When travelers piece together the past of a destination, they can discover what it was, who was there, and how it’s evolved. Seeing the beautiful homes and gardens of prominent figures is a popular way to dig up that history—and the homes have their own story to tell. Here is a past and present look at one of four featured houses, and the full article can be read here.
Then
Boone Hall’s story began in 1681, when Major John Boone of England founded the plantation and built a two-story wooden farmhouse (typical of Charleston area plantations) on the grounds. His family bore five generations that resided there until the Horlbeck brothers purchased the property in 1817, and five generations of their family were raised there, too.
The Stone family purchased it in 1935, tore down the old farmhouse, and built a 10,000-square-foot Colonial Revival-style mansion. The McRae family acquired it in 1955 and opened it to the public.
Now
Boone Hall is considered one of the oldest farms in the U.S. and remains a working plantation, producing more than 150 acres of fruits and vegetables and colorful gardens. The oldest remaining structure is the smokehouse, built in the 1750s, and visitors can also see a brick structure designed for a cotton gin and nine late-1700s dwellings that housed slaves.
When they come to Boone Hall Plantation, guests enter through the lovely Avenue of Oaks, a nearly mile-long driveway hugged by giant oak trees, which are more than 275 years old and draped with Spanish moss.
Guided tours of the first floor of the home reveal antique furnishings and stories of the lives of a coastal Carolina planter’s family and his guests, and visitors can also take a 30-minute wagon tour of the property. Adam Morrical says they can expect a diverse experience that is entertaining, educational, and at times emotional.
“A must-see is the ‘Exploring the Gullah Culture’ presentation, where direct descendants of the Gullah people tell their story through a moving performance,” he says. “Many visitors have stated that is one of the best experiences they have encountered on their visit to the Charleston area.”
This performance is seasonal and takes place from mid-February through the fall.
For more information, contact Morrical.
Top photo: Avenue of Oaks at Boone Hall Plantation
Photo by Boone Hall Plantation
Support for Courier articles provided by:
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Destination Delco
History Colorado
The Huntington Library, Art Museum & Botanical Gardens
Winterthur Museum
