The Southern Plantation with a “Slave Street” and 180-Year-Old Avenue of Oaks

Boone Hall Plantation

Boone Hall Plantation near Charleston, South Carolina is one of America’s oldest working plantations, famous for its stunning Avenue of Oaks.

While tourists today come to see its beautiful gardens and preserved mansion, it’s also an important historical site that tells the difficult story of slavery in the American South.

Here are some facts you need to know about Boone Hall.

Avenue of Oaks Took 2 Centuries to Build

Two lines of huge oak trees line the three-quarter-mile road to the plantation.

The oak alley specifically was planted around 1743 by the Boone family, but the plantation has been operating for over 320 years. The trees are a Southern live oak species, which can grow up to 65–80 feet tall.

They’re tough, too (they’ve survived 15 big hurricanes) Movie fans might recognize this beautiful entrance from films like ‘The Notebook’ and ‘North and South.’

Original Slave Cabins Tell a Powerful Story

Nine brick cabins still stand along what was called ‘Slave Street.’

These small homes, built between 1790 and 1810, tell us about the lives of enslaved people who lived here. Each cabin was tiny, 12 feet by 30 feet, housing up to 6 to 12 people.

Different families lived in these cabins until 1940, first the enslaved and later the sharecroppers. Today, the cabins help teach visitors about this important history.

The Plantation’s Name Has English Roots

The name ‘Boone Hall’ actually came from England, where the Boone family owned a farm in Devonshire since 1560.

Major John Boone’s family was involved in the gentry class in England, with notable connections to local nobility. He moved to South Carolina in 1672 and started his new farm nine years later.

When he first came here, he tried growing mulberry trees to make silk, but soon switched to crops that grew better in South Carolina’s weather.

Enslaved Workers Created an Empire Here

By 1850, this place was South Carolina’s biggest brick maker, thanks to the hard work of enslaved people. They made special dark bricks called ‘Boone Blacks’ using clay from the nearby Wando River.

These bricks were so good that they were used to build more than 70 buildings in Charleston, including the famous St. Michael’s Church.

Skilled workers, including brickmakers, were often seen as valuable assets. Some were even given better privileges.

Grounds Witnessed a Great Agricultural Transformation

What grows here has changed a lot over 300 years. First came indigo for making blue dye, then rice in special flooded fields, also known as ‘paddies.’

Later, they grew cotton (a major cash crop in the 19th century). By the 20th century, pecan trees were introduced. Now the farm grows vegetables and harvests grapes for wine.

Played a Role in Revolutionary War Strategy

Charleston was significant to the American Revolution, and many plantations were involved in some way.

Boone’s location near the Wando River was perfect for monitoring British ships. ‘Swamp Fox’ or Francis Marion, a leader of American guerrilla warfare, used the land as a hideout.

In 2015, people found old buttons, musket balls, and even a British sword near the old dock, believed to be linked to the Revolutionary War.

The Current Manor Isn’t the Original House

The big house you see today isn’t the original. It was really built in 1936 by Thomas Stone, who came from Canada.

The current manor replaced the old wooden one from the 1790s. This two-and-a-half story building salvaged historic bricks from Laurel Hill Brickyard.

Designed by architect William Harmon Beers, it features Colonial Revival style architecture, but has modern features like heating and indoor bathrooms.

The Butterfly Collection is Significant

Inside the house, you’ll find an amazing collection of 435 butterflies gathered between 1850 and 1890.

Elizabeth Stone, who lived here then, collected them all. There’s even a garden with antique rose varieties that are over 100 years old.

Sadly, 27 kinds of these butterflies don’t exist anymore. The pavilion allowed scientists from the Smithsonian to study the species’ evolution in South Carolina.

Gullah Culture Preservation Efforts Are Ongoing

Four experts work here full-time to teach visitors about Gullah culture – the traditions of enslaved people who lived in this area. They show how to make special baskets from sweetgrass, just like people did long ago.

Since 1985, they’ve recorded more than 200 stories from people whose families lived and worked here. They work with experts from the Penn Center to make sure they tell these stories correctly.

Archaeological Discoveries Continue to Emerge

In 2019, special radar found 122 old buildings buried underground. They’ve found more than 150,000 artifacts, including coins and tools.

In 2021, they discovered a hidden spot under a slave cabin that held old medicines and a prayer book from 1801.

If you’re visiting Boone Hall Plantation, check out the ‘Black History in America’ exhibit. It talks about nine historic cabins built between 1790 and 1810.

Agriculture Continues Till Today

Boone Hall Plantation combines the old farming methods with new technology, like introducing modern watering systems and a greenhouse.

You can pick your fruits and vegetables here from April to December. Boone Hall grows strawberries, and visitors can pick them during the season (March to May).

If you’re there in fall, the Boone Hall Pumpkin Patch is one of the plantation’s most popular events, where families can pick pumpkins and enjoy hayrides.