McLeod Plantation facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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McLeod Plantation
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McLeod Plantation in 2022
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| Location | 325 Country Club Dr., Charleston, South Carolina |
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| Nearest city | Charleston, South Carolina |
| Area | 9.2 acres (3.7 ha) |
| Built | 1854 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001831 |
| Added to NRHP | August 13, 1974 |
McLeod Plantation is a historic site located on James Island, South Carolina. It is found near the Wappoo Creek, which flows into the Ashley River. This plantation is very important for understanding the history and culture of the Gullah people. It also helps us learn about both African-American and European-American history in the region.
Contents
A Look at McLeod Plantation's Past
The land where McLeod Plantation stands was first shown on maps in 1678. Back then, it was known as "Morris."
The American Revolution and Freedom
During the American War of Independence in 1780, a British general named Sir Henry Clinton used the first house on this land as his base. He was planning an attack on Charleston. Many enslaved people living on the plantation joined the British army. They hoped to gain their freedom, and many were later moved out of the city.
Buildings and Life on the Plantation
The main house you see at McLeod Plantation today was built around 1858. It was designed in the Georgian style, which was popular at the time. Other buildings still standing on the property include six cabins where enslaved people lived. There is also a separate kitchen, a dairy building, and a special gin house. This gin house was used before the Civil War to process long-staple cotton grown on the nearby Sea Islands. You can also find a barn and a carriage house.
The Civil War and New Beginnings
During most of the American Civil War, soldiers from the Confederate States Army occupied the plantation. The main house was even used as a hospital. After Charleston was evacuated in early 1865, a group of African American soldiers took over the site. These soldiers were part of the 55th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment. Later, the Freedmen's Bureau used the house as an office. The Freedmen's Bureau helped newly freed enslaved people. For a time, many newly freed people camped on the plantation's land.
Changes Over the Years
In 1926, the owners of the house made some changes. They switched what was considered the front and back of the house. The McLeod family lived in the home until 1990. Part of the property was then given to the Historic Charleston Foundation. This foundation worked to bring all parts of the property under one ownership. In 1993, ten acres of the land were set aside for growing sweetgrass. This grass is very important for making sweetgrass baskets, which are a special part of the Gullah culture.
In 2004, the plantation was sold to the American College of the Building Arts. However, the college found it hard to manage both the school and the plantation. So, in 2008, they returned it to the Historic Charleston Foundation.
Visiting McLeod Plantation Historic Site
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In 2011, the Historic Charleston Foundation sold McLeod Plantation to the Charleston County Park and Recreation Commission. This sale made sure that the buildings would be repaired and protected for everyone to visit. The McLeod Plantation Historic Site officially opened to the public on April 25, 2015.
A Special Cultural Corridor
The site is part of the Gullah/Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor. This is a special area recognized by the government. It stretches along the coast from North Carolina to Florida, covering the Lowcountry and Sea Islands. Most of this corridor is in South Carolina. Enslaved people were brought here from West and Central Africa. They were forced to work on plantations like McLeod, growing rice, indigo, and cotton. These men, women, and children came from many different groups. They created the unique Gullah/Geechee culture and language, which still has many African traditions.
McLeod Plantation is also recognized as one of the African American Historic Places in South Carolina.
