Boone Hall Plantation

BOONE HALL PLANTATION

 

Who says you can't have fun by yourself?

 

I've discovered that when I invite people and they

can't come or have to cancel I don't mind because I

enjoy exploring places by myself.

 

I had so much fun at the Boone Plantation.

 

Earliest known existence 1681

 

It was a HOT humid day but enjoyed walking around

these historic grounds. Feeling apart of History

and learning more about the beautiful South.

 

As soon as I parked I heard the thunder

and saw the dark clouds.

I grabbed my umbrella and people looked

at me with weird eyes but I came prepared.

The clouds went the other way and

I had a great walking stick.

 

 

NBC daytime television says

"A must see stop on any trip to SC"

I'm discovering I need to keep a small notepad

to record my thoughts and knowledge

on these little adventures because as time passes I tend to forget

about these beautiful experiences and days in my life.

 



 

I met a nice man all the way from New Zealand

to see the Boone Hall plantation.

He gaves me some tips on renting an RV

and traveling the states.

 

First owner was William H. McRae

which was developed into 4,039 acres.

First products Indigo/Cotton

 

The Cotton Mill

It use to serve as a dinner Hall and Wedding receptions.

Recently the building has been condemed and is on the

United States Historic registry.



 

Commissionary Building

Where workers from the 1800s went to receive

their pay and buy supplies.

Currently serves as the tour house.

Signed up for the theatre and tour of the house.



The Pecan Tree is a large deciduous tree.

A pecan, like a fruit of all other members of the hickory genes,

is not truly a nut, but is technically a drupe, a fruit with

a single stone or pit, surrounded by a husk.

 



The seeds of the pecan are edible, with a rich, buttery flavor.

They can be eaten fresh or used in cooking, in sweet desserts,

but also in savory dishes.

 

One of the most common desserts

with the pecan as a central ingredient is the pecan pie,

a traditional Southern U.S. recipe.

Pecans are also a major ingredient in praline candy,

most associated with New Orleans.

 

In addition to the pecan seed, the wood is also used in making

furniture and wood flooring as well as flavoring fuel

for making smoking meats.

 



 

End of 1800s Boone Hall Plantation was one of the

largest producers of Pecan in the United States.

 

Mansion

 

View of the house from the road.

 

 

" Black History in America"

Story is told using eight of the original slave cabins

located  in a row. Each of the cabins

on slave street present different themes in telling the

Black History Story.

 

Slave Cabins

 

Cabin 1- Praise House

Cabin 2- Slave Crafts

Cabin 3- Their life and family

Cabin 4- Archaeological discoveries

Cabin 5- Their work and life

Cabin 6- Emancipation and Freedom

Cabin 7-Struggle for Civil Rights

Cabin 8- Heroes and leaders

 

In 1740 the plantation had forty slaves

The cabins were lived in til 1940s.

 

The view from inside the cabins

Quilts

Anyone that really knows me will

understand my thrill for African quilts.
 

 

 

Translations because the print is small

and I loved the idea of putting secret messages in quilts.

 

(The salves used their African designs in the applique

quilts that they made and the sense of color and style in

their pieced quilts was also inspired by African tradition.

A slave might be given a blanket once every three years,

quilts were a necessity. These women knew from their

mothers how to make vegetable dyes and could turn rough

slave cloth into every color of the rainbow. They used

worn clothes and scraps from the mistress of the house.

Few of these quilts survived, they were used until

wore out. As the abolitionist movement grew in the North

quilts were sold to raise money for the abolitionist cause.

The story that some patterns in quilts were used to pass

secret messages in the underground railroad network

remains uncertain, however the legend has now become

part of American History.)

 

Loved this tree I could look at it all day long.

In the 1850s the plantation was producing 4,000,000 bricks a year.

Doing the brick work were 85 slaves.

 



Came just in time for the last show on African History

Waiting to learn more about African History.

 

The presenter was much better at telling the story.

 

Slavery started in the Carolinas because crop owners

wanted to grow rice but didn't know how.

 

With some failed attempts they discovered

Africans had been growing rice successfully

for many generations. So that's when

investors started bringing Africans over on boats.

 

Also learned that slaves began trying to escape.

If they could make it to Florida to an indian tribe

they could be free. Most would never make it

and would be caught before they made it to

the destination. The slaves would speak

to each other with hidden secrets in singing

and playing the drums.

 

 



The Docks

 

The plantation holds wedding receptions on these docks

 



In 1936, Thomas Stone completed a packing house

and Wharf along Boone Hall Creek.

The building was destroyed during Hurricane Hugo

in 1989 and has since been replaced.

 



 

 

 

In 1743, son of major John Boone planted live

oak trees, arranging them in two evenly spaced rows.

Many brides love to have photos taken on this

road. I can see why it's stunning.

 

The plantation began giving tours of the mansion in 1959.

 

The current house on the property was built by Thomas Stone in 1936.

The house that was there was torn down.

 

The new house was built in he Colonial Revival Style.

Thomas Stone used bricks that was left on plantation

in the construction of his house.

 

The house is a three story with a full basement and measures about

10,000 ft. unlike original plantation houses the new house has a full sized

kitchen in the house along with seven bathrooms.

 

The first floor houses the kitchen, library, dining room, loggia and game room.

Second floor has seven bedrooms, third floor has two rooms,

 a bathroom, and full size attic.

 

 



 

I took a tour of the house. We were only allowed

to see the first floor because the plantation owner aunt

comes to visit she stays on the second floor.

I wasn't allowed to take any photos inside the home.

 

You'll just have to come visit Charleston to see for yourself.

Only eight mile drive in the country.

 



 

The Gardens

 



Two Gardens

 



 

Brick-lined pathways create a butterfly pattern.

Sections closest to the house are primarily azaleas,

and the other half consists of noisette roses and a

variety of other plants and flowers.

 



 

 

The stables were built in 1935 by Thomas stone.

A tour of the grounds is included in the admission.

I really had a great time holding on

as we came across every bump and swiftly around

dirt corners soaking it all in and trying to be a photographer.

 



 

In different seasons they plant about everything imaginable.

Peaches, pumpkins, blueberries, strawberries, lemon trees, etc.

 

 

While driving in the South I saw a sign for a peanut festival

My husband then said with some endearment "you would love any kind of festival"

I love celebrations of any kind!

Maybe that's why I loved this plantation from the moment I entered the gates.

 



 

During the year the plantation have many celebrations

- Lowcountry oyster Festival

- Easter Service

- Strawberry Festival

- Freedom Rocks

- Concerts

- Scottish Games

- Southern living taste of Charleston

- Pumpkin Patch

- Battle of Fort Wagner

 

 

How old do you think this house is?

 

Turns out not very old at all. Gotcha...

It was made for a movie set.

Ever heard of Queen with Halle Berry?

It's the movie that made Halle Berry a star

never seen the movie but ofcoarse I'm familar with Halle Berry.

The movie production left it for the plantation so the tour guides

can fake out the tourists. ha ha ha

 

Boone Hall plantation is the set for many hollywood sets

Army Wives

Most of the scenes take place on this very soil

 

For Halloween the plantation has a pumpkin patch

and corn maze.

One of the most beautiful sights. Our tour guide told us many couples want to get married at

Boone Halle because of the tree lane. One year ago the famous couple Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively got married at Boone Plantation. After the news that they were married here the interest broke down the plantation website.
 

 

Back side of the Cotton Mill.

 

A true GEM that holds a piece of my heart.