traveler of charleston logo

Charleston Plantations Showcase Storied Past

Table of Contents

Area plantations provide history on slave life in Charleston


Slave cabins at McLeod Plantation
Slave cabins at McLeod Plantation

Each year visitors come to Charleston to soak up the area’s rich history. They are eager to step back in time to the 18th and 19th centuries, gaining a deeper understanding of Charleston’s past. That history is deeply intertwined with that of the slaves who worked the rice and cotton plantations and cared for the stately mansions in downtown Charleston.

The recently opened McLeod Plantation Historic Site provides a detailed history of the slaves who worked its cotton fields and their struggle for freedom following the Civil War. The Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission operates the 37-acre site, which is opened to the public in April 2015 after four years of work to ready the site for tours.

The property was first occupied by Native Americans before English colonists arrived in 1670. It had a few different owners before William Wallace McLeod purchased the 1,700 acres in 1851 for $11,500.

The McLeods turned the land into a sea island cotton plantation, using as many as 100 slaves to work the land and tend to the farm animals and gardens. Sea island cotton – extinct in 1918 after a boll weevil outbreak – grew 8 to 12 feet tall. It was picked every 10 days from August to December, maybe even January if the weather was warm.

According to plantation records for 1859 to 1860, the McLeod plantation generated 64 400-pound bags of cotton. Considering the processing of the cotton to extract just the best pieces means the slaves picked 90 tons of cotton that year while also caring for 70 hogs, 24 sheep, 50 dairy cows and much more.

The McLeods grew cotton for a decade before the Civil War broke out. A secessionist, William Wallace McLeod left his plantation home to join the Charleston Light Dragoons. He died in 1865 while returning home from the war.

James Island was a strategic location for Charleston’s defense during the Civil War so McLeod Plantation became the headquarters for Confederate and Union troops.

Following the Civil War, the 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, a regiment made up of free African Americans, set up a field office at McLeod and the row of small houses – once occupied by the slaves – were now homes for the freedmen and their families.

Some of those houses on “transition row” as well as the Worship House remain on the site for visitors to get a glimpse at how the slaves and subsequent freedmen made their homes on the property.

Much of the site’s interpretive history and tours focus on the transition following the Civil War, highlighting the slaves who worked the plantation and their struggle for freedom.

Take advantage of the 45-minute guided tours to go deeper into the plantation’s history. There’s also a free app for Apple devices called “Transition to Freedom” that visitors can download to supplement their experience.


 

Plantation life in the Lowcountry

Charleston is home to several plantations, many of them offering special programs that detail the history of slaves who worked on the property. Touring these many historic homes and plantation grounds is an excellent way to gain a deeper and broader understanding of what life was like for slaves in Charleston as well as African-American history and culture.

Historical Interpreter-Jamal Hall at Middleton-Place
Historical Interpreter-Jamal Hall at Middleton-Place

Middleton Place

Middleton Place was settled in the late 17th century and acquired through marriage by Henry Middleton in 1741. For more than 125 years, four generations of Middletons lived and worked on the property with many playing integral roles in the country’s history. Henry Middleton was the second president of the First Continental Congress and his son, Arthur, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Arthur’s son, Henry, was governor of South Carolina and his son, Williams, signed the Ordinance of Secession.

Today, Middleton Place is known for having America’s oldest landscaped gardens and a house museum filled with extraordinary family furniture, silver, porcelain, rare books and portraits.

Visitors can tour various parts of the plantation, including taking the “Beyond the Fields” tour that offers an extensive history of the slaves who lived and worked on the plantation as well as the freedmen at Middleton Place and other plantations.

A key stop on the tour is Eliza’s House, once occupied by former Middleton slaves. The house has historical exhibits and a list of the 2,800 enslaved people who worked on the Middleton’s various plantations around the Lowcountry. The house is named for Eliza Leach, a South Carolina African American born in 1891 and the last person to live in the building. Along the “Beyond the Fields” tour, guides discuss domestic life at Eliza’s House, the labor at the rice mill and spring house as well as spirituality at the Plantation Chapel and slave cemetery.

Visitors can also stop off at the Plantation Stableyards to see the many jobs of the slaves who worked there.


 

Boone Hall Plantation

Boone Hall Plantation Slave cabins
Boone Hall Plantation Slave cabins

Another beautiful and historic plantation is found in Mount Pleasant. Englishman Maj. John Boone

established Boone Hall Plantation in 1681 when he started his plantation on the banks of Wampacheone Creek. Boone Hall – spanning 738 acres – provides a variety of tours and exhibits detailing plantation life, including black history and details on the slaves who lived at the plantation.

“Black History in America” is a self-guided tour told using eight of the original servant quarters located on Boone Hall Plantation that were built between 1790 and 1810. Each cabin highlights a different historic theme – including praise house, sweetgrass baskets, work and life, emancipation and freedom, civil rights – using life-size figures, photos, relics and pre-recorded narratives.

“Exploring The Gullah Culture” is a live presentation in The Gullah Theater, located at the end of Slave Street. The Slave Street and History Presentation begins at the top of Slave Street in front of the slave cabins. A guide provides a historical look at the living quarters, historic relics and lifestyle of the slaves that lived at Boone Hall. (Check schedule sheet at front gate for times.)


 

Magnolia Plantation

Founded in 1676 by the Drayton family, Magnolia Plantation is home to the oldest public gardens in America. It opened in 1870, welcoming visitors to its gardens filled with thousands of beautiful flowers and plants.

Magnolia Plantation brought the family great wealth as a rice plantation during the Colonial era. Later, British and American troops occupied the grounds during the American Revolution, while the Drayton sons would become both statesmen and soldiers fighting against British rule.

The gardens were established in the late 17th century and into the 18th century, flourishing on a grand scale in the early 19th century, largely thanks to John Grimké Drayton’s efforts to create a series of romantic gardens for his wife, Julia.

Several years ago, Magnolia Plantation embarked on a project to preserve five 1850s slave dwellings as part of its Magnolia Cabin Project. Visitors can experience the “From Slavery to Freedom” tour, a 45-minute presentation on African-American history. Explore each cabin to appreciate how long they were actively occupied – from the 1850s to the late 1990s.


 

Drayton Hall

Widower John Drayton moved to Drayton Hall with sons William Henry and Charles in the early 1750s. The 350-acre plantation served as the hub for Drayton’s vast commercial plantation empire. Over the course of his lifetime, he owned close to 100 different plantations across South Carolina and Georgia where enslaved Africans, Native Americans and their descendants grew rice and indigo.

“Connections: From Africa to America” is a 30-minute interactive program about the history of the slaves who lived and worked at Drayton Hall. Museum interpreters use images and artifacts to tell the story of the enslaved people and their descendants.

Drayton Hall’s African-American Cemetery is one of the oldest documented African-American cemeteries in the nation still in use. The earliest surviving record dates from about 1790 and it remains the final resting place for at least 40 people – enslaved and free. Many of the original markers have deteriorated so fewer than 10 graves have been identified.


 

 

More Information on Visiting

Visit McLeod Plantation
325 Country Club Drive
Charleston, SC 29412
843-762-9514
ccprc.com
Open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday – Sunday
$10 admission; $6 for ages 3-12
Guided tours are offered at the top of each hour, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. (included with admission).

Visit Middleton Place
4300 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
843-556-6020
middletonplace.org
Open daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
$28 general admission; $15 for students 14 and up; $10 ages 6-13
“Beyond the Fields” tour offered daily at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. (included with admission)

Visit Boone Hall Plantation
1235 Long Point Road
Mount Pleasant, SC 29464
843-884-4371
boonehallplantation.com
Open daily
$20 general admission; $10 ages 6-12; $18 military, seniors, AAA (tours included with admission)

Visit Magnolia Plantation & Gardens
3550 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
843-571-1266
magnoliaplantation.com
Open daily 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through February; 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. beginning March 10.
$15 general admission; $10 ages 6-12 (tours may require an additional fee; “From Slavery to Freedom” cabin tour is $8)

Visit Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
843-769-2600
draytonhall.org
Open 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday to Saturday; 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday (closed first week of February for maintenance)
$22 general admission; $10 ages 12-18; $6 ages 6-11 (tours included with admission)

 

Learn more about African-American history in the Lowcountry at myafricana.org, a website sponsored by the Magnolia Plantation Foundation of Charleston.

Visiting Charleston Just Got Way Easier!

TourPass includes all the top tours and attractions & historic sites. Save up to 40% or more on admissions + skip the lines

Charleston FAQ's

Choosing a hotel and where to stay in Charleston all depends on your budget and goals. Do you want to stay Downtown, at the beach or in the outer areas such as North Charleston where you have to drive to get everywhere? For more help on deciding: https://travelerofcharleston.com/articles/hotels/

Charleston has 3 main public beaches which are: Folly, Isle of Palms and Sullivans. Each beach has it’s own atmosphere. The most common beach that people visit is Folly Beach and then Isle of Palms followed by Sullivans Island. For more info on Charleston’s beaches visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/

Charleston, SC is full of historical things to do. Everything from museums, to public sites and free landmark sites such as Rainbow Row and the Battery can be seen. For more info on Charleston’s top historical sites visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/places-to-learn-about-charleston-sc-history/

There are many things that will keep the kids and family entertained and educated in Charleston. There are historic sites such as Fort Sumter, a Children’s Museum, Aquarium and the USS Yorktown…a WWII era aircraft carrier you can tour. For more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-family-fun-activities/

There’s so many  things you could do in Charleston it can be overwhelming. We recommend that first time visitors, checkout the ultimate first-time visitor guide here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-first-time-visitors-guide/

Spring in Charleston, SC is an amazing time of year to visit. The flowers are blooming and the weather is mild and sunny. For more info, check-out our spring guide to Charleston here: https://travelerofcharleston.com/the-ultimate-guide-to-springtime-in-charleston/

Summer in Charleston is a great time to visit. There’s plenty of things to keep you busy and visiting the beach will probably….or should be on your short-list. Also water-based activities and tours are popular. Checkout this summer guide to Charleston for more info: 

Our 10 Favorite Summer Activities in Charleston

Fall is one of the best times to visit. The weather cools down a bit and the skies are typically blue and clear. In addition there are many great events, festivals and the large crowds of summer have gone back to school or work. For more info on visiting in the fall, checkout this article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-12-things-to-do-fall/

There are so many great things to do that it’s difficult to narrow the list down. This article does a great job with figuring out the must do things to do in Charleston

7 Can’t Miss Reasons to Visit Charleston, SC Now

The consensus is a minimum of 3-days is needed to settle in and experience Charleston. For instance, many people take 2 days exploring downtown and another day visiting sites outside of downtown such as the plantations, Angel Oak Tree or beaches. Checkout this page for a list of tours and attractions: 

Charleston’s Top Tours & Attractions | Things to do

Downtown Charleston was made for walking and for sure one of the best way to soak up and experience the history first-hand. This article goes over getting around Charleston with and without a car as well: 

Getting Around Charleston, SC

We’re of course partial to Charleston, but here’s the truth. There are many similarities however there are some differences in our opinion: 

  • Both cities are historic and beautiful. 
  • Both cities are extremely walkable. Savannah, with it’s park-like squares maybe more walkable than Charleston. 
  • Charleston has a more established and food scene with many more options. 
  • Charleston has better hotels and shopping.
  • Both cities have equally good tours.
  • Charleston has better beach options. Savannah has Tybee which is great, however it’s 1 beach vibe versus Charleston which has 3 beaches with different vibes. Checkout this Charleston beach guide article: https://travelerofcharleston.com/guide-charlestons-beaches/
  • In Savannah you can walk with alcoholic beverages on the street. This is not allowed in Charleston. This can be good or bad depending on your stance. 
  • Savannah is more affordable.
  • TourPass offers all-inclusive passes in both cities: https://tourpass.com

There are always great and world-class events happening in Charleston. For a calendar of events and things to do in Charleston, checkout our online calendar of events: https://travelerofcharleston.com/events/

Of course there are free money-saving coupons that you can use. Visit the coupons page for a bunch of ways to save: https://travelerofcharleston.com/coupon/

Charleston has some fantastic can’t miss tours such as Fort Sumter, carriage, ghost, harbor, historic and culinary tours. For a full list with more info visit: https://travelerofcharleston.com/attractions/

Checkout the Charleston Relocation Guide page which will guide you during your move: https://travelerofcharleston.com/charleston-sc-relocation-guide/

Additional Places to Explore

Traveler Mag Icon
Receive Charleston Updates

Get the First Timers Guide...it's free

We’ll email our online magazine, map, helpful articles. Unsubscribe at anytime.