McLeod Plantation Historic Site is the ideal place to learn about the rich history of slavery and African American culture in Charleston. The plantation focuses on the lives of enslaved people and their families before and after emancipation.
The site has a fully intact row of slave cabins built on Sea Island cotton in the early 1800s. These are the surviving wood frame dwellings from the property that once housed 74 slaves. Read this first!
Guided Tours
McLeod Plantation Historic Site Charleston SC offers guided tours to explore the lives of enslaved people. This plantation is an important Gullah/Geechee heritage site and a federally recognized National Heritage Area in South Carolina.
In 1860, 74 slaves lived in 26 cabins on this Sea Island cotton plantation. The site has been restored to reflect its original form, and visitors can learn about the enslaved people’s relationship with the owners and the significance of the property during the Civil War.
The tour is very informative and interesting. It covers the history of slavery and the reconstruction period, and discusses the emergence of Gullah culture in the Lowcountry.
This is the best plantation for those wanting to learn about enslavement, life on a plantation and the development of the Gullah culture in the South. However, be aware that some people may find the tour to be upsetting or offensive.
Exhibits
If you’re looking to learn more about slavery and Gullah culture, McLeod Plantation Historic Site is the place to go. It’s one of the only plantations in Charleston that focuses almost exclusively on slave history and Gullah culture.
The guided tour at McLeod covers topics such as how the plantation operated, the reconstruction period after the Civil War, Gullah culture and more. It also discusses how the lives of former owners and enslaved people were intertwined and how poverty and struggle developed after the war.
Other attractions at the plantation include a large live oak alley and several outbuildings that can be toured. Some of these buildings, including a dairy, kitchen and cotton gin, were built in the 19th century and some are still used today. There are also a number of house tours that take visitors to different areas of the property, including the main house. The guides at these tours wear antebellum-era costumes. Explore more!
Admission
McLeod Plantation Historic Site is a Gullah-Geechee heritage site and a former sea island cotton plantation. The plantation is managed by Charleston County Parks and Recreation Commission (CCPRC) and opened to the public in 2015.
A guided interpretive tour is included with admission, offered 6 times a day on the half hour. These tours are outdoors and focus on Gullah culture, the lives of enslaved people, and cultivation of the land.
The site is also open for self-guided exploration before or after your tour time. A phone app and signs are available to guide you through the site.
Parking
The 37 acre McLeod Plantation Historic Site is an important Gullah-Geechee heritage site, meticulously preserved in recognition of its cultural and historical significance. Today, it is a living tribute to those who persevered in their efforts to achieve freedom, equality and justice.
As you tour the plantation, you’ll find many opportunities to learn about how the people who lived here were shaped by their experiences in Charleston and across the country. You’ll also discover how they have influenced and inspired contemporary society.
You can get to McLeod Plantation Historic Site easily by bus, train or car. Download the Moovit App or Website to see real-time schedules and get step-by-step directions from your nearest public transit station. Check our next area of interest here.
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