Boone Hall Plantation | Charleston

Boone Hall Plantation – In Detail

1. Historical Significance

Boone Hall Plantation, located in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, is one of the most famous and oldest working plantations in the United States. It was founded in 1681 by Englishman Major John Boone, making it over 340 years old. Through several generations and owners, Boone Hall evolved from a colonial plantation into a symbol of the American South, retaining deep historical ties to slavery, agriculture, and Gullah culture.

Colonial Era Origins

Major John Boone established the plantation with land granted to him by The Lords Proprietors. His family rose in prominence, intermarrying with elite South Carolinian families, and played a significant role in regional politics and agriculture.

Horlbeck Era (19th century)

In 1817, the property was purchased by the Horlbeck brothers, who used enslaved labor to grow cotton and produce bricks using clay from the nearby Wando River. Many buildings in Charleston-including parts of Fort Sumter-were built with bricks made at Boone Hall. During this era, nine brick slave cabins were constructed, which still stand today and are a centerpiece of the site's historical interpretation.

20th Century Revival

In 1935, Thomas Stone, a Canadian diplomat, purchased the property and built the present-day Colonial Revival mansion, completed in 1936. Though not original to the plantation’s founding period, it reflects the antebellum aesthetic and serves as the central architectural focus of modern tours.

In 1955, the McRae family acquired Boone Hall. They opened it to the public and began restoration efforts that helped make Boone Hall one of the best-preserved and most-visited plantations in the South. In 2019, they placed the plantation under a conservation easement, permanently protecting it from future development.

2. Key Features & Layout

Avenue of Oaks

This is perhaps the most iconic image of Boone Hall: a grand driveway lined with over 88 live oak trees, planted in 1743. The trees are draped with Spanish moss and stretch for nearly ¾ of a mile, forming a natural tunnel. It is one of the most photographed avenues in the United States.

The Main House

Built: 1936 (Colonial Revival style)

Structure: Two-story brick home with white columns and a sweeping staircase.

Public Access: Visitors are guided through the first floor only, where rooms are furnished in period style and docents explain the plantation’s evolution over time.

Slave Cabins (Slave Street)

Nine original brick slave cabins, built between 1790–1810, still stand along a single line near the entrance. These are some of the best-preserved examples of slave dwellings in the country. Today, each cabin features a themed exhibit under the "Black History in America" presentation, covering topics such as:

Gullah culture

The transatlantic slave trade

Daily life and labor on the plantation

Civil Rights era achievements

African-American contributions to American culture

Each cabin includes interpretive signage, videos, and artifacts. The final cabin often includes a live performance or storytelling by a Gullah descendent.

Gullah Theater

Boone Hall is one of the few plantations that offer live Gullah storytelling, music, and spirituals. These performances are delivered by Gullah-Geechee descendants who bring first-hand knowledge of the language, traditions, and resilience of the culture that emerged from enslaved West Africans in the Lowcountry.

Agricultural Tours (Coach Tour)

Visitors can board a tractor-pulled wagon tour that lasts around 30–40 minutes. It covers:

Active farm fields

Pecan groves

Former cotton processing areas

Views of the original cotton gin house and smokehouse

Stories of agriculture, crop rotation, and working farm methods across centuries

Boone Hall is a working farm, growing strawberries, tomatoes, peaches, and other seasonal produce. The land has been farmed continuously for over 300 years.

Gardens and Grounds

Formal Gardens: Located behind the main house, these include antique rose varieties, hedged pathways, and seasonal plantings.

Butterfly Pavilion: A seasonal attraction featuring native butterfly species and nectar plants.

Koi Pond & Conservatory: Offers a tranquil stop for visitors with tropical plants and koi fish.

3. Cultural and Educational Value

Boone Hall has shifted in recent decades toward a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of its history. The plantation acknowledges its past as a site of forced labor, and through preserved spaces and cultural programming, it highlights:

The lived experiences of enslaved Africans

The perseverance of Gullah culture

The evolution of Southern identity

The site is often used for educational field trips, university research, and cultural preservation efforts.

4. Events and Filming

Boone Hall has served as a setting for many events and films due to its picturesque grounds:

Films: The Notebook, North and South

TV: Army Wives

Weddings and Festivals: Boone Hall hosts the Lowcountry Strawberry Festival, Wine Under the Oaks, and other community events.

However, Boone Hall has also been part of the larger debate over the ethical presentation of plantation spaces, with some advocating for continued improvements in historical framing and interpretation.

5. Practical Visitor Information

Location: 1235 Long Point Rd, Mount Pleasant, SC

Opening Hours:

Monday–Saturday: 9:00 AM–5:00 PM

Sunday: 12:00 PM–5:00 PM

Admission Prices (subject to change):

Adults: $30

Seniors/AAA/Military: $27

Children (6–12): $12

Under 6: Free

Time to Allow: 2.5 to 4 hours for a full visit

Accessibility: Grounds are partially accessible; the house has stairs and limited entry for those with mobility issues. The coach tour is ideal for those unable to walk the plantation.

6. Summary

Boone Hall Plantation is not just a scenic historic site-it’s a place of reflection, resilience, and learning. With a combination of colonial heritage, preserved slave quarters, Gullah storytelling, live agriculture, and educational interpretation, it offers a layered understanding of the Southern plantation legacy. While it retains grandeur through its famous oak avenue and gardens, its true value lies in the honest exploration of a complex past and the living culture that continues to shape the Lowcountry today.