Middleton Place

Of course, a visit to Charleston (from Rachel's Point of View) would not be complete without heading out to a plantation - of which there are a good number in the area. Never-the-less, we decided to head out to Middleton Place - perhaps one of the best known in Charleston and with good reason. Whilst not cheap (the entrance fee plus a tour of the house cost $34, about 20 pounds), we both felt that it was worth it. The grounds are, to be frank, huge and with some stunning vistas of the Ashley river and a lot of original pieces here (that managed to survive when the Union troops came down the River burning a lot of the Confederate-supporting locales). The house tour was very interesting - comprising the remaining building of the old house that was rebuilt into the main house following the destruction of the other two buildings (burning down and earthquakes tend to do that). What was most surprising was the involvement of a number of generations in many major aspects of the early colonies.

Thus, where one family member (the first to live at the plantation having inherited it by marriage) was a representative of South Carolina that signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 (of which there is a copy in the house), a couple of generations later and his grandson is signing the Declaration of South Carolina's secession from the union in 1860 (of which there is also a copy in the house). Thus, one marked the Plantation's place in history, the other meant that it was targeted by the Union troops. One thing of supreme interest is the insight into the lives of the slaves that worked on the Plantations, particularly how they were treated and how they lived. One exhibit - 'Eliza's Place' consisted of a very small one story house (with loft) split into two 'apartments' of two very small rooms. One of these, it is said, housed a family of ELEVEN people. Incredible, really. Ultimately, it was a very enjoyable few hours of exploring the place, with some nice history and insight into the Rice Plantations of old.