Banksia Museum Garden Restoration

This project aims to restore the garden area at the historic Banksia Museum in Aiken, South Carolina, which suffered significant damage from Hurricane Helene in October 2024. Located on 3.5 acres in downtown Aiken, the museum grounds are not only a community landmark but a living record of the region’s layered history.

Originally built as the Townsend family home (1871–1894), the main building later served as the winter residence of the Harringtons of Rhode Island. Over time, it passed through several owners, including a developer who converted it into a boarding house in 1951. Tree ring counts from those lost in the storm suggest that many of the plantings on the property date back approximately 130 years, likely placed by early owners.

From 1957 to 1960, the structure housed Southern Methodist College, and was later used as a satellite campus for the University of South Carolina after being purchased by Aiken County. In 1992, the County entrusted the entire property—building and gardens—to the Aiken County Historical Society, with the understanding that the Friends of the Aiken County Historical Museum (ACHM) would support the care of the museum’s collections and grounds.

While Aiken County retains ownership of the site, the Friends of ACHM, a nonprofit organization, is responsible for maintaining the structure and the community-tended gardens. Since 2013, the Garden Club of Aiken has played a key role in maintaining a portion of the gardens, gradually expanding their stewardship as needed.