Magnolia Plantation and Gardens, Rice plantation and botanical garden in Charleston, United States
Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is a 464-acre estate with botanical gardens along the Ashley River south of Charleston in South Carolina. The paths wind through different garden areas with camellias, azaleas and magnolias as well as through wetlands and open water with native plants and wildlife.
The Drayton family founded the plantation in the 17th century and grew rice along the river. Reverend John Grimké Drayton redesigned the gardens in the 1840s and planted numerous species from Asia and Europe.
The restored cabins on the grounds show the daily lives and working conditions of enslaved people on a rice plantation through original furniture and personal belongings. Visitors can trace how different generations of African American families lived here and how this history continues to shape understanding of the place today.
The grounds are expansive and best explored on foot or by taking a tour boat through the wetlands. Sturdy footwear is recommended as some paths are uneven and can become slippery after rain.
The main house was moved three times to different locations on the estate, most recently after the Civil War when it was transported across the river on barges. The gardens are designed to this day without an irrigation system and thrive solely on natural water sources and rainfall.
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