Lebanon Plantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Lebanon Plantation
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Main house at Lebanon Plantation
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 Lebanon Plantation
Location in Georgia (U.S. state)
Lebanon Plantation
Location in the United States
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| Nearest city | Savannah, Georgia |
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| Area | 76 acres (31 ha) |
| Built | 1804, 1873 |
| Architectural style | Plantation Plain |
| NRHP reference No. | 79000704 |
| Added to NRHP | November 29, 1979 |
Lebanon Plantation is a special historical place near Savannah, Georgia, in the southeastern United States. You can find it at 5745 Ogeechee Road, Savannah. This large property is over 500 acres (2.0 km2) big.
It was first given to James Deveaux in 1756. The plantation was named Lebanon because it had many cedar trees. Later, in 1758, another 500 acres were added to the property.
In 1802, Joseph Habersham bought the land. He sold it to George W. Anderson in 1804. Anderson built the main house. After the American Civil War, the house was rebuilt and made bigger.
During the Civil War, George W. Anderson's son, George Wayne Anderson, Jr., was in charge of Fort McAllister. After the fort was captured, Lebanon Plantation became his prison. It also served as the main office for a large part of the US Army, called the Fifteenth Army Corps.
After the war, the main house at Lebanon was partly damaged. It was taken by the bank in 1868, but George W. Anderson got it back in 1871. The house was repaired and rebuilt by April 23, 1873.
Later, Anderson divided the land. He let French immigrants start a farming community there called L'Esperance. They tried to grow grapes for wine, but it didn't work out. In 1916, Mills B. Lane from Savannah bought the plantation. He started growing a new type of orange called the Savannah Satsuma. Lebanon Plantation is still a working farm today, much like it has been for over 200 years.
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Where is Lebanon Plantation?
Lebanon Plantation is about 9 miles (14 km) southeast of downtown Savannah. It is located in Georgia's Lower Coastal Plain area. You can find it at 5475 Ogeechee Road, right off historic Highway 17.
A Look at History
Early Days of the Land
For thousands of years, Native American people likely lived in this area. We know this from old oyster shells found nearby. By the 1500s, when European explorers arrived, the Yuchi and Creek tribes claimed this land.
In 1733, the first English settlers came to what is now Savannah. At that time, the land was part of the Yamacraw tribe's territory. The Yamacraw were a group related to the Creeks. James Oglethorpe, the leader of the English settlers, became friends with the Yamacraw chief, Tomochichi. This friendship helped the English peacefully get the land around Savannah.
Conflicts and New Settlements
In the late 1600s, Spain controlled the Georgia coast through its Native American allies. This led to fights with the growing English colonies to the north, like North Carolina and South Carolina. In 1702, South Carolina's governor, James Moore, attacked Spanish settlements in Florida. On his way, he destroyed Spanish Native American missions along the Georgia coast.
Even though Spain still claimed the coast, the area became mostly empty. This created a safe zone between Spanish Florida and the English Carolinas. In the early 1730s, the English decided to settle the islands between the Carolinas and Florida. They got permission in 1732, and the first settlers arrived in Savannah in 1733. This group formed the start of what would become the colony and state of Georgia.
How Lebanon Plantation Started
Near Lebanon Plantation, Noble Jones built a strong house. This was one of several forts built to protect the English settlements. The English were worried that Spain would try to take back the land.
A war called the War of Jenkins' Ear started in 1739. Jones helped the English attack along the St. Johns River in Florida in 1740. He also helped defend Frederica in the Battle of Bloody Marsh in 1742. When the war ended in 1748, Spain was no longer a big threat to the new colony. The land that became Lebanon Plantation was given to James Deveaux in 1756. Later, in 1758, Phillip Delegal received another 500 acres, which also became part of the plantation.
Life Before the Civil War
Georgia's first rules did not allow slavery. So, many landowners used indentured servants (people who worked for a set time to pay off a debt) to farm their lands. But in 1749, the rules changed, and slavery was allowed. Most plantations then started using forced labor to make money.
During the American Civil War (1861–1865), Lebanon Plantation was taken over by the Union Army. It became the main office for the Fifteenth Army Corps, led by General William Babcock Hazen. After Fort McAllister was captured, its commander, George Wayne Anderson Jr., was held prisoner in his own home.
General Hazen and Lt. Col. Strong invited General William Tecumseh Sherman to dinner to celebrate their victory. In a kind gesture, General Hazen also invited Major Anderson to join them. During the meal, Anderson and General Sherman had a lively discussion about the fort's defense and the bravery of the soldiers. They shared cigars and honored those who had died.
Lebanon in the 1900s
Lebanon Plantation's main house shows how a plantation home can grow and change over many years. It was built before the Civil War, then partly destroyed and rebuilt after the war. It was also repaired and updated over time. The house still has its unique look and feel. The newer porch from the 1900s fits well with the older part of the house built in the 1800s.
Lebanon Plantation Today
Today, Lebanon's Verdant Kitchen makes drinks, baked goods, candies, snacks, and spices. You can find these products at local farmers markets, online, and in special food stores.
The plantation grows ginger crops, including turmeric and galangal (also known as Thai ginger). These are harvested, then sliced, dried, and ground at a special facility on the plantation. The final products are then made in the company's kitchen in Atlanta.
Images for kids
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Lebanon Plantation Live Oak
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Lebanon Plantation Live Oak and Verandah
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Road to Lebanon Plantation
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George Wayne Anderson, JR
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George Wayne Anderson Jr Gravesite at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, GA
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George Wayne Anderson Jr Gravesite at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, GA
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George Wayne Anderson Jr Gravesite at Laurel Grove Cemetery in Savannah, GA
