From left to right: Hopsewee Plantation, Georgetown; Boone Hall Plantation & Gardens, Mount Pleasant; Redcliffe Plantation State Historic Site, Beech Island HOPSEWEE PLANTATION Perched on the north bank of the Santee River, this Georgetown plantation — once owned by John Hume Lucas — was a major producer of rice crops due to the forced labor of West Africans who lived and worked on the property. LEARN: Join a cultural historian during the acclaimed Gullah Geechee Presentation to learn about the many contributions of the enslaved people who lived and worked here, and then peruse the exhibits and archaeological findings displayed at the Hopsewee Historical Museum. TOUR: Explore the rooms, period furnishings and architectural details of the plantation’s 1740 mansion on the Historic Landmark House Tour. ARTS & CULTURE: Try your hand at a Lowcountry tradition during the regularly scheduled Sweetgrass Basket Weaving Class, taught by eighth-generation weaver and Gullah descendant Vera Manigault, or experience the beauty and artistry of indigo — the first cash crop for the plantation — at an indigo dyeing workshop. EAT & DRINK: Savor finger sandwiches and scones with a Full Southern Tea spread at the River Oak Cottage Tea Room, or dine al fresco along the North Santee River with seasonal hors d’oeuvres and wine during Wine by the River. one of America’s oldest working plantations. LEARN: Hear stories about the culture, traditions and history of formerly enslaved West Africans during the Exploring the Gullah Culture presentation, shared by descendants of the Gullah Geechee people of the Lowcountry. See historic cabins on the self-guided Black History in America exhibit, and explore the visitor center and museum inside the recently remodeled Cotton Gin House, built in the 1850s for processing cotton. TOUR: Hop on the 35-minute Plantation Tractor Tour to motor around the 738-acre plantation and learn about the farming that still exists on this property. STROLL: Walk through the moss-draped Avenue of the Oaks, colorful botanical gardens and the seasonal Tropic Conservatory, featuring citrus trees and orchids. SHOP & EAT: Order a pit-cooked barbecue sandwich and a scoop of ice cream at the Butterfly Cafe, and pick up a memento in the gift shop. BOONE HALL PLANTATION & GARDENS Founded in 1681 by Englishman Major John Boone, this property in Mount Pleasant was a significant producer of cash crops such as cotton, indigo and rice. Today, it is considered REDCLIFFE PLANTATION STATE HISTORIC SITE Completed in 1859, James Henry Hammond and generations of his descendants lived in the mansion on this Beech Island cotton plantation. Learn about the African American families who also lived here, initially as enslaved laborers and eventually as paid workers. LEARN: Take a guided trip through the historic mansion, which houses more than 4,000 artifacts from four generations of the Hammond family, and learn stories from primary source documents and historic photographs in the visitor center exhibit. STROLL: Explore the woods on the property along the 1.7-mile hiking trail, and keep an eye out for numerous bird species, from indigo bunting to Carolina wren. SHOP: Near the parking area, stop by the new visitor center for an exhibit about the history of Redcliffe, plus a gift shop, restrooms and water fountain. 38
South Carolina Vacation Guide SC 2025: Page 38
