Middleton Place

This 18th century plantation boasts the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States. In addition to touring the beautiful centuries-old grounds, visitors to this National Historic Landmark will learn about the noteworthy Middleton Family in the house museum, including Henry Middleton, President of the First Continental Congress, and his son Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Four generations of the Middleton family lived at this plantation for over two centuries.

The Gardens

Inspired by the early 18th century European gardens, in 1741 Henry Middleton began to design the Middleton Place gardens with the help of an English gardener to reflect the design followed at the Palace of Versailles. Great attention was paid to balance and symmetry, and the grounds featured canals, statues, artificial lakes, and grassy sloping ramps. Subsequent residents of Middleton Place added colour and a variety of plant species to the gardens but have maintained the original layout. All year round, visitors are treated to a lush vista of colour as there are always blooms springing to life over the sprawling 65 acres of historic formal gardens.

The House

Visitors can take guided tours of the house museum at Middleton Place. Built in 1755 next to the main residence as extra guest quarters, it is the only part of the original family house that remains on the site after the main home was destroyed during the Civil War. Filled with genuine Middleton family heirlooms including furnishings, books, silver, family portraits and historic documents, the museum offers an authentic taste of the life of the distinguished Middle family in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The Stableyards

Middleton Place was a successful rice plantation and a tour of its stableyards reveals where the slaves, who were integral to the operation of the plantation, did the majority of their work from making tools to caring for the animals. Visitors will learn about slavery at a plantation while observing artisans, including a carpenter and a blacksmith, at work demonstrating the skilled crafts the slaves at the time would have mastered. The stableyards today still house a variety of farm animals including horses, goats and water buffalo.

Visiting the Middleton Place

Middleton Place is located approximately 14 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina at 4300 Ashley River Road.

For more information on guided tours, hours of operation and admission fees call 843-556-6020, toll free (800)782-3608 or e-mail at webmaster@middletonplace.org

Click here to visit Middleton Place official website