Tour is not recommended for children under 3 years old. Enslaved blacks were forced to work in the plantation houses, fields, and even in the slave auctions in which they were sold. Our team does the planning . Tours/Tour Guides: The main house can only be visited with a guided tour, but the grounds, gardens, and stableyards can be explored on ones own. During British occupation, in 17801782, the fort was known as Fort Abuthnot. You can save some money by staying outside of central Charleston, such as in Mount Pleasant, near the airport, or in Summerville. We look forward to your next visit to Charleston! Not recommended. Share. Although it doesnt have an original house on site, it does have a number of antebellum outbuildings including well-preserved brick slave cabins and is well-known for its Gullah cultural program. For each Charleston plantation in this guide, we have an Accessibility section which provides information on wheelchair accessibility, stairs, and services for those with mobility difficulties. This caused many surviving working plantations to cease farming efforts and many fell into disrepair. If your primary reason for visiting is to learn about slavery and African American history, we recommend visiting the McLeod Plantation Historical Site. We also recommend Boone Hall Plantation which offers daily live talks about the lives of the slaves on the plantation, a self-guided tour you can take with exhibits in the former slave cabins, and a daily live presentations about Gullah culture in their outdoor theater. The original plantation house (ruins) is believed to have been built by John Williams, the homes original owner, circa 1705. Although the history of the plantation itself only goes back to 1987, the history of tea growing in South Carolina goes back over 200 years. The big reason to tour the house at Middleton, Magnolia, or Boone Hall is that's the only place you'll get a guide to tell you about ownership, plantation life, crop management, etc. So please try to be cognizant and respectful of other peoples thoughts and feeling while visiting these sites. Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). The bus was comfortable and our guide, Lisa, was friendly and very knowledgeable. Working plantation today? The house at Boone Hall only dates to 1936, but the current owners have collected a lot of antiques and period sympathetic pieces so that it resembles an antebellum planters home. In the city, slaves were often loaned out to do work as well. An interesting array of animals are found in the nature center. Be sure to check the admission ticket prices and what they include before you visit. Of all of the plantations, the house tour provides the most information related to the construction and architecture of the house. What is Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Other buildings to visit on property: In terms of historical buildings, there is a c. 1870 caretakers house that is used as an interpretive space and also a large 7-person c. 1791 privy. Note that the interiors of the outbuildings can not be visited for safety reasons, but some are open for visitors to see the inside of them (from outside) and some house exhibits. With no one to run or work the plantations, many of them fell into disrepair or were sold off piecemeal. Crowds: Moderate to Large. Fresh produce is available to purchase at the Boone Hall Farms Market near the plantation. The tour guide had a fu, Very nice experience! She was a delight! Glad you enjoyed the tour at McLeod though despite the heat! They even offer wine and beer. Most of the Charleston plantation homes and other historical buildings are not wheelchair accessible. We enjoyed our visit to the Charleston Tea Garden and it is a great place to learn about the process of tea making for any tea lover. A rushed visit here is sure to feel overwhelming as youll be forced to choose between tours and have limited time to explore the grounds. Nine out of ten enslaved people in Louisiana worked on rural farms and plantations. There are also tractor tours rides around the large farm that focus on the agricultural history and current farming operations, live slave history presentations, and live presentations on Gullah culture. - magnolia plantation stock pictures, royalty-free photos & images The main house and south flanker were damaged beyond repair, and later reduced to rubble by the Great Earthquake in 1886. Wearing a face mask on public transport in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is recommended. Main House Furnishings: There is little to no furnishings in the main house or outbuildings. On the Trolley Tour, visitors also stop at the plantations greenhouse to see where the tea seedlings are grown. 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. Tour historic buildings or take a boat ride through the wetlands. The Magnolia Plantation is a historic house and former plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. Take a guided walk through America's last large-scale romantic garden. Brick making was also an important source of income throughout much of the 19th century. I think years ago, there was almost no discussion of slavery and African culture on plantation tours, but it is great that this has slowly changed over time. It stands proudly along the Ashley River near Charleston.Though named for the grand Southern magnolia tree, the property is better known for its wide variety of camellias and azaleas.Together, along with a profusion of other vivid flora, they make Magnolia the Lowcountry's most visited plantation. But, between that and the house tour there was not enough time to simply walk around and enjoy the property on our own. The terraced gardens contain a wide variety of flowers and trees. The current house has various architectural style influences including Victorian and Queen Anne style. Slaves were brought over from various parts of West and Central Africa and they developed a Creole culture and language that enabled them to maintain parts of their own African cultures, traditions, and language. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? We havent found any tours that include a visit to McLeod, but the plantation is easy to reach by public bus from downtown Charleston. There is also information and objects related to slavery and the lives of African American at Drayton Hall in the Visitor Center and Gates Gallery. The simplest option is to bring or rent a car. Rome2rio is a door-to-door travel information and booking engine, helping you get to and from any location in the world. Its also the only large commercial tea plantation in America! Tours/Tour Guides: The main plantation house can only be visited by a guided tour. If you decide to visit Boone Hall, wed recommend at least 3 hours here, but you can easily spend half a day. The second house completed in 1811 was burned by the Union troops in 1865 during the Civil War. Drayton Hall was established in 1738, and construction of the house was likely completed circa 1750. No formal gardens. On February 22, 1865, Union troops plundered the plantation and set fire to the Middleton Place home. Most paths are also wheelchair accessible although some paths are unpaved and may require assistance. But you can also grab a quick bite from the Garden Market. As the closest campground to Charleston, We are just minutes from Charleston's historic plantations, downtown, historic district, shopping, golf and the beaches. Magnolia Plantation, another former rice plantation near the Ashley River, has been owned by the Drayton family since 1676. Exceptions may apply, for full details: Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston is hosted by Adventure Sightseeing. One of the oldest estates in South Carolina, Magnolia Plantation dates to 1672. Thomas Stone and his wife owned it from 1935 to 1940 and built the current house. We were sitting for the Gullah presentation and I felt the perspiration running down my back:) It was so interesting, though, and I learned so much. Which plantations are closest to downtown Charleston? Henry established the gardens and later built the North and South flankers. We're working around the clock to bring you the latest COVID-19 travel updates.This information is compiled from official sources. Are there any tours that emphasize the way rooms have almost invisible access points that enslaved people used for coming and going as they served those that owned them? Many of the tour guides House guides and many of docents doing craft demonstrations are costumed in period clothing. The gardens give young children plenty of space to explore and they may also enjoy seeing the animals and watching the craft demonstrations by local artisans. These plantations were hugely successful and profitable, mainly because they were run using the cheap labor of African slaves. It was overall a very nice way to spend 4 and a half hours. Whether youre looking for an escape from city life, a walk in a beautiful garden, a glimpse of history, to learn about slavery and Gullah culture, or to see a working plantation in action, you can find it at one of these estates. After the Civil War, the gardens would become neglected, but they would be restored and expanded by J. J. Pringle Smith (descendant of the Middletons) and his wife Heningham in the 1920s and they would also open them up to the public for the first time in the late 1920s. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Regular. The house is not wheelchair accessible, and requires 6 steps to get inside and another several steps to visit all the rooms. But there's so much more to this antebellum plantation than just a Hollywood tear-jerker. Black people have lived and worked at Magnolia throughout its 350-year history, first as enslaved workers and then, after emancipation, as paid garden staff. To do this, we store the data as outlined in our privacy policy. Wearing a face mask on public transport in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is recommended. Tour guides do not wear costumes. Memorable and Beautiful Garden with plenty of options to capture Photos. Yes, photos are allowed everywhere including in the house. It's always more relaxing to have someone else navigate to a destination. After the war, it was used as a local field office for the. The social distance requirement in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is 2 metres. Recommended option Line 10 bus, line 12 bus Some of these will likely open to the public in the future after more stabilization work is done. The tour leads you through two floor of the home and NO Photography is allowed! The national COVID-19 helpline number in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is 800-232-4636. Some were opened as historical museums, hunting resorts, or hotels while others are rented out for events and weddings. The Magnolia Plantations and Gardens feature 600 acres (243 hectares) of gardens, lakes, forest and old, flooded rice fields. Most of the houses had some sort of pulley/bell system where they could easily call for slaves and certainly, there were often separate staircases, hallways, and service areas so slaves were easily accessible to the owners and could do tasks but were separate from the main areas of the house the family used. You might also consider checking out books about South Carolinas plantations and historic homes. Boone Hall Plantation has gardens, a tractor tour, outdoor Gullah theater talks, and a seasonal butterfly pavilion. At the end of this tour the guide reminds you that you have about 30 minutes on your own and where he will pick you up! It takes about 20 minutes to get to the plantation and the tour guide does not talk the entire time as ther is traffic to attend! It takes 12 miles between Charleston and Boone Hall for you to drive there. A brief history of plantations in Charleston South Carolina. Charlestons plantations are a window into the areas past. No drones allowed on site. Magnolia Plantation. Henry Middleton began to lay out the gardens in 1741, inspired by formal gardens in England and France. Then the factory tour tells you more about the plantation and shows you how the tea is processed and turned into what we buy on the shelves. These tours include Plantation House Tour, Nature Tram, Nature Boat, Slavery to Freedom Tour, Historic Garden Walk, and Audubon Swamp Garden Tour. Lodging: No lodging on site. In addition to the Romantic gardens, there is also the Audubon Swamp Garden, where visitors have a good chance to see lots of waterfowl, including egrets and herons, turtles, frogs, and alligators. Gardens: Middleton Place is well known for its 65 acres of lush gardens, and they are the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States. There are 4 ways to get from Charleston to Middleton Place by bus, taxi or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. You can take a bus from Charleston Historic District to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens via Mary St / Meeting St, N. Charleston SuperStop on Rivers Ave, and Dorchester Rd / Reserve at Ashley River in around 2h 10m. Plantations tours are not always a great fit for children, especially younger children, who can have a hard time standing still or paying attention during longer tours about history, slavery, architecture, and antiques. This is the last large-scale, romantic-style garden left in the country. Let us guide you along the paths first laid out by the Reverend John Grimk Drayton and his enslaved garden superintendent Adam Bennett in the 1840s. There is also the Heritage Pass which covers a total of 10 historical homes, plantations, and museums. I've been to Magnolia and Middleton this spring. As a former teacher, she used a variety of techniques to hold our attention. The original house was built by John and Elizabeth Boone circa 1680s and was likely a small cabin. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. For more trip planning information check out our suggested 2 day Charleston itinerary and the local Charleston official tourism website. After our conversations together with Hope & Justin about live oaks, spanish moss, sandy beaches, spring blooms, the downtown vibe & market street restaurants, we landed on a plan for the day: Getting ready & first look at their airbnb in Charleston; Ceremony and exploring together at Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. It also offers a variety of tours from the house tour to the slavery talks to the tractor tours of its farm. So glad you found our Charleston plantations guide helpful! She gives a bit of information on the road but also is the lead guide initially at the Plantation. All-inclusives 50 mi from Charleston City Market Highest-rated 4-star hotel within a 2 minute walk of Charleston City Market Top Rated Breakfast included 2022 1. Don't miss out on our exclusive monthly giveaways with lots of fun travel and photography related prizes! You can also visit Elizas House, which is a Reconstruction-era house used for African American freedman and is named after the last resident, Eliza Leach, who lived here until the 1980s. Today, Drayton Hall is a National Trust Historic Site and is run and operated by the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust. We recommend watching the 30 minute introduction video to start your visit. Travel directly from downtown Charleston to Magnolia Plantation, and then tour the grounds. It is, of course, not the only Charleston plantation that includes good information on slavery or Gullah culture, but it is the only one in the area to focus on it almost exclusively. The Lenhardt Courtyard Garden was planted in 2018 and features a 200-year-old oak tree as well as plants that would have been at Drayton Hall in the 18th and 19th centuries. You can find many of the transcripts online for free, or can buy them as a printed book online (some plantation gift shops also sell copies). Find all the transport options for your trip from Charleston Historic District to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens right here. But without enslaved Africans, there would absolutely be NO grand Charleston. But also art exhibits, jazz shows, a mystery dinner event, home baseball games (Charleston has a minor league team), and weekly farmers markets. Most of the buildings continued to be used into the 21st century so some contain modern materials and features. Charleston has many options ranging from budget hotels to 5-star ones. But I think most visitors to a plantation would have certainly have seen the slaves, especially those working in the house. The tour group is given front of the line position with just our group! So, I really appreciated the way you addressed this re: the plantations. Domestic travel is not restricted, but some conditions may apply. Charleston City Passes that include plantations? Most of the plantations have acres of gardens, nature trails, and grounds that can be explored on foot. McLeod is the only one that is easy to reach by public transit. These later changes were made to make the house appear more grand. Beauty and harmony in The Crescent, West Ashley, SC: 6 beds, 7.5 baths, 6,183 square feet, 5 minutes from downtown Charleston. Last updated: June 27, 2021- Written by Jessica Norah 14 Comments. Public transit is not a convenient option for most of the Charleston plantations as there are limited bus services outside the city. Tours at McLeod Plantation focus on the history of African Americans in relation to the plantation, understanding Gullah culture, and the cultivation of cotton. Before it was a tea plantation, it was a large potato farm. No drones allowed on site. Like Drayton Hall, it is unfurnished inside. The road distance is 20.9 km. The trolley tour takes you around the fields and you get to see how tea is grown, picked, processed, and brewed. I loved the colors green, white, and gold, trying to keep it simple but also chic at the same time.' . Although Boone Hall was notable for its crops, brick making was a huge source of wealth during the Horlbecks tenure. There is a tea bar in the gift shop where visitors can sample both hot and cold tea. 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. The house has been owned and run by the non-profit Middleton Place Foundation since 1974. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. Youll likely find more events scheduled closer to your trip departure. Tripexpert score: 9 / 10. Magnolia Plantation includes furniture, household objects, art, and antiques from the Drayton family who have owned the plantation since 1676. Food: There is a tea bar in the gift shop where visitors can sample both hot and cold tea. few working plantations you can visit in South Carolina and it is the only large commercial tea plantation in the United States. Youll also see the beautiful 3/4 mile long Avenue of Oaks leading to the house. The distance between Charleston Historic District and Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is 17 km. There are also Sunday bird walks. popular ornamental and shade tree. If you plan to visit several attractions in Charleston and plan to spend more than 1 day in the city, this pass will likely save you some money. Step into one of America's first tourist attractions and first public gardens, which have been open to the public since 1870. And no Photography is allowed the North and South flankers out the Gardens and later built current... 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