| Charleston, South Carolina is one of America's | | | | In the great Charleston earthquake of 1886, |
| favorite vacation destinations; and for good | | | | Middleton Place was dealt yet another destructive |
| reason. It offers pristine oceanfront beaches and | | | | blow. The beautiful garden terraces that had |
| an historical district that would take several days | | | | taken hundreds of slaves decades to build were |
| to cover on foot. The famous Market where you | | | | destroyed in a matter of minutes. After the |
| can watch local women as they make | | | | earthquake the stately mansion and beautiful |
| "sweetgrass" baskets the same way they have | | | | gardens fell into disrepair. |
| for hundreds of years. For the nautical lovers, | | | | In 1916, J.J. Pringle Smith inherited Middleton Place |
| there is Patriot's Point where you can tour the | | | | and soon began a massive restoration of the |
| USS Yorktown aircraft carrier. Or, you can visit | | | | beautiful gardens. If you've ever seen the Mel |
| the Confederate submarine the Hunley; the first | | | | Gibson movie, "The Patriot" you have seen the |
| underwater vessel to ever sink another ship. Or | | | | magnificence of the restoration. In 1991 the |
| take a tour boat out to Fort Sumter where the | | | | International Committee on Monuments and Sites |
| first shots were fired in the American Civil War. | | | | named Middleton Place one of only six U.S. |
| But the crown jewel of Charleston is located | | | | gardens of international importance. |
| west of the Ashley River in the appropriately | | | | In 1974, J.J. Pringle Smith's heirs established the |
| named suburb of West Ashley. About 10 miles | | | | non-profit Middleton Place Foundation, which now |
| from downtown Charleston, out Ashley River | | | | owns the Middleton Place National Historic |
| Road, lays the Middleton Place Plantation. | | | | Landmark. |
| One of the oldest homesteads in America, the | | | | Today, Middleton Place is a thriving restoration of |
| original property was deeded to Jacob Wayte | | | | eighteenth and nineteenth century plantation life. If |
| over a hundred years before the American | | | | you plan to visit Charleston, make the short day |
| Revolution. The next owners were the Middleton | | | | trip out to West Ashley and Middleton Place. Bring |
| family and this is where the Plantation drew its | | | | your walking shoes. There are amazing gardens |
| name. The Middleton's were one of the richest | | | | spread across 65 acres. For those not inclined or |
| and most influential families in the antebellum | | | | unable to walk the grounds, a 45 minute tour in a |
| south. Henry Middleton (1717 - 1784) was | | | | horse drawn carriage conducted by a |
| President of the First Continental Congress. Arthur | | | | knowledgeable guide can be purchased at visitor's |
| Middleton (1742 -1787) signed the Declaration of | | | | center. |
| Independence. Arthur's son Henry Middleton | | | | In addition to the gardens, there is a house tour |
| (1770-1846) was Governor of South Carolina and | | | | available and a plantation stable yard with displays |
| an Ambassador to Russia. Williams Middleton (1809 | | | | of the tools and methods used in the daily life in |
| - 1883) was a signer of the Ordinance of | | | | the Old South. These stables are staffed by local |
| Secession that launched the American Civil War. | | | | volunteers who are willing to share insight into |
| The original plantation house was built in 1755 with | | | | jobs and the daily lives of the slaves who used to |
| the main house and north wing ransacked and | | | | live there. |
| burned by Sherman's Army in February 1865. The | | | | Be sure to include Middleton Place in West Ashley |
| southern wing of the house, which suffered less | | | | in your Charleston vacation plans. It is a day you |
| damage, was restored in 1870. | | | | will not soon forget. |