Accessibility: The main house and 18th century privy building are not wheelchair accessible. If you are planning a visit to Charleston in the future, you can PIN this article to Pinterest to read later: Have you been to any of these plantations in Charleston or have any of these on your must-see list? Best time of year to visit Charleston plantations? The fact that it has been owned (and is still owned) by the same family for 300+ years is also unique. Lodging: No Most of the objects date from the 18th to 20th century. The award-winning gardens and the nature and swamp here really stand out. $50 credit for lunch at the Middleton Place Restaurant. After the war, it was used as a local field office for the Freedmens Bureau before being returned to the McLeods in 1870. Youll want to spend at least half a day here, although you could easily spend a full day here. The Best Charleston Plantations (2023) | Which One Should You Visit? Call 843-804-9933 for reservations or book online. Learn about the land, the flora, and stories of the people who designed, created and maintained them. Along the Avenue of Oaks is a grave which is believed to be where Thomas Boone and his family are buried. For those who cannot climb the 4 steps, a tour of the farm in a persons own vehicle can sometimes be arranged with advanced notice. There is little focus here on the lives of the owners, architecture, or house furnishings, but this is probably the best place to visit if you want an unvarnished view of African American life on a plantation and to learn more about Gullah culture. Definitely recommend taking the time to do the From Slavery to Freedom tour and viewing the exhibits in the former slave cabins. During the presentation, Gullah Geechee descendants share their history, allowing guests to experience their enlightening and moving storytelling, song, and dance firsthand. That said, Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Place, and Drayton Hall also all provide tours focused on the experiences of the enslaved and African Americans. The Old South is well known for beautiful antebellum homes and historical architecture, and Charleston Plantation Tours with Crafted Travel brings you behind the scenes of the most stunning sites located near Charleston, SC. Most of the wealthy plantation owners in and around Charleston also had a house in Charleston, and several of these you can tour. They vary in architectural styles. Unlike antebellum plantations in some other areas of the country, such as the Louisiana plantations along the River Road, very few of the original antebellum grand plantation homes remain. As always, thanks for such detailed information! Middleton Place has also been used as a filming location, perhaps most notable during the filming of the 2000 film The Patriot. The system is not too unlike what you see in the grand country houses in Europe, especially in the UK, where you have a clear distinction of spaces for the upstairs family and the downstairs servants. But I think most visitors to a plantation would have certainly have seen the slaves, especially those working in the house. The Garden Market is a causal spot to eat, selling sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, and drinks. More details The 9 former slave cabins are unique in that they were built from brick (most slave cabins were built from wood) and each contains different exhibits about slavery and African American history that you can visit on a self-guided tour. Drayton Hall, 3hrs With Linda Wohlfeil Jones, Exclusively Charleston. The most important Charleston plantation tour and visit in Charleston Transportation to the plantation, and then a house tour, garden tour and presentations on enslaved peoples history and Gullah culture. (duration: 30 minutes). During the Civil War the plantation was used as a headquarters for Confederates troops and then by Union troops. Then a second two-story frame house with a one-story front porch was built later. Email [emailprotected] for inquiries and reservations. $125 per hour, additional passengers possible for an extra fee. The gardens attracts butterflies during the warmer months. No, but there is a demonstration rice field where rice is still planted. Both plantations have lovely gardens, and if trying to decide between them, it depends on whether you prefer more wild gardens (Magnolia) or more tended and landscaped ones (Middleton Place). Most Unique: It is one of the oldest operating farms in the United States, unique factors are its beautiful Avenue of Oaks, its well-preserved brick slave cabins, and the Gullah live presentations. But also art exhibits, jazz shows, a mystery dinner event, home baseball games (Charleston has a minor league team), and weekly farmers markets. Access Your Favorites from any Device and Get Suggestions for Upcoming Events. ), Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter where we share our latest travel news and tips. There are two main discount passes in Charleston, and both can save you money if you plan to visit a number of Charlestons popular attractions. Please allow 7-10 business days for delivery within the domestic US. If youre an eager student of architecture or history buff, this sprawling plantation tour provides a look at the foundation and evolution of life in the Lowcountry. The portico was added to the rear facade, and the rear is now used as the front of the house. The trolley tour requires 4 steps to get into and out of the trolley. The second house completed in 1811 was burned by the Union troops in 1865 during the Civil War. The main house at Drayton Hall is not currently wheelchair accessible, but all the other buildings are all wheelchair accessible including their museum, gallery, and slavery tour. For more trip planning information check out our suggested 2 day Charleston itinerary and the local Charleston official tourism website. See the Accessibility section for each plantation above. oday, the plantation is often considered the oldest working plantation in the country, growing a variety of fruits and vegetables, including tomatoes, strawberries, pumpkins, peaches, peppers, and asparagus. This includes a c. 1750 desk and bookcase designed for John Drayton that are considered two of the most important surviving pieces of colonial furniture in America. For any special events at the plantations, Id check their specific websites as many do have special events throughout the year. Obviously we try to share information that is balanced and respectful of anyone reading our travel blogs this can be more challenging when writing about more controversial tourist attractions such as former plantations. It is also considered one of the finest examples of remaining Palladian architecture in the United States. For questions, please call Boone Hall Plantation at, 843.884.4371 We will break up the choices into options in central Charleston, and ones that are a little further out near some of the plantations. arge. The McLeods grew cotton until 1922 when the crop was wiped out by the boll weevil. Take the stress of driving out of your time here in Charleston and enjoy a public or private Plantation tour from some of our experts! My only tip would be to ditto your recommendation of staying at the Inn at Middletown Place. The original main plantation house was built circa 1705. International African American Museum Opens In Charleston, SC - Forbes Main Cash Crop: Rice Main House Furnishings: The house is fully furnished with furniture, household objects, art, and early American antiques from the Drayton family who have owned the plantation since 1676. Americas oldest unrestored plantation open to the public c. 1738. There is also a cafe at Boone Farms Market located a 5 minute drive away which has more hot food and meal options. It has appeared in TV series such as North and South, Days of Our Lives, the 1993 mini-series Queen (by Alex Haley) , and the 1994 Scarlett mini-series (sequel to Gone with the Wind). Best plantations for wheelchair users and those with reduced mobility? The house has been owned and run by the. Half day or full days tours of local plantations. Black History In America Exhibit The plantation has had a number of owners, the most significant being the Boones, Horlbecks, Stones, and McRaes. Cypress Gardens3030 Cypress Gardens RdMoncks Corner SC 29461. The group now organizes living history programs, education, and sleepovers in slavery-associated sites across the country. The McLeods grew cotton until 1922 when the crop was wiped out by the boll weevil. For example in September, it looks like there is the Low Country Jazz Festival, Charleston Water Week, and Charleston Restaurant Week in terms of bigger things. Paths can be muddy. NEW 34 HRS . Gift Shop: Yes Yes, there is an extensive gift shop here. Part of the house is believed to be from a pre-Revolutionary War hunting lodge owned by the Draytons in Summerville that was floated downriver to the current location. . Required fields are marked *, Notify me of replies to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise! Private limousine transportation, plus any two of the following plantation attractions: a house tour, tram tour, gardens, slave cabins, swamp gardens. So you may want to also consider booking a day tour that includes transport and admission prices which often costs less than going by taxi. Drayton Hall, Boone Hall, Middleton Place, and Magnolia are all about a 30 minute drive away. Other buildings to visit on property: The main historical outbuildings are the four slave cabins (built in 1850s) plus a fifth cabin built around 1900; these cabins were lived in until the 1990s. Louisiana plantations along the River Road, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Charleston Downtown/Riverview, https://ccprc.com/1447/McLeod-Plantation-Historic-Site, Vatican Post Guide: How to Send Mail from the Vatican, 15 Best Travel Journals for Travelers Guide to Choosing the Perfect Travel Journal, Slum Tourism: 17 Responsible Travel Guidelines for Travelers, Nairobi Travel Guide: 24 Top Things to do in Nairobi Kenya, Guide to Visiting Galeries Lafayette in Paris, Remember that all of the plantations are located outside of Charleston, so you will need to either drive or arrange transportation. Regular. They were also one of the few brickmaking producers still operating after the Civil War. What a thorough reply, Jessica. I certainly knew the plantations and gardens and have visited some of the great houses in the historic district. But the family was able to rebuild the north flanker in 1869 and use that as their new residence. In the 1670s, English planters began to migrate from Barbados to the area now known as Charleston, South Carolina. Photography is allowed everywhere except inside the main house. The Inn at Middleton Place has wheelchair accessible rooms. Middleton Place National Historic Landmark House Museum, Restaurant Free Factory Tour, unique Gift Shop, great views and all the tea you can drink! and these links are all included below in this post. Main House Furnishings: The house is largely unfurnished and has been conserved and preserved rather than restored to allow visitors (and researchers) to be able to see the original construction, materials, and architecture. All of the plantations provide some information about slavery (except Charleston Tea Garden of course), and in fact each of the 5 plantations with an antebellum history offer dedicated slavery tours or talks. Visitors board an open-air shuttle that transports them to former slave dwellings (four cabins built in the 1850s and a smokehouse from circa 1900) where free men and women who worked to design and maintain the gardens, and served as Magnolias first tour guides, also lived after the Civil War. From a signature lecture series to seasonal workshops and distinctive garden tours, we provide programs that celebrate the legacy of horticulture in the SC Lowcountry. Website: www.draytonhall.org Most of the plantations in the Charleston area were looted and damaged by Union forces under the leadership of General William Tecumseh Sherman and many, like Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place, were burned to the ground. Call 843-722-4444 for reservations or book online. Boone Hall is one of the oldest continuously working farms in the country, and has been producing crops for over 300 years. It is one of the oldest operating farms in the United States, unique factors are its beautiful Avenue of Oaks, its well-preserved brick slave cabins, and the Gullah live presentations. Call 843-762-0088 for reservations or book online. Tour guides do not wear period costumes. The main plantation house can only be visited by a guided tour. Original Date of Main Plantation House: Drayton Hall was established in 1738, and construction of the house was likely completed circa 1750. The. The main house and flankers were burned by the Union troops in 1865. These Gullah ladies share uplifting spiritual messages of love and understanding of how through overcoming the hardships of the past have brought them to a better place today. These are some tours with a large number of reviews in Charleston, SC: Magnolia Plantation & Gardens (594 reviews), Tattooed Moose Johns Island (422 reviews). For more trip planning information, check out our suggested. So, thank you for your very thoughtful and accurate representations as well as your great suggestions for accommodations. The Charleston Tea Garden produces both black tea and green tea, and focuses on teas that taste good iced since most Americans consume tea cold rather than hot. Its also one of the oldest and finest examples of Palladian architecture in the United States. Your group can move at your own pace as you wander picturesque gardens, weaving through ancient oak trees dripping in Spanish moss and the secrets of years passed. These classical gardens were inspired by the gardens of England and France in the 18th century. Main Cash Crop: The plantation was used to grow indigo and cotton, and to raise cattle. Boone Hall Plantation is a popular choice for those looking for a plantation to visit from Charleston. The main historical outbuildings are the four slave cabins (built in 1850s) plus a fifth cabin built around 1900; these cabins were lived in until the 1990s. First, because it is a grand Palladian building made of red brick with a 2-storey white columned portico. The house isnt original but the current one does date to 1869 and served as the home for the Middleton family and their descendants until the 1970s. Glad you enjoyed the tour at McLeod though despite the heat! Neither McLeod Plantation or Charleston Tea Garden offer food, although Charleston offers free tea tastings and both sell snacks in their respective gift shops. Compare to other plantations in Charleston, by no mean it is the grandest nor biggest but it was the most honest and educational, when you take advantage of the guided tour (included in the $15 admission fee). Although the house itself is largely unfurnished, there is a collection of furnishings and artifacts from the Drayton family on display in the new Gates Gallery. Visit the headquarters for the Freedmens Bureau, an important early Reconstruction agency that worked to secure the freedom of African Americans. Reservations are recommended for dinner. This allows visitors to better see and understand the architecture and construction of the house. We purchased some of the plantation-grown tea here, but you can also purchase it online via the plantations website or on Amazon here. During your tour led by a guide in period costume, you'll see the plantation's slave quarters and learn about its history and modern-day use. There is also the Heritage Pass which covers a total of 10 historical homes, plantations, and museums.
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