The McLeod Plantation
A row of stately, centuries old live oaks drip with Spanish moss.
After what seemed an hour, we finally arrived at the McLeod Plantation. It was misty and raining on and off, yet we were determined to see it after battling the insane traffic to get there.
After paying at the visitor center, we met the guided tour on the grounds in front of the main house. A man named John proceeded to school us on the history of the plantation, it’s peoples, and how the slaves were brought here to work it and help grow it to what it became. It started raining harder, so he moved us all through the house to the back porch.
After his educational tour, we were allowed to view the first floor of the three story house, it was very plain. Not as grand as the front suggests, as Mr McLeod was a simple man and this was a part-time house. The “big houses” are located in the battery in downtown Charleston. He would have resided there most of the year, and this house he only spent a season a year.
This plantation started out producing rice, but later it was found to be more conducive to Sea Island Cotton. The finest cotton in the world. The slaves did the backbreaking work to grow, harvest, and produce the cotton and get it from farm to ferry.
So enamored with the trees on the grounds was I that I neglected to photograph the house, but Dave got it.
Afterwards, when we were back home, I learned about an app for self-guided tours, and I found it all so interesting that I downloaded it and went through the entire thing last night. Not only did it take you through the explanation of every building on the property, but perspectives of all the Gullah people and the landowners themselves. Of course, the viewpoints were vastly different! If you don’t think you’ll ever make it here to see it yourself, I highly encourage you to download the free app and walk through it, it’s not but about an hour to learn the highlights.
The Gullah peoples also developed their own language and the recipes they cooked in their own homes were the definition of what became known as Southern cooking. The history is so interesting and educational you really should visit this place or listen to the app to learn more about it. Being from the south myself, I have a keen interest in learning all I can and I’m so happy that because of its location and military importance, it will be preserved forever as long as people pay to support that.
You can also find more information and follow McLeod Plantation on Facebook.
In other news, I found out that my cousin Edie and her son Lance live in Charleston and we will be able to get together sometime before we leave on Sunday!! I’m so excited!
I would be over the moon heading into our own celebration of Thanksgiving if not for some sad news though. When we lived in southeast Tx, I had the pleasure of meeting and becoming friends with my Lebanese friends and their children. One of Mr. and Mrs. Matar’s grown children-Nadia-died two days ago and I’m still in shock. She was beautiful, had a beautiful daughter and what seemed the perfect little family. At this time, her death is still a mystery, but it’s suspected that she’d been through a very bad year with a divorce and suspected drug addiction following, so it may have been an accidental overdose. So sad at this time of the year. Devastating for her daughter and family. Say a prayer for them please. 🙏🙏
And with that, I wish you all a safe and Hapyy Thanksgiving
Twisted Trunk Travels 
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