Dating from 1679, Magnolia Plantation and Gardens is one of the oldest and most famous plantations in the South. And it’s an easy day trip from Charleston.
The plantation is renowned for its lush gardens, murky green swamps, dark slave history, and a variety of attractions that make it a must-visit.
Depending on the season, it’s covered in azalea or magnolias all centered on a dreamy pool of water.
Tall oak trees are festooned with Spanish moss, creating a lush, otherworldly effect. You will feel like you are stepping out of the modern world and back in time.
Quick Tips:
- In high season, you may want to pre-book a general admission ticket, which gives you entry to the gardens.
- A guided tour of the house is a separate timed entry ticket, but well worth getting and the house is air conditioned as a bonus.
- There is a nature train that takes you around the property.
- You may see alligators!
- You can take another guided tour, From Slavery to Freedom, that starts at the former enslaved individuals’ cabins.
- Depending on weather, there may also be a boat tour through the swamp.
>>> Click here to book a plantation tour from Charleston
Mini History
You can’t visit Magnolia Plantation without a bit of history. Aside from oohing and aahing over the flowers, that’s what you’re visiting for!
Magnolia Plantation was founded in 1676 by the Drayton family and has been owned by the family ever since.
It played a significant role in the region’s history, including the American Revolution and the Civil War.
The House & Gardens
Thomas Drayton built the first home was built in 1680, a Georgian manor. It was struck by lightening and felled in the 1790s.
A second clapboard home was then built in 1865. But it was burned down by union soldiers during the civil war. But, still, the glorious gardens remained.
Inspired by them, in 1836, Reverend John Drayton built a four room cottage, the interior of which you can still see today.
He was also the man responsible for creating the beautiful gardens.
In the 1840s, the reverend married Julia Ewing of Philadelphia. To woo her affections, he imported flowers from the north to create the most romantic gardens possible.
Adopting the new philosophy of garden design, he eschewed the formality of French and Italian gardens.
Instead, he created a messy, natural environment that I adored — meandering trails, water reflections, slumbering trees, and flowers blooming in all seasons.
Desperate for cash after the Civil War, Drayton opened the gardens to the public for a fee, creating one of the first man-made tourist attractions in the US.
In 1891, his daughter, Julia, inherited the property. She expanded the cottage into a proper mansion.
Rice and Slavery
Situated along the Ashley River, the plantation’s location provided fertile soil for rice cultivation, which became the primary crop.
Rice was a was a labor-intensive crop. Its success and profitability relied heavily on the labor of enslaved people.
The slaves performed grueling work in the rice fields, dealing with harsh conditions such as long hours, dangerous wildlife, and disease.
The living conditions for enslaved people were harsh as well, with inadequate housing, poor nutrition, and limited medical care.
During the Civil War, Magnolia Plantation had strategic importance, being near the port city of Charleston. Many enslaved people fled and joined the Union Army.
The Union blockaded southern ports, eventually capturing Charleston in 1865. Emancipation followed shortly afterward.
Guide To Magnolia Plantation: Highlights
On a visit, you can admire gorgeous gardens, learn the history of the enslaved people, see wildlife, and tour the plantation home. It’s a 4 for 1 experience!
Nature Train
The nature train at Magnolia offers a hop-on hop-off tour that circles its 450 acres of wetlands, forests, marsh, and swamp.
Fortunately, 40% of the ride is in the shade! It leaves down the road from the plantation home, close to the parking area.
On a 40-45 minute tour, you’ll learn about the Low Country’s native plants and animals, and the plantation’s history of rice cultivation and phosphate mining.
Your guide will point out birds, alligators, turtles, poisonous snakes, and more.
Alligators are a big attraction. But if, like me, you are visiting in summer, you likely won’t see many.
I only saw the tips for a few heads peaking out of the swampy water. It’s just too hot for them and they stay underwater.
You can jump off the train and explore at five different stops, including the Audubon Swamp Garden, the historic slave cabins, the plantation house and gift shop, and the Wildlife Center.
The slave cabins are where the From Slavery to Freedom tour starts, so you should hop off that if you want to hear the sad history.
Plantation Home
You can tour the 11,00 square foot mansion on a timed entry guided tour. No photos are allowed.
The mansion is a classic southern Antebellum plantation home with wide verandas and a wrap around porch.
When I visited, it was surrounded by masses of orange canna lilies.
The interior of the mansion is furnished with period furniture, reflecting the luxe post-Civil War era lifestyle of the Drayton family.
There is mahogany furniture (including Chippendale pieces), ornate china, fireplaces, desks, photos, and knick knacks.
The family’s suitcases for travel are on display. And you’ll learn that hangers weren’t invented until 1903!
My guide told me that, during prohibition, the house was the place to come party. Given the Drayton’s social status, this is certainly plausible.
To the right of the main entrance to the house, you’ll find a well-stocked gift shop.
You can purchase a plethora of different souvenirs, including books, toys, ceramics, candles, magnets, etc.
Slave Street
Until emancipation in 1865, Magnolia was a slave plantation. They had a population of 40-45 black people at the start of the Civil War.
A street of slaves and several cabins survive on the plantation grounds. They’ve been restored of course.
The enslaved people lived under brutal conditions. They worked in the muddy swamp and under the intense sun.
Each small cabin was divided in two to house two slave families (no matter how many children they had).
The cabins weren’t much more than thin wood separating them from the outside elements.
There was dirt floors and no running water or electricity, so winters and summers were harsh. Most people slept on the floors.
The cabins had vegetable and flower gardens, along with fenced in yards that enclosed chickens and other fowl.
The Reverend called the enslaved people his “black roses.” And he did try to provide them with schools and spiritual guidance in violation of state laws at the time.
Still, there’s no way to sugarcoat how they lived. The enslaved people at Magnolia faced the same harsh conditions as those on other plantations.
There is no such thing as a “good” slave owner. Enslaved people were owned, sold, and treated as property.
If you go on the From Slavery to Freedom tour, you’ll get an honest discussion about life at Magnolia, time to ask questions, and the chance to visit the cabins.
After the Civil War ended, many of the freed slaves stayed on as paid workers tending the gardens. There were likely few other options for them.
Romantic Gardens
The gardens are expansive, to say the least! You’ll find azaleas, camellias, annuals, and even sculptures sprinkled all over the grounds in fetching ways.
Here’s a brief rundown of specific gardens you can see:
- Biblical Garden: This garden features plants and trees mentioned in the Bible — roses, lilies, irises, and pomegranate.
- Bamboo Garden: This is a unique garden showcasing various species of bamboo, creating an exotic atmosphere.
- Audubon Swamp Garden: This garden features a unique swamp ecosystem with boardwalks and bridges. You can walk and observe wildlife such as birds, alligators, and turtles in their natural habitat.
- Conservatory: This is an enclosed structure housing a collection of tropical plants and exotic flowers. A state of Neptune greets you upon entry and you follow a winding path lined with teak benches through a jungle-like area.
There’s also a Wildlife Observation Tower that gives you a bird’s-eye view of the plantation’s diverse ecosystems and wildlife.
Long Bridge
The Long Bridge (also called the White Bridge) is the iconic symbol of Magnolia’s gardens. It crosses a corner of Cypress lake close to the plantation home.
The bridge is considered French in style because of its sleek lines and trellised handrails. It was designed by the reverend when he (or the enslaved people) were making the gardens more romantic for his wife.
A similar white bridge, with handrails in a crisscross design, provides access to a small island at the far end of the same lake.
A more rustic bridge is in bright Chinese red. And a white Japanese moon bridge is in a corner of the Bamboo Garden.
Practical Guide & Tips For Magnolia Plantation
How To Get There
If you’re coming from Charleston, take U.S. Highway 17 (also known as Savannah Highway) west out of Charleston. Turn left onto SC-61 North (Ashley River Road) and continue for about 9.5 miles.
Magnolia will be on your left at 3550 Ashley River Road.
You enter a one way road. Watch for signs for the parking lot or you will blow by it and have to loop around again.
Public transportation options to Magnolia Plantation are limited. And the plantation is not directly accessible by bus or train.
However, you can take a taxi, ride-sharing service (such as Uber or Lyft), or rent a car from Charleston to reach the plantation.
How To Get Around
You can walk everywhere, if weather permits. But the nature train is handy for getting around and stops at key highlights.
Tickets:
Here’s a breakdown of the ticket prices:
- general admission: $35 (includes the gardens, nature train, guided From Slavery to Freedom, Wildlife Center, walking + biking trails and parking.
- admission + house tour: $50
Your ticket includes one additional visit to the plantation during the calendar year.
When To Visit
The plantation gardens have something in bloom every season. You can preview what’s in bloom by month here.
That said, I think the best time to visit is in the spring with the azaleas in full bloom. But autumn is colorful as well, with dramatic leaf colors.
If you are visiting in the summer, expect sweltering heat. It will be harder to see everything then.
If you aren’t just there for the gardens and/or slave history, I advise going inside the plantation home to cool off. Perhaps schedule your visit at a midway point to let the air conditioning cool you off.
How Long To Spend
I would budget about 3-5 hours for a visit, depending on how much you want to see. You could easily spend your time this way:
- house (40 minutes)
- nature train (45 minutes)
- gardens (2 hours)
- Audubon swamp (1 hour)
- other speciality gardens or attractions (1 hour)
Pro Tips
There’s a restaurant onsite near the planation house. It serves up plenty of ice cold drinks and snacks.
You can also bring your own picnic and sit down at one of the many tables and chairs.
There’s also a small onsite animal shelter with rescued animals, including ponies. The signs warn you that they may bite though!
You can also take self-guided tours, which are available on the free Magnolia Plantation app.
I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Magnolia Plantation. Pin it for later.
