It was overall a very nice way to spend 4 and a half hours. McGills first overnight stay in a slave cabin was at Magnolia Plantation and he also regularly leads the slavery focused tours here. Lodging: No He created a series of romantic gardens while recovering from tuberculosis to help his new wife Julia from Philadelphia feel more at home. Go approximately 7 miles and turn left onto Long Point Road. The award-winning gardens and the nature and swamp here really stand out. One unique aspect youll learn about in the Lowcountry is the Gullah culture (also sometimes called Geechee) developed by slaves in this area of the U.S., particularly South Carolina and Georgia. Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston 227 Bus Tours from 6,393.47 per adult Private Chauffeur & Admission to Middleton & Magnolia Plantation + Box Lunch Bus Tours from 72,141.95 per adult (price varies by group size) LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Middleton Place Admission with Self Guided Tour and Lunch 161 Recommended Most paths are also wheelchair accessible although some paths are unpaved and may require assistance. It accommodates about 25 people, The meeting and return location is at the Visitor center shed across the street from the Hampton Inn. TIMES: 10:00, 11:30, 1:00, 2:30. 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. Architectural Style: It is believed that the original home was a large brick Georgian mansion and the second house was a 2-storey farmhouse. Working plantation today? Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens bus services, operated by CARTA, depart from Mary St / Meeting St station. There are also cabins on site that provided homes to African Americans from before the Civil War to 1990. Copyright 2013 - 2023, Charleston Plantations Guide: 6 Plantations near Charleston South Carolina, Visiting the Charleston Plantations in South Carolina. Lodging: No accommodation on site. Before the Civil War, there were hundreds of plantations located outside Charleston, growing indigo, cotton, rice, and other cash crops. : No Yes, tea is grown and processed here on the tea farm. 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. SOLD JUN 13, 2022. If you are interested in the house, Drayton family, and their history, this is a good place to learn about it. Great place to visit - the driveway up to the house is magnificent and the Gullah show very enjoyable! Working plantation today? 2.3 Where to eat and drink in Atlanta. Then in 1963, Lipton used clippings from the former Pinehurst Tea Plantation to grow tea at a research station on Wadmalaw Island at a former potato farm. No drones allowed on site. Being respectful and aware during plantation visits? For those who are more interested in seeing a grand house, antiques, architecture, or manicured gardens, this is probably not the plantation for you. In the city, slaves were often loaned out to do work as well. Yes, photos are allowed everywhere including in the house. Clippings from these plants were later grown at the commercially successful Pinehurst Tea Plantation by biochemist Dr. Charles Shepard Jr. from 1888 to 1915. Visitors can also explore a self-guided black history exhibit, front gardens, and butterfly pavilion on their own. Magnolia Plantation, another former rice plantation near the Ashley River, has been owned by the Drayton family since 1676. Just be sure to book your day tour in advance as some require you to book at least 24 hours or more before you tour date. Location: 3550 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414. The guides are locals and highly knowledgeable! Boone Hall Plantation was founded in 1681 by John Boone. 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. Suites by Wyndham Charleston Riverview /a! Tripods and drones are prohibited on the property. This original house was struck by lightning and burned down in 1810. The plantation was owned by the Drayton family for seven generations. Food: There are two year-round places to get food here. Architectural Style: Colonial Revival Although they rarely attack people with provocation, you dont want to accidentally step on a gator or snake! I like hot weather, and I was surprised. We had a memorable experience while visiting the 400 year old plantation, oldest bridge over pond we can ever see, hundreds of alligators and finally visited the garden zoo. Although the main house is not the focus of the tours here, the house is notable for being an original antebellum house built for the McLeods. Boone Hall Plantation is a popular choice for those looking for a plantation to visit from Charleston. All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties. Charleston Plantation Tour: Magnolia Plantation Take a tour of the Drayton family home founded in 1676. Take in the beauty of the plantations wetland, lakes, forests, and marshes with a nature train ride. 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. This is only recommended for those with cars as it can be difficult getting around without a car outside of the city. Each of the Charleston plantations offer different experiences. A few possibilities include: To help you start planning your time in Charleston, take a look at our suggested 2 day Charleston itinerary. The most affordable way to get from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is to drive, which costs 2-4 and takes 22 min. So if you want to save money, you can probably skip this one. 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. 1.6 Weather and what to pack for a road trip in the south in November. LENGTH: 45 minutes . The history of Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is fascinating. 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? The group now organizes living history programs, education, and sleepovers in slavery-associated sites across the country. The gardens here are special so take some time to wander around and appreciate them. Am I allowed to travel from Charleston Historic District to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? Memorable and Beautiful Garden with plenty of options to capture Photos. This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC. The Welcome Center, gift shop, picnic pavilion, and toilets are wheelchair accessible. Food: The Peacock Cafe serves breakfast, sandwiches, snacks, and drinks. The trolley tour requires 4 steps to get into and out of the trolley. No tour can present everything or all perspectives, but it is great to see efforts being put into this. If you are visiting the Charleston plantations in the Spring, summer, or early Fall, we recommend taking along. If you crave a historic hotel in Charleston, you can also consider staying at one of Charlestons many historical hotels or inns, such as John Rutledge House Inn, Planters Inn, Mills House, Barksdale House Inn, Governors House Inn, or the Wentworth Mansion. The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge over the Cooper River in South Carolina, USA, connecting downtown Charleston to Mount Pleasant. Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston 227 Bus Tours from 63.42 per adult Private Chauffeur & Admission to Middleton & Magnolia Plantation + Box Lunch Bus Tours from 715.61 per adult (price varies by group size) LIKELY TO SELL OUT* Middleton Place Admission with Self Guided Tour and Lunch 161 Recommended Accompanied by a knowledgeable, local guide, visit over 100 of Charleston's most iconic sights . 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. Pleasant. Winters in Charleston are mild, so also not a bad option, but check to make sure everything you plan to visit remains open as some plantation attractions are seasonal. Brick making was also an important source of income throughout much of the 19th century. Rome2rio makes travelling from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens easy. A stay also gets you free entry into Middleton Place plantation, which is a significant savings for 2 people. Find the travel option that best suits you. It is also great that there is now a gift shop, and caf. Then we were off to the Nature Trail on a tram with a guide. The McLeods grew cotton until 1922 when the crop was wiped out by the boll weevil. But without enslaved Africans, there would absolutely be NO grand Charleston. During the Civil War the plantation was used as a headquarters for Confederates troops and then by Union troops. From downtown Charleston, travel south on Hwy 17, over the Ashley River, until you hit Hwy 61. The Garden Market is a causal spot to eat, selling sandwiches, snacks, ice cream, and drinks. Note that it can be difficult hailing one from off the street, so its a good idea to keep a taxi companys number on hand. 2.4 Getting to and around Atlanta. Prices start at 7,500 per night. The shuttle that takes visitors to the slave cabins and the nature trolley are both wheelchair accessible using ramps. The two plantations with the more kid-friendly offerings are Magnolia Plantation and Middleton Place. If you want to do all the extra tours and spend the whole day, Id recommend getting the inclusive pass (if offered, not always available) during your visit as it saves you about $8.00 on the total cost. As a result they were less influenced by British-American culture than slaves in some other states. Watch for the "Historical Plantations and Gardens" signs and the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens signs. The main houses at Middleton Place and Magnolia Plantation were destroyed by the Union army during the Civil War, but both have Reconstruction era houses you can visit. Slavery Information: There is a guided tour offered of the restored slave cabins (4 1850s cabins and one freemans cabin from 1900) which traces the African-American experience at Magnolia from slavery through the Civil Rights movement. One could tell that individuals who visited on their own did not have the in-depth experience that we did. The Drayton family lived in the current main house until 1975. Over 300 of these plantations were in Charleston County. If you are going far from the city center, pricing might become prohibitively expensive. Charleston became one of the wealthiest and most powerful cities in the United States, largely due to vast incomes made through the plantation system and slavery. 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. In the 20th century a handful of plantations were bought and restored, either to be opened as public historical sites or for private use. Main House Furnishings: The Middleton Place house is fully furnished and contains a large collection of furniture, art, documents, and family heirlooms from the Middleton family that date from the 1740s to 1880s. The Main House - also called the Drayton House - at Magnolia Plantation. Can be very busy, especially during events. 4 of the Best Charleston Plantations. Most Unique: Drayton Hall is the oldest surviving plantation house on the Ashley River. Most of the objects date from the 18th to 20th century. This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Many of the other plantations do offer self-guided nature trails, including Middleton Place and Drayton Hall. From downtown Charleston Take Highway 17 south across the Ashley River, and follow the signs to Highway 61. Also, no photos allowed inside the house! However, there are services departing from Mary St / Meeting St and arriving at Dorchester Rd / Reserve at Ashley River via N. Charleston SuperStop on Rivers Ave. For more information about slavery here, you may want to check out the bookBeyond the Fields and the film of the same name. None of the plantations are located in downtown Charleston, as plantations by definition require a lot of space. There is also an introduction to Gullah-Geechee culture. You can easily spend the entire day at Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. SOLD JUN 15, 2022. circa 1705. The Drayton family decided to sell Drayton Hall to the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the State of South Carolina in 1974. . The gardens attracts butterflies during the warmer months. First, because it is a grand Palladian building made of red brick with a 2-storey white columned portico. Crowds: Low to Moderate, this site is the most recently opened and is typically less crowded than other plantations. Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information. Some of the slaves were very skilled builders, craftsmen, and artisans and would have been known for certain kinds of work. If you have visited any of these plantations as someone with reduced mobility (or with someone with accessibility issues), wed love to hear about your experiences in the Comments section at the end of this article. Finally, in 1865 after 4 years of brother fighting brother, the American Civil War was won by the Union and slavery was abolished forever. Slavery existed on this plantation for around 200 years. So it will just depend on your exact dates and your interests. The main house can only be visited on a guided tour, but the grounds, gallery, caretakers house exhibit, and cemetery are self-guided. You can also see the ruins of the 18th century main house and north flanker as well as the slave cemetery. If you are interested in visiting the winery and distillery as well, you might consider this tour which allows you to sample as much as you wish without having to drive. There is also a slave cemetery that was re-discovered in 1996 which contains about 100 graves of people who are likely slaves at McLeod although much is unknown about the site and burials here. Photography Allowed: Yes It is also the only plantation to offer on-site lodging, and this is an ideal place for visitors to stay who want a peaceful spot to stay outside of Charleston. Since 2018, the plantation museum has opened a new visitor center, exhibition space, garden, and a cafe. If you prefer to stay in downtown Charleston, we recommend visiting one or two of Charlestons historic homes instead. Magnolia is the plantation near Charleston that has been open the longest as a tourist attraction and it offers a wide and varied set of tours and attractions. Middleton Place offers a lot for visitors to see and do. Horlbecks tenure. The cheapest way to get from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is to drive which costs $2-$4 and takes 22 min. While all of the plantations offer wheelchair accessible toilets and the modern buildings (visitor centers, cafes, shop) are accessible, the real challenge is accessing the interiors of the historical buildings. Tours/Tour Guides: The McLeod Plantation Historic Site can be visited as part of a guided tour (included with admission) or can be done as a self-guided tour if you prefer (there is a phone app and signs to guide visitors). Take Hwy 61 North for about 9 . Make yourself known to an official member of staff and/or call the national coronavirus helpline number on 800-232-4636. The social distance requirement in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is 2 metres. What are the travel restrictions in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? Currently about a half a dozen plantations near Charleston are open to visitors. Accessibility: The welcome center, factory tour, restrooms, and gift shop are wheelchair accessible and require no steps to visit. Gardens: 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. 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