating and spent many enjoyable hours roaming the site and painting the scenes.  One very handsome building, the Carriage House, no longer exists because it was deemed in too poor condition to renovate.  I painted the carriage house many times from different perspectives, and never tired of looking at its stylish form as I imagined how it had been used and who had lived in its upstairs room.