As always, thanks for such detailed information! Gardens: There are no manicured gardens here, but there is an oak alle and the huge McLeod Oak tree, which is thought to be more than 600 years old (perhaps even 1,000 years!). 375 Meeting St, Charleston, SC 29403, USA, Confirmation will be received at time of booking. Tours at McLeod Plantation focus on the history of African Americans in relation to the plantation, understanding Gullah culture, and the cultivation of cotton. There is also an introduction to Gullah-Geechee culture. Despite having 55 rooms, it can book up quickly so plan ahead and book online. How do I book a plantation tour or ticket? 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. : Yes, today, 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. Henry established the gardens and later built the North and South flankers. Middleton Place would go through a lot of troubling times. In June 2020, the Charleston Tea Plantation changed its name to Charleston Tea Garden. The Slave Narrative Collection includes about 2,000 interviews, 274 of these from South Carolina. Although the tea plantation is not that old, the history of tea growing in the Charleston area goes back to 1799 when French botanist Franois Andr Michaux planted some near Charleston Middleton Barony (now Middleton Place). The tea is now owned by the Bigelow Tea Company but Hall is still very much involved with the plantation. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. The Magnolia Plantation is a historic house and former plantation in Charleston, South Carolina. Most of the others were destroyed or have been heavily restored or reconstructed. Food: No, although a limited selection of snacks and drinks are available for purchase in gift shop. Do I have to wear a face mask on public transport in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? In the antebellum period, it is estimated that there were over 2,000 plantations in South Carolina, most within the Lowcountry area. Thomas Stone and his wife owned it from 1935 to 1940 and built the current house. Magnolia Plantation is a historic house and gardens located in Charleston, South Carolina. have been a tourist attraction for over 100 years, and some of the details date back to the plantations creation, making them the oldest unrestored gardens in the United States. We visited Drayton Hall prior to all the recent additions and development, and at that time there was just the guided house tour and the grounds to explore. (late 18th century or early 19th century), a larger sixth cabin was built later, a cotton gin house (19th century), dairy (19th century with 18th century cellar), kitchen (19th century), and a 4-person privy. DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel North Charleston - Convention Center Show prices Enter dates to see prices 926 reviews 5264 International Blvd, North Charleston, SC 29418 3.9 miles from Magnolia Plantation & Gardens #1 Best Value of 418 places to stay in Charleston Drayton Halls African-American Cemetery is one of the oldest African-American cemeteries still in use, dating from at least 1790. Many visitors are surprised by how much walking they do at some of these plantations. that can be seen in the Gates Gallery, including items owned by the Drayton family. Accessibility: The first floor of the main house is wheelchair accessible by using a wheelchair lift. Magnolia Plantation and Gardens (464 acres, 187.77 hectares) is a historic house with gardens located on the Ashley River at 3550 Ashley River Road, Charleston County, South Carolina. This plantation is also a popular choice because of its scenic oak alley, its appearance on popular TV shows and films, and its photogenic house. We only ask for your e-mail so we can verify you are human and if requested notify you of a reply. The road distance is 20.9 km. Private tours are also possible with the plantation founder William Barclay Hall but need to reserved in advance. Most Unique: The focus on African American history, Gullah culture, and land cultivation. Travel directly from downtown Charleston to Magnolia Plantation, and then tour the grounds. 2.4 Getting to and around Atlanta. The tram tour allows you to see the fields, see what a tea plant looks like, learn how they are planted and harvested, and see the young plants in the greenhouse. The gardens at Magnolia Plantation are world-renowned and are considered to be some of the most beautiful and romantic gardens in America. Centers for Disease control and prevention (CDC). Which company provides Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston? In the 1800s cotton also became a popular crop in South Carolina after the introduction of the modern cotton gin made it easier and more profitable to cultivate. Other places to visit on site include the newly-built Visitors Center and Stephen and Laura Gates Exhibit Gallery. There is also a slave cemetery on site, as well as the newly-built welcome center and pavilion. Before the Civil War, there were hundreds of plantations located outside Charleston, growing indigo, cotton, rice, and other cash crops. Yes, there are gardens located in the front of the house that form a butterfly pattern, where you can see heirloom roses as well as azaleas, camellias, and other flowers. For a full list of plantation day tours from Charleston, see our Charleston Plantation Tours section below. It also makes a stop to see the over 400 year old Angel Oak tree. At Middleton Place, a restored dependency building adjacent to the main house was turned into the family home and can be visited. Middleton Place offers a lot for visitors to see and do. So it will just depend on your exact dates and your interests. There are 399+ hotels available in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. 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. 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. The national COVID-19 helpline number in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is 800-232-4636. 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. Photography Allowed: Photography is allowed everywhere except inside the main house. The current house was constructed on the site of the former house in the early 1870s. Share. It was hurry, hurry, hurry back to the bus. 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. Required fields are marked *, Notify me of replies to my comment (just replies to your comment, no other e-mails, we promise! Later, the Middletons rebuilt the destroyed South Flanker in 1869 and it was lived in by the Middleton family up until 1975. We saw a number of different bird species (e.g, woodpecker, egret, ibis, storks, ducks, heron), turtles, squirrels, and alligators. Today it is a 37 acre park dedicated to Gullah heritage and African American history. Pleasant. 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. As a former teacher, she used a variety of techniques to hold our attention. I do wish we had time to do the tour that addressed the way of life for the slaves of the plantation, but that just wasnt an option that was included with this package. Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens bus services, operated by CARTA, arrive at Dorchester Rd / Reserve at Ashley River station. Magnolia Plantation & Gardens is ranked #3 in Charleston with endorsements from 6 reviewers like Lonely Planet, Travel + Leisure and Fodor's. Middleton Place. Most of the objects date from the 18th to 20th century. Which plantation you choose depends a lot on what you are looking for in a plantation experience. The welcome center, factory tour, restrooms, and gift shop are wheelchair accessible and require no steps to visit. Charleston Tea Garden doesnt have any of the historical plantation buildings of the others on the list, but it is still worth visiting if you are interested in seeing a working plantation and are interested in seeing how tea is made. Duration: 4.5 hours Departure Location: 375 Meeting St, Charleston, SC Easy Cancellations! Charleston City Passes that include plantations? Nearby is the Boone Hall Farms Market (2521 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant, SC 29466) which sells produce from the plantation farm and has a cafe where you can get hot meals. Cotton and indigo were both grown here, and Boone Hall became one of the lead producers of pecans in the United States in the late 19th century. The best way to learn about slavery at Drayton Hall is to take the interpretive guided tour focused on slavery offered twice a day here. Architectural Style: The main house (now destroyed) was a 3-storey brick house and was likely Georgian in style. Slavery Information: N/A Henry Middleton began to lay out the gardens in 1741, inspired by formal gardens in England and France. The site has been dedicated as a Sankofa memorial garden. popular ornamental and shade tree. McLeod Plantation is the only one of the 6 we havent had the chance to visit so looking forward to visiting on our next trip to Charleston. The gardens attracts butterflies during the warmer months. There is a gift shop in the Welcome Center. There are some beautiful old live oak trees here. The main house and flankers were burned by the Union troops in 1865. The social distance requirement in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is 2 metres. Nearby is the Boone Hall Farms Market (2521 N Hwy 17, Mt Pleasant, SC 29466) which sells produce from the plantation farm and has a cafe where you can get hot meals. There are also Sunday bird walks. You can roam the grounds as you like but not through the house. Architectural Style: N/A Also very informative. What documents do I need to cross Niagara Falls? They were also one of the few brickmaking producers still operating after the Civil War. John Drayton purchased the property in 1738 and the Drayton family would own the property and live here for generations. Magnolia Plantation is a popular option for families and groups as it offers a lot of options for those with divergent interests. for over 30 years. What is the national COVID-19 helpline number in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? The first floor of the main house is wheelchair accessible by using a wheelchair lift. Slavery Information: Boone Hall offers daily live talks on both slavery and the Gullah culture. I love history and he had plenty. They can also sometimes do tours in a golf cart for those who are not able to walk the grounds for the tour, but they recommend contacting them in advance to be sure a staff member can accommodate. it is ideally situated for those who don't want to travel too far from downtown Charleston. The plantation was bought by the Drayton family in 1676. If you are looking for a room or apartment, then we recommend Plum Guide. In the city of Charleston, slave labor was used to built many of the houses, schools, government buildings, and churches, to do factory work, and to perform domestic duties in the homes of the wealthy. Although they rarely attack people with provocation, you dont want to accidentally step on a gator or snake! Travel directly from downtown Charleston to Magnolia Plantation, and then tour the grounds. The antebellum era plantation is located in Mount Pleasant, Charleston County, South Carolina, U.S.A., and listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The South lost the war, of course, and slavery was abolished by the Thirteenth Amendment in 1865. The Inn also had for an extra fee and my husband took a private guided kayak tour on the river while I did the rice field wagon tour. It provides a nice overview of the history of the plantation and the people who lived there. Neither McLeod Plantation or Charleston Tea Garden offer food, although Charleston offers free tea tastings and both sell snacks in their respective gift shops. Tour guides in most cases can not provide special assistance to guests (in terms of carrying walkers or wheelchairs, assisting people up stairs) during tours or walks, and it is strongly recommended that guests who need assistance visit with a companion. Is the tour at the venue always done by staff or is there free time to wander around unattended? Low to Moderate, this site is the most recently opened and is typically less crowded than other plantations. Rome2rio also offers online bookings for selected operators, making reservations easy and straightforward. Yes,available year round, would be beautiful that time of year with flowers blooming. The gardens are an outstanding example of the Romantic Garden movement, an Industrial-era gardening philosophy designed to emphasize beauty and escape over order and organization. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter. If you have specific needs or questions about accessibility at a plantation, Id call in advance of your visit to avoid disappointment and to make any special arrangements as needed. Don't miss out on our exclusive monthly giveaways with lots of fun travel and photography related prizes! Prices start at 7,500 per night. Now, we take a detailed look at each of the six Charleston plantations, listed in no particular order: Magnolia Plantation is one of the most visited plantations near Charleston. Today, Drayton Hall is a National Trust Historic Site and is run and operated by the Drayton Hall Preservation Trust. No, although a limited selection of snacks and drinks are available for purchase in gift shop. 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. We're working around the clock to bring you the latest COVID-19 travel updates.This information is compiled from official sources. All of the plantations around Charleston offer free parking to visitors. Follow Highway 61 north for approximately 9 miles. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2h 10m. But the family was able to rebuild the north flanker in 1869 and use that as their new residence. The Main House at Magnolia Plantation isn't exactly a traditional southern plantation, and it's not the original plantation house. Magnolia Plantation is known for its well-preserved Romantic Style garden, which is designed to be an oasis away from the city. The biggest reason Charleston visitors skip a visit to Magnolia Plantation is because of transportation logisticsan excuse this tour easily solves. However, only 4 rooms on the main floor are open to the public to tour as the top two floors are being used as a private residence. There is a tea bar in the gift shop where visitors can sample both hot and cold tea. There are also free 15-minute video-guided factory tours where you can see how the tea is processed. Louisiana plantations along the River Road, SpringHill Suites by Marriott Charleston Downtown/Riverview, https://ccprc.com/1447/McLeod-Plantation-Historic-Site, 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. There are also cabins on site that provided homes to African Americans from before the Civil War to 1990. And just as many hotels and inns are in historic downtown Charleston, a 25-minute drive away. I was really glad to have ta. 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