There are plenty of historical sites to see if you find yourself in Charleston, South Carolina, but you also have the option of taking a short day trip to the nearby Boone Hall Plantation. The picturesque main house lives up to what you would expect from a grand, Southern plantation with the tall, white columns framing the entrance. Boone Hall Plantation was founded in 1681 and is also one of America’s oldest working farms, with the owners continuously growing and producing crops for over three centuries.
While the main house is impressive, it’s the surviving slave quarters that make a visit to this plantation memorable. As you can see from the two photos below, the slave quarters were made of brick so they have survived the passage of time. Seeing these structures up close is an experience you won’t forget. It’s a haunting reminder of the brutality of slavery that went hand in hand with the beauty of these old Southern plantations.
On a more positive note, you will also see the spectacular oak trees lined up on both sides of the entrance to the plantation. The oak trees were planted in 1743 and arranged in two evenly spaced rows, creating a picturesque approach to the main house. The website points out that “it would take two centuries for the massive, moss-draped branches to meet overhead, forming today’s natural corridor.” Check out the website for information on visiting hours and tours.
