Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (2024)

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South CarolinaNature

By Robin Jarvis

|Published September 07, 2016

×Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (1)

Robin Jarvis

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From the Upstate to the Lowcountry, South Carolina has several historic plantations that are open for tours. You may recognize a few of these and others may be newly added to your radar. Each wonderful property has major history behind it, as well as just being beautiful and interesting to visit. Tour all of these historic plantations in South Carolina for unforgettable experiences.

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (2)

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (3)

Boone Hall dates back as far as 1734, although the current main house on the property was constructed in the early 1900s. Still, a visit to Boone Hall is like opening a time capsule from the early to mid-nineteenth century. From the 200-year old live old trees to the plantation's lovely gardens and the hand-thrown brick dwellings on Boone Hall's notorious "slave street," this plantation is one of the best in the Lowcountry. Tours are offered every day of the week, with seasonal hours. Admission fees and seasonal hours can be found here.

1235 Long Point Rd., Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 29464

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Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (4)

The historic home of South Carolina's only Vice President of the United States, John C. Calhoun, is open for tours in Clemson. The 814 acres that make up this massive property were bequeathed in 1888 to the State of South Carolina by the son-in-law of John C. Calhoun, with the stipulation that it never be changed. Clemson University operates Fort Hill as a Museum House and you can take a tour for $5/adults, $4/seniors, $2/children. Tours are offered every day, except university holidays. See tour times here.

Clemson University, 102 Fort Hill St, Clemson, SC 29634

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Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (5)

In their "cellar to attic" tour you'll get to explore every bit of this grand old rice plantation home, including two original slave cabins on the property. This one-hour guided tour is offered Tuesdays through Saturdays; see link for times. The cost is $20/adults, $17.50/seniors 65+, $10.50/students 12-17, $7.50/ages 6-11. More information here.

494 Hopsewee Rd, Georgetown, SC 29440

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (6)

Ashtabula Plantation was built between 1825 and 1828 and remained in the hands of generations of the same family until it was given to the Pendleton Historic Foundation. It's a wonderful two-story clapboard with a wide wrap-around porch on two sides. Ashtabula is open to the public on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. Admission is $6.00.

2725 Old Greenville Hwy, Central, SC 29630

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (7)

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (8)

There's so much to see and do at Middleton Place Plantation. Browse through the 1,000+ photos uploaded by Trip Advisor users and you'll get the idea that you should probably plan to spend nearly an entire day here exploring all the place has to offer. From the gardens to the historic circa 1755 home and the plantation stableyards, this is truly a magnificent example of Lowcountry South Carolina plantation living. Middleton Place is open 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. every day except Dec. 25. Guided tours are available or you can take a self-guided one. Admission: $28/Adults and 14+, $15/Student 14+ with ID, $10/ages 6-13, ages 5 and under are free.

4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414

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Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (12)

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Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (13)

Millford Plantation is regarded by many as the finest example of Greek Revival residential architecture in the country. You'll love everything about this tour, especiallly the sheer opulence of the interior and the furnishings. The gates to Millford are open on the first Saturday of every month from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. In April the gates are open every Saturday during these hours. And the plantation is closed in the month of January. There is an admission fee. More information here.

7320 Milford Plantation Rd, Pinewood, SC 29125

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (14)

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (15)

In stark contrast to the opulence displayed at Millford Plantation, Walnut Grove, circa 1765, is a tour that will grant much insight into life in the "outcountry." Aside from that, Walnut Grove was the home of the family who was instrumental in helping to defeat the British during the American Revolution. Take the tour and learn how. Very interesting! The cost is $6/adults 18+, $3/ages 5-17, children 4 and under are free. Tour dates and times vary by month. More information here.

1200 Otts Shoals Rd, Roebuck, SC 29376

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (16)

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (17)

The home of South Carolina's "seccession governor" was Rose Hill Plantation in Union County. You can walk the grounds and explore the rose gardens and out buildings for free. Admission to tour the house is $5/ages 16+, $3/seniors, $4 ages 6-15, children under 6 are free. Note: house tour times vary by month/season. Check here for more information.

2677 Sardis Road, Union, SC 29379

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Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (19)

Dating back to 1676, beautiful Magnolia Plantation & Gardens was originally a rice plantation. You may see some of the old rice "fields" when you visit, but it's more likely you'll most see the world-famous gardens that make this plantation the most visited in Charleston. There's also a popular petting zoo, a cafe and gift shop. Magnolia is open 365 days a year. The basic admission fee gets you into everything listed above. Additional fees apply to even more bonus activities at Magnolia. Complete admission details can be found here.

3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston, SC 29414

South Carolinians have done a wonderful job of preserving so much of the plantation history in the Palmetto State. Visit any one, or ALL, of these historic plantations for an experience you’ll never forget.

Have you toured any of these yet? And which is your favorite? We’d love to know in our comments.

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.

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Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience (2024)

FAQs

Visit These 9 Historic Plantations In South Carolina For An Unforgettable Experience? ›

Drayton Hall is Charleston's finest plantation. The plantations of Charleston which are open to the public are all located about ten miles outside the city area of Charleston, SC. Drayton Hall is the oldest and only preserved and accurate plantation house that can be visited and toured in Charleston.

What is the most famous plantation in South Carolina? ›

Drayton Hall is Charleston's finest plantation. The plantations of Charleston which are open to the public are all located about ten miles outside the city area of Charleston, SC. Drayton Hall is the oldest and only preserved and accurate plantation house that can be visited and toured in Charleston.

How many plantations did South Carolina have? ›

South Carolina SC Plantations. This website serves as a repository for information about South Carolina plantations and the people who lived and worked on them. It includes data for more than 2,000 SC plantations.

Are there any plantations left in South Carolina? ›

So setting the unpleasant realities aside, let's talk about some of South Carolina's finest plantations as they exist today, three in particular: Magnolia, Drayton Hall and Middleton Place. All three are located within just a few miles of each other on S.C.

What is the best preserved plantation in the South? ›

Evergreen Plantation is the most intact plantation complex in the South with 37 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, including 22 slave cabins. Evergreen has its country's highest historic designation and joins Gettysburg and Mount Vernon in being granted landmark status for its agricultural acreage.

What is the oldest plantation in South Carolina? ›

Mulberry Plantation is a historic plantation property in rural Berkeley County, South Carolina. Located between Moncks Corner and Charleston, this property was developed in 1714 by Thomas Broughton, who became the Royal governor of South Carolina, and is one of the oldest plantation homes in the United States.

What is the most famous plantation? ›

America's most famous plantation - Oak Alley Plantation
  • Oak Alley Plantation.
  • Vacherie - Things to Do.
  • Vacherie.
  • Louisiana (LA)
  • United States.

How many black slaves were in South Carolina? ›

By 1860, the slave population of South Carolina was just over 402,000, and the free black population was just over 10,000. At the same time, there were approximately 291,000 whites in the state, accounting for about 30% of the population.

What is the best plantation to visit in Charleston? ›

The Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is widely recognized as the most popular, if not the best plantation to visit in Charleston. This status is not without good reason. Originally established in 1681, the over 700 acre plantation has plenty of awe-inspiring sights.

Are there still active plantations in the South? ›

With the collapse of the plantation economy and subsequent Southern transition from a largely agrarian to an industrial society, plantations and their building complexes became obsolete. Although the majority have been destroyed, the most common structures to have survived are the plantation houses.

Is it inappropriate to visit a plantation? ›

In short, it depends.

Some would say that people shouldn't visit plantations, fraught as they were with human rights abuses of enslaved Black people … especially those that now exploit slavery for (further) profit by hosting weddings or parties on the grounds.

Do people still live on plantations? ›

They are not usually called plantations now, but there are certainly still big farms. Much of the labor that was formerly done by humans is now done by machines, so there are far fewer people living on “plantations” than there were 100 or more years ago. Yes. There are plantations still operating in the South.

Can you stay at a plantation in South Carolina? ›

Welcome to Historic Mansfield Plantation. Bed & Breakfast in Georgetown, South Carolina. or call 1-866-717-1776 to speak with our innkeeper. South Carolina's authentic plantation bed and breakfast destination.

What is the oldest plantation still standing? ›

Shirley is the oldest family-owned business in North America, dating to 1638 when Edward Hill I established a farm on the banks of the James. Today, the 800 acre plantation is still home to the 10th and 11th generations of the Hill-Carter family.

What were the deadliest plantations? ›

The rice plantations were the most deadly. Black people had to stand in water for hours at a time in the sweltering sun. Malaria was rampant. Child mortality was extremely high on these plantations, generally around 66% -- on one rice plantation it was as high as 90%.

Was there a real Candyland plantation? ›

The 'Candyland' home of Calvin Candie, played by Leonardo DiCaprio, was specially built for the film. The setting of the exterior was carefully arranged to provide a picturesque view of the sprawling sugar cane fields at Evergreen Plantation.

What movie was filmed at Boone Hall Plantation? ›

Boone Hall Plantation was used for scenes in The Notebook.

Why is Boone Hall Plantation famous? ›

Boone Hall Plantation currently features a “Black History in America” exhibit that highlights the slave cabins and different themes to tell the African-American story. Visitors view daily aspects of slave life and trace the diverse issues faced in the struggle for freedom on American soil.

What is the best plantation to visit in Charleston slavery? ›

Boone Hall Plantation

Founded in 1681, Boone Hall Plantation is one of Charleston's most beautiful places to visit! The history of this plantation tells the story of South Carolina's earliest days when enslaved people worked the land and cultivated cash crops that powered the colonial South Carolina economy.

How many slaves were at Boone Hall Plantation? ›

Rigler said that from the late 1600s to the early 1800s the plantation was owned by the Boone family and records indicate there were 90 to 100 enslaved people on the plantation. By the early 1800s Boone Hall had grown to more than 4,300 acres and the number of enslaved people increased to between 275 and 300.

References

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