Mansfield Plantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mansfield Plantation
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The "Avenue of Oaks" approach to Mansfield Plantation
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 Location in South Carolina
Location in the United States
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| Location | In Georgetown County, South Carolina. 5 miles north of Georgetown, off U.S. Route 701. |
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| Area | 55 acres (22 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 77001223 |
| Added to NRHP | December 06, 1977 |
Mansfield Plantation is a very old and well-preserved rice plantation located in Georgetown County, South Carolina. It was first started in 1718 on the banks of the Black River. A "plantation" was a large farm where crops like rice were grown, often using the forced labor of enslaved people. This plantation is a great example of an antebellum (meaning "before the war," referring to the American Civil War) estate.
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History of Mansfield Plantation
Mansfield Plantation once covered almost 1,000 acres of pine forests, rice fields, and cypress swamps. It was one of the biggest rice-producing plantations in the United States. Along with other plantations on the Black River, Mansfield helped provide much of Europe with "Carolina Gold" rice during the late 1700s and early 1800s.
Growing rice on a large scale was possible because:
- People learned how to use tidal water and man-made walls (called dykes) to water the fields.
- Farmers experimented with natural fertilizers to help the crops grow.
- Most importantly, the hard work of enslaved African-Americans made rice farming possible. These individuals were forced to work without pay and under harsh conditions.
After the American Civil War, growing rice became too expensive. Many plantations, including Mansfield, went bankrupt and were sold to new owners.
Mansfield Plantation Today
Today, Mansfield Plantation is kept as an authentic rice plantation. It still has its original main house, a school house, a beautiful avenue of live oak trees, a chapel, and a guest house. It also has the only remaining winnowing barn in Georgetown County. A winnowing barn was a special building where rice grains were cleaned and prepared for shipping.
Restoration Efforts
A special project is underway to restore a village of seven slave cabins and a chapel. These buildings show where the enslaved people lived and worshipped.
In 2009, the entire plantation went through a huge restoration project. This project was paid for by private funds. The goal was to keep its unique history alive for future generations. It is said to be the only American plantation saved from development and reclaimed by a direct descendant of the original owners.
Mansfield in Media
Mansfield Plantation has been featured in many films, documentaries, and TV shows. It was used as a filming location for scenes in Mel Gibson's 2000 movie, The Patriot. In 2006, the Fox network filmed parts of their TV series Treasure Hunters at Mansfield. The Fine Living Network also filmed a documentary there for their series Windshield America.
Images for kids
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The main house decorated for the holidays
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Mansfield's winnowing barn
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The Old Kitchen Guest House, now a bed and breakfast
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The old slave village, currently undergoing restoration
