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. It can be difficult to choose which plantation you want to visit in Charleston. These tours include Plantation House Tour, Nature Tram, Nature Boat, Slavery to Freedom Tour, Historic Garden Walk, and Audubon Swamp Garden Tour. Cannot accommodate wheelchairs, but we can accommodate those with limited mobility if they can be assisted by a companion. See theirlistings for Charleston here. At Magnolia, a summer house was moved here after the Civil War to serve as the owners home. Watch for the "Historical Plantations and Gardens" signs and the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens signs. Crowds: Moderate. As always, thanks for such detailed information! The Garden Market & Nursery sells plants, garden tools, crafts, and home accessories, including items handcrafted by the local artisans. Not only does it include access to the Plantation, but when we stayed there that access was allowed even after the Plantation was closed to the public for the day. The trolley tour requires 4 steps to get into and out of the trolley. Yes, travel within United States is currently allowed. Drayton Hall was built before the Revolutionary War and is an excellent example of Palladian architecture. Led by a bagpiper, the guests strolled between the two. Our tour guide comes along to add a few details and answer questions. Accessibility: The house is not wheelchair accessible, and requires 6 steps to get inside and another several steps to visit all the rooms. Before going into more detail about Magnolia Plantation, Middleton Place, Drayton Hall, Boon Hall and McLeod, here are some tips for planning your visits. Am I allowed to travel from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? Theres no big house, slave cabins, or antiques. 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. If you decide to visit Boone Hall, wed recommend at least 3 hours here, but you can easily spend half a day. Charleston Tea Garden is about a 40 minute drive away. Main Cash Crop: Rice and indigo. The Magnolia Plantation Carriage House was the perfect place to do this. If you have your own car, you could theoretically visit multiple plantations in a full day. At Middleton Place, a restored dependency building adjacent to the main house was turned into the family home and can be visited. Magnolia and Middleton have marvellous gardens and river walks, Boone Hall not so much, McLeod not at all. The distillery actually produces a sweet tea vodka and a sweet tea whiskey using the tea from the Charleston Tea Garden. 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. This information was provided to us by staff at these plantations and we do our best to keep it updated. What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms when I arrive in Magnolia Plantation and Gardens? Safety precautions are provided by the property and are not checked by Tripadvisor for accuracy. We recommend watching the 30 minute introduction video to start your visit. It was built using the design-build method and was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff. Weve stayed at a number of their properties around the world, and you can see ourreview of the Plum Guide here. . The bridges over the ponds here are also very picturesque and a popular place for engagement and wedding photos. The gardens here are more wild and natural. You can visit the inside of the main house on your own as it is not included as part of the tour (only the first floor is currently open to the public). Make yourself known to an official member of staff and/or call the national coronavirus helpline number on 800-232-4636. To the best of our knowledge, it is correct as of the last update.Visit Rome2rio travel advice for general help. Also, no photos allowed inside the house! It's always more relaxing to have someone else navigate to a destination. Owners: John Drayton purchased the property in 1738 and the Drayton family would own the property and live here for generations. Most do not allow drones or tripods on site. Travelling to the UK: What do I need to know? There are 4 ways to get from Charleston to Middleton Place by bus, taxi or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. The best was saved for last! There is also a hospitality center (seasonal), dock house, and a butterfly pavilion (seasonal). If youve visited any of these plantations, feel free to share any advice or tips of your own and please share any information updates. The best way to get from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens without a car is to line 10 bus and line 12 bus which takes 1h 57m and costs 3-6. So it will just depend on your exact dates and your interests. Photography Allowed: Photography is allowed everywhere except inside the main house. Rome2rio displays up to date schedules, route maps, journey times and estimated fares from relevant transport operators, ensuring you can make an informed decision about which option will suit you best. To get the most value out of your ticket, we recommend doing all the included talks and tours (slavery, gardens, animals) and seeing all the exhibits (Elizas House, craftspeople). Architectural Style: Palladian For local events, Id check the Charleston CVB and other websites for Charleston events in September 2021 and you can put in your specific dates. If you have limited mobility or are traveling with someone with limited mobility or special needs, be sure that the things you want to see can be accessed. Each of the former slave cabins was restored to represent a different time period: 1850 slave cabin, an 1870 freedmens home, a 1900 gardeners home, a 1930 gardeners home, and the 1969 Civil rights-era home of the Leech Family who lived here until the 1970s. The journey, including transfers, takes approximately 2h 10m. The eight lane bridge satisfied the capacity of U.S. Route 17 when it opened in 2005 to replace two obsolete cantilever truss bridges. We're working around the clock to bring you the latest COVID-19 travel updates.This information is compiled from official sources. Boone Hall is one of the oldest continuously working farms in the country, and has been producing crops for over 300 years. Meet your professional guide and ride to Magnolia Plantation, dating from 1676 and the time of the British colony. Gardens: There are extensive gardens at Magnolia Plantation, and these 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. 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. 11 Charleston: Haunted Carriage Evening Tour. The regular guided interpretive tours here are the best place to get this information. These tours are focused on Gullah culture, the lives of the African Americans who lived here (both during slavery and after Reconstruction), and the cultivation of the land. This post may contain affiliate links. The house, for instance, had two flakers which were destroyed by natural disasters in the late 19th century. The McLeods grew cotton until 1922 when the crop was wiped out by the boll weevil. Tours/Tour Guides: The main house can only be visited on a guided tour, but the grounds, gallery, caretakers house exhibit, and cemetery are self-guided. Boone Hall Plantation is one of America's oldest working plantations, continually growing crops for over 320 years. During the Civil War, Union troops set fire to the second house here in 1865, burning it to the ground. Architectural Style: The main house (now destroyed) was a 3-storey brick house and was likely Georgian in style. The group now organizes living history programs, education, and sleepovers in slavery-associated sites across the country. Architectural Style: Colonial Revival Thanks Tecsi, glad you enjoyed it and hope you enjoy your trip to Charleston if you are planning a visit! Of course, that is a big one too. Charleston City Passes that include plantations? A small percentage of the plantations continued on, many relying on tenant farming and the use of cheap labor from former slaves. Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston cancellation policy: All sales are final and incur 100% cancellation penalties. In the summer of 1990, Magnolias ignited a culinary renaissance upon opening in Charleston, S.C., paving the way for a new generation of Lowcountry cooking in the city and across the entire South. Address: 6617 Maybank Highway, Wadmalaw Island, SC, 29487 They were also one of the few brickmaking producers still operating after the Civil War. Working plantation today? Yes, the driving distance between Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is 21 km. 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. 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. The main plantation house can only be visited by a guided tour. However, you can get to McLeod Plantation Historical Site very easily from Charleston by bus. It stands proudly along the Ashley River near Charleston.Though named for the grand Southern magnolia tree, the property is better known for its wide variety of camellias and azaleas.Together, along with a profusion of other vivid flora, they make Magnolia the Lowcountry's most visited plantation. However, it is exciting to know that this site has decided to focus on the subject of slavery and African American life which has often been whitewashed at plantations. 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). Holiday Inn Charleston Historic Downtown. After the Civil War, the gardens would become neglected, but they would be restored and expanded by J. J. Pringle Smith (descendant of the Middletons) and his wife Heningham in the 1920s and they would also open them up to the public for the first time in the late 1920s. 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. The Drayton family lived in the current main house until 1975. 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. Magnolia Plantation Address and Map Magnolia Plantation 3550 Ashley River Rd Charleston SC 29414 (843) 571-1266 Magnolia Plantation Website Current and Upcoming Events at Magnolia Plantation 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. Charleston Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Rome2rio uses cookies to help personalize content and show you personalised ads. By proceeding, you accept the use of cookies in accordance with our, Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Take the line 10 bus from Mary St / Meeting St to N. Charleston SuperStop on Rivers Ave, Take the line 12 bus from N. Charleston SuperStop on Rivers Ave to Dorchester Rd / Reserve at Ashley River, Take a taxi from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Drive from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. If you make a purchase using one of these links it means we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. The original house was built by John and Elizabeth Boone circa 1680s and was likely a small cabin. If you are visiting other attractions in Charleston, we recommend. Email them at office@magnoliaplantation.com To get to Magnolia, click here for exact directions from your starting point. The fort was renamed for the U.S. patriot commander in the Battle of Sullivan's Island, General William Moultrie. 2.3 Where to eat and drink in Atlanta. The Drayton family lived in the current main house until 1975. The 1828 cottage here serves as a museum and visitor center. 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. Want to keep up to date with us and our latest travel tips? The first fort, formerly named Fort Sullivan, built of palmetto logs, inspired the flag and nickname of South Carolina, as "The Palmetto State". This is the last large-scale, romantic-style garden left in the country. The Magnolia Plantation first opened to the public in 1873, making it the oldest public tourist site in the state . McLeod Plantation Historic Site also has a notable oak alley as well as the large McLeod Oak which is believed to be at least 600 years old. Find all the transport options for your trip from Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens right here. Fort Sumter Admission and Self-Guided Tour with Roundtrip Ferry, Charlestons Old South Carriage Historic Horse & Carriage Tour, 2-Hour Historic Charleston Guided Sightseeing Walking Tour, Charleston's Hidden Alleyways & Historic Sites Small-Group Walking Tour, Ghosts of Charleston Night-Time Walking Tour with Unitarian Church Graveyard, Charleston Harbor History Day-Time or Sunset Boat Cruise, Haunted Evening Horse and Carriage Tour of Charleston, Charleston See-It-All Sightseeing Bus Tour, Charleston Ghost & Graveyard Night-Time Guided Walking Tour, Boone Hall Plantation All-Access Admission Ticket, Charleston historical walking tour with a Professor of History at The Citadel, 90-Minute Charleston City Sightseeing Bus Tour, Daytime Horse-Drawn Carriage Sightseeing Tour of Historic Charleston, The Death and Depravity Ghost Tour in Charleston, Charleston's Pleasing Terrors Night-Time Walking Ghost Tour, Undiscovered Charleston: Half Day Food, Wine & History Tour with Cooking Class, City Bus Tour with Charleston Museum Admission, Boone Hall Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston, Highlights of Charleston Guided Walking Tour, Private Historic Carriage Tour of Charleston, Middleton Place Admission with Self Guided Tour and Lunch, Magnolia Plantation Admission & Tour with Transportation from Charleston, Admission to Magnolia Plantation in Charleston, 45-Minute Narrated Nature Tram Ride through the Audubon Swamp Gardens, 30-Minute Tour of Magnolia Plantation Historic Home, Round-Trip Transportation Aboard Air-Conditioned Vehicle, Enjoy a guided walk through America's last large scale Romantic Garden, See wildlife such as alligators, egrets, herons, and turtles on the nearly 600 acre plantation, Entry/Admission - Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. Visitors can also explore a self-guided black history exhibit, front gardens, and butterfly pavilion on their own. It is one of the oldest plantations in the South, and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.Magnolia Plantation is located near Charleston and directly across the Ashley River from . It is good to keep in mind that these places are historical sites that help illustrate two very different sides of the same history, one of the wealthy plantation owners and one of the enslaved workers of these plantations. During the Civil War the plantation was used as a headquarters for Confederates troops and then by Union troops. Magnolia Plantation is the oldest public tourist site in the Lowcountry, and the vistas and gardens are the key to it all. Save this link to stay updated on COVID-19 restrictions, If you need help, visit the national COVID-19 website or call the COVID-19 Helpline 800-232-4636. It doesnt have the history of the other plantations, but its interesting to see how a real tea farm operates. It has appeared in TV series such as North and South, Days of Our Lives, the 1993 mini-series Queen (by Alex Haley) , and the 1994 Scarlett mini-series (sequel to Gone with the Wind). The lives of the enslaved and their culture is now the main focus at some places like McLeod Plantation Historical Site in Charleston and at Whitney Plantation near New Orleans, LA. 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. Tripods and drones are prohibited on the property. Private tours are also possible with the plantation founder William Barclay Hall but need to reserved in advance. And yet, the gardens are world-renowned and worth a visit in their own right. Read our range of informative guides on popular transport routes and companies - including How do I get from Sydney to Melbourne, How to travel India's Golden Triangle and What documents do I need to cross Niagara Falls? Sea Island cotton grown in the Charleston area became one of the most expensive and sought after cottons in the world in the 19th and early 20th centuries. : 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. Most Unique: Drayton Hall is the oldest surviving plantation house on the Ashley River. (built in 1850s), smokehouse (oldest building on site c. 1750), and stables (1930s). The plantation was built in 1676 by the Drayton family and is the oldest surviving plantation house in the South. The fact that the house stayed in the hands of the same family and has been preserved, rather than restored or rebuilt, allows you to see and better understand the building materials, construction methods, and architectural features. A small field of cotton is also planted each year for demonstration purposes. They even offer wine and beer. There are a number of archaeological finds, pieces of furniture, art, letters, etc. No drones allowed on site. Hello and thank you for all this good information and links. We visited in late January so the temperature was cool and crowds were low, but it was not the best time for the gardens. The McLeods grew cotton until 1922 when the crop was wiped out by the boll weevil. Charleston to Magnolia Plantation and Gardens bus services, operated by CARTA, arrive at Dorchester Rd / Reserve at Ashley River station. It takes 12 miles between Charleston and Boone Hall for you to drive there. 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how far is magnolia plantation from downtown charleston