Charleston Architecture Center
Charleston Architecture Center
At the heart of the Civil War, and the center of many historical events, South Carolina is filled with historical sites. This makes it the perfect place to visit for both the young and the old. Young visitors can step into the past at one of South Carolina’s living history sites, while older visitors can immerse themselves in the incredible historical journey that this state has made.
For a first-hand experience about life on the plantation, try stopping in at Boone Hall in Mount Pleasant. Boone Hall is one of the oldest working, living plantations in the States. Visitors can explore the nine original slave cabins along Slave Street, where the plantation’s house servants and skilled craftsmen lived. Take a tour around the property to learn all about how people lived and worked in the old plantation days. To this day the plantation produces crops, boasting over 320 years as an active plantation. The fruits and vegetables grown on the property are available for sale, and many fields are available for pick-your-own customers.
Drayton Hall in Charleston is another plantation house waiting to be explored. While the plantation lands are no longer in service, Drayton Hall is the oldest plantation house in America that is open to the public. There is a guided house tour, self guided walks through the marsh and river lands, and an African American cemetery that has been preserved in its original state. Interestingly, Drayton Hall is a National Trust Historical Site, and has never been wired for electricity, or had plumbing, heating, or air conditioning installed.
For another aspect of South Carolinian history, stop in at the Central History Museum. Growing up around the railroad industry, the town Central got its name because it was halfway along the railway line from Atlanta to Charlotte. The town boomed until 1897 when the Southern Railway moved its headquarters from Central to Greenville. In more recent years the residents of Central have constructed “Ole Towne” Central, which acts as a living museum of the town’s days as a railway headquarters. Many of the original structures are intact, with museums and informational tours to guide visitors through the town.
Historic Brattonville is home to another living museum that features information on the rise of medicine in America. Several generations of the Bratton family lived in Brattonville, in an Italianate style home called Hightower Hall. In addition to their medical background, the Brattons ran a sizeable cotton plantation. The property is now home to an award winning Heritage Farm Program. To maintain the structure of typical farm life, Brattonville houses a range of livestock, including several rare breeds such as Devon Cattle, Gulf Coast Sheep, Dominique and Red Dorking Chickens, and Ossabaw Island Hogs. With over 30 historic structures to explore, visitors are taken on a trip through South Carolina’s culture and architecture. Historic Brattonville has many special programs for visitors of all ages, and is especially popular with the kids.
Of course, a look at South Carolina would not be complete without a look at some of the military history of the area. One interesting military site is the Cowpens National Battlefield. It is at Cowpens that Brigadier General Daniel Morgan had his Revolutionary War victory over Lieutenant Colonel Banastre Tarleton. The battlefield is now a part of the National Park System. The 845 acres feature a visitor centre, trails, and an auto loop that circles the battleground.
There are many other fascinating historical sites throughout South Carolina. To learn about other places worth visiting in the state, be sure to utilize the many travel resources available to you on the web.
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Charleston Veterinary Referral Center birds-eye tour.avi