Boone “what the” Hall Plantation

When you are in the south you have to see a plantation.  It is actually a travel law I think.  So we searched out plantations in the Charleston area and there are a few.  The one we really wanted to go to, Boone Hall Plantation, was also the most expensive.  Somehow I caved and we splurged (again) and it did not disappoint!
Us in the 'allee of oaks' 

It was a Sunday and our last of a short two days in the Charleston area….South Carolina for that matter!  On Sundays the plantation is open from noon to 5:00.  Many of the reviews said 3 hours was enough to see everything so maybe it would be ok.  When you pull on to the property you are greeted by a magnificent Avenue (Or Allee as they say in French….its like those French have a different word for everything) of Oaks.  I guess this one is famous for being in several movies but now its famous for having its picture taken with the Wachs!

We caught a quick history talk by an older gentleman, Dwight who gave us an overview of the plantation operations, the roles of the slaves and what we could find in the slave houses.  Each of the slave houses had a different focus and was set up like a little museum.  One talked about their faith, another about their handicrafts, one on home life, one on emancipation, and a couple others.  At our slow pace we only got through a couple before there was a Gullah presentation we did not want to miss.

We showed up early and sat front and center.  Ms Veronica came out in full slave dress and startin belting out “Waaaaade in the water.  I said waaaaade in the water!”  That woman has some pipes!!  She described the Gullah people, their life, their songs, their faith and hope.  She sang several tunes and did a rap and got the crowd involved too including bringing Dacen and Brielle up front with her to sing Kumbaya.  She shared a couple of Gullah stories and some personal ones too.  This woman was awesome!!  Her presentation was worth the whole price of admission.  We did not go to church today but Miss Veronica brought the word in song…can I have an amen?  Hallelujah!
Miss Veronica

We had signed up for the house tour and barely made it in time.  It was ok….but if I had to cut one thing from our time at the plantation that would be it.  The house was wonderful and the our guide was good.  It was just a little dry.  Except when the tour guide said “this room is where they would entertain themselves and the owner would sit and do his business”…Dacen and I started busting a gut while Steph gave us the Xanchu look.

The garden was really pretty with lots of flowers in bloom and there was also this awesome live oak tree down by the creek.  It was another one of those that is perfect for climbing.  Another one was hollow on the inside.  Totally seemed like Pooh’s house in the Hundred Acre Woods.
K-I-S-S-I-N-G

We tried to get on the cart tour that drives you around the whole plantation but it was full so we had to wait for another.  While Steph held our spots in line the kids and I tried to get through a couple more of the houses on slave road.  But we still didn’t have enough time.  The cart tour was great and our tour guide, Michael, was very knowledgeable and very proud to be a South Carolinian.

We shut the place down and still probably needed another hour to see everything we wanted.  Just as we were leaving the horses came back from a competition so Steph and Brielle got to see and pet them.

Maybe other plantations are good or even better than this…but Boone Hall Plantation was really great and worth the high price in my opinion.  A couple days later we all realized that we never heard anyone describe the “Hall” part of the name so I now lovingly refer to the place as Boone “what the” Hall Plantation.

Brick prints

Brick prints

Code quilt

Peeking

Slave house

Art-ifacts

Brick mould

Cool tree

The fam

Kumbaya

Belting out gospel

Miss Veronica

"Allee of oaks"

Fancy house

Cotton

Flower

Flower

Rose

Smoke house

Mr. Sanders

Hello in there

K-I-S-S-I-N-G

Astounding

Corn crib

Barns

Gin house

Us in the 'allee of oaks'

Monkeys

Wampacheone creek

Cool Caden

Hanging out

 

5 thoughts on “Boone “what the” Hall Plantation

  • April 24, 2016 at 12:34 pm
    Permalink

    My brother lives right down the street from Boone Hall! So glad y’all got to stop here and that you enjoyed your tour!

    Reply
    • April 24, 2016 at 2:41 pm
      Permalink

      Does your brother (or do you) know why it’s Boone HALL? What’s the significance of “Hall”?

      Reply
  • April 24, 2016 at 12:53 pm
    Permalink

    Wanna do that someday! But if I run out of time thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  • April 24, 2016 at 11:55 pm
    Permalink

    So Huck, Stephs great grandmother Miller ( maiden name Dunlap) grew up on a plantation in Virginia. So if while you are in Virginia and you go to a plantation check and see if Dunlap’s owned it at one time. It could have been family land at one time.😊

    Reply
    • April 25, 2016 at 12:33 am
      Permalink

      Alright….we’ll keep our eyes open! Thanks for the heads-up!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *