The Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in Mount Pleasant, SC
The Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens in Mount Pleasant, SC is a National Historic Site. It is one of the oldest plantations in the United States. At its peak, it was the largest pecan producer in the country. Learn here in Charleston, SC.
The Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens are a beautiful place to visit. It consists of seven hundred and forty-eight acres of Lowcountry landscape, including cultivated seasonal crop fields and naturally preserved wetlands. There are also nine original slave cabins to explore. A self-guided tour of these cabins is available. They provide visitors with information about the history of slavery.
One of the oldest structures on the property is the smoke house, which dates back to 1750. Another building is the Cotton Gin house, which dates to 1853. This building is now a residence.
Another historical structure at the Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens is the Avenue of Oaks. The Avenue of Oaks was established in 1743. During this time, Major John Boone and his family established a lucrative plantation in Charleston. He left the property to Sarah Gibbes Boone. In 1811, Thomas Vardell purchased the property. That year, Henry and John Horlbeck came to the plantation and started a brick business. Eventually, their sons produced four million bricks a year.
The plantation originally grew cotton and rice. For many years, the Horlbecks employed over eighty slaves to make bricks. After the end of the Civil War, Boone Hall switched to growing peach trees. The McRaes bought the plantation in 1955. Today, the McRaes operate an agricultural business on the plantation grounds.
The early twentieth century saw the sale of many plantations as private vacation retreats. Often, these plantations were built in the Greek revival or Colonial revival styles. However, the area’s natural clay deposits allowed for brick making. Many new homes were designed by professional architects.
Other important structures at the Boone Hall Plantation & Garden include the Nine Slave Cabins, the Black History in America Exhibit, and the Butterfly Pavilion. There are several flower gardens, as well as preserved creeks and ponds.
Boone Hall is the only plantation in the Charleston area that offers a live presentation. Visitors can take an open-air tractor coach tour, which lasts about 40 minutes and includes a description of the history of the plantation. Guests can also learn about the history of the plantation in the Gullah Culture exhibit.
If you are interested in visiting the plantation, you should know that the hours vary with the season. You can also take a guided tour of the mansion or go on a self-guided tour. Whether you are a history buff or an avid nature lover, you will enjoy spending some time exploring the many interesting and historic structures at the Boone Hall Plantation atop Long Point Road.
Currently, the McRae family owns and operates the Boone Hall Plantation and Gardens. In addition to farming, they operate a historical tourism business on the property. They are dedicated to educating people about the history of the plantation and the Gullah culture. Learn more information about The City Market is a Historic Market Complex in Downtown Charleston SC.
