Stamp #6: Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Stamp #6

Hampton Plantation

It's Spring Break so we're taking a road trip to visit a few more state parks on our journey to become #UltimateOutsiders. Our first stop on this trip is Hampton Plantation State Historic Site. This site is located between Georgetown, SC and Charleston, SC near McClellanville. It's location is well-marked just off Hwy 17. This historic site consists of 274 acres of what remains of a Colonial-era rice plantation. Interpretive signs educate visitors about slavery and the freed people who helped build the plantation. The park rangers schedule plantation house tours a few times per day for a small fee. The next tour was not until a few hours later. We had a road trip to get back to so we opted out of the tour.

Short boardwalk over creek

A short nature trail leads to the remaining rice fields and loops back to the plantation house. The main features of the trail is interpretive signs describing life on the plantation, a short boardwalk over a creek, and ancient live oak trees on the property.

Camellia blooms in garden

A garden of azalea bushes, dogwood trees, and camellias sits behind the Plantation house. Several paths weave through an impressive amount of flowering trees and bushes, however, the brick-lined path is not well-maintained and the bushes seemed overgrown. We missed the peak blooms, but there were still a few flowers to enjoy. A little loving care and maintenance would surely bring this garden back to it's former glory. One of the garden paths leads down to the creek that runs through the property. There are benches to enjoy the scenery and peacefulness of the area.                                       
A massive oak stands tall in front of the plantation house. A plaque placed by DAR names the oak the George Washington Oak. According to the plaque, Washington visited the plantation in 1791 and "saved" this oak tree. That makes this oak more than 227 years old. I'm so glad Washington saved the tree. I love big oaks and I cannot lie!

Washington Oak

             
Rating: **
Entrance fee: none
Restrooms: clean
Parking: plentiful
Rangers: available in shop
Trails: small boardwalk, short nature trail
Amenities: gift shop, interpretive education, plantation house tours, garden, creek access  
Park Stamp: Located in box on sign near restroom