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Magnolia Plantation & Gardens, Charleston

4.2

#1 of 82 in Historic Sites in Coastal South Carolina

Garden Historic Site Must See

• ©

One of the country's oldest plantations, Magnolia Plantation & Gardens dates back to 1676, when locals Thomas and Ann Drayton built a house and a small formal garden on this site. The family owned the rice plantation for the next 15 generations, utilizing slave labor to build a network of irrigation dams and dikes. Today, the estate operates as a museum, offering an interpretive program designed to teach visitors about the history of both slave and free black workers at this site. Explore the plantation's natural setting by taking a marsh boat tour or strolling through the gardens, where you can see centenarian cypress trees and camellias dating from the 1840s. Work out when and for how long to visit Magnolia Plantation & Gardens and other Charleston attractions using our handy Charleston attractions planner .

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Magnolia Plantation & Gardens Reviews

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TripAdvisor Traveler Rating

6,150 reviews

Google

4.5

facebook

4.7

110,923 likes

• By peterrC5040MB

  A nice stroll through the gardens, view of the river and marsh land. Petting zoo for the children. Tour the house.  more »

• By DanSer

  Nous avons choisi de prendre seulement l accès aux jardins, toutes les autres (maison, bateau, train, etc.) sont en extra. Notre horaire serré ne nous permettait pas d en faire plus. On a lunché dans ...  more »

  We chose to take only access to the gardens, all others (House, boat, train, etc.) are extra. Our tight schedule didn't allow us to do more. We lunched in the picnic area near the entrance. A light meal service is available. We eat while admiring the peacecons that pave the tables. The trails are well indicated. We have seen many Cypres covered with Spanish moss, flowers, Lake, turtles, aligators, etc. I liked the bamboo section that reminded me of my trip to Japan. We can use our ticket again in the next week. People with restricted mobility will have difficulty circulating there.
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Google

• By Becky Nicholson

  The plantation is lovely. There is so much history in this place the gardens are beautiful. These people offer a lovely tour and are so friendly. The group I was with was happy with the entire day. We toured the Plantation Home in the gardens had fun with the peacock and the Maze. Especially enjoyed the history room and the young lady doing her research on the Family

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• By Nathan Strutz

  It should not have taken me this long to visit Magnolia Plantation and Garden! I was really not expecting to visit one of the most beautiful places in the country (and I've been all over the US, I would know!). Our tickets were good for a week, so we even came back. It's amazing what a couple hours in beautiful nature will do for you. I recommend it to anyone and everyone!

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