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Photo by Alan Sherlock
Experience Southern History at Hopsewee Plantation
Built circa 1740, some 40 years before the American Revolutionary War, Hopsewee Plantation was one of the South’s major rice plantations and the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Now privately owned, this National Historic Landmark—midway between Myrtle Beach and Charleston in the heart of South Carolina’s Lowcountry—is open to the public for the 2023 season for tours and dining until Dec. 16, reopening
Jan. 16, 2024. We close for weddings and special events, so please check our calendar when booking for availability.
Take two popular tours together and save with our new package deal!
BRAND NEW! HOPSEWEE House Tour and Gullah Geechee Presentation Package DEAL
1 hour 45 minutes; Tues–Sat at 10:00 am, 11:00 am, 12:00 pm, 1:15 pm & 2:15 pm
Historic House Tour Explore the home from room to room, including the two original slave cabins that still stand on the grounds. Learn about the rich history of Hopsewee, its previous families as well as its current owners, the Beatties, and the enslaved who lived and worked on the plantation.
Gullah Geechee Presentation Join us as we expand the narrative about the experience of the enslaved West Africans on this historic plantation to include their contributions to the wealth and influence of colonial South Carolina through their knowledge, ingenuity, and labor that helped build our nation.
Buy tickets online or call (843) 546-7891. Please contact us for groups of 10 or more.
Hopsewee Historic Landmark House Tour
50 minutes; Tues.–Sat., 10 am, 11 am, 12 pm, 1 pm, 2 pm, & 3 pm
Explore the home from room to room, including the two original slave cabins that still stand on the grounds. Learn about the rich history of Hopsewee, its previous families as well as its current owners, the Beatties, and the enslaved who lived and worked on the plantation. During your visit, make sure to enjoy the mossy oaks and river vista. Afterwards, enjoy lunch or tea at our River Oak Cottage, ranked as one of the state's top tea rooms. Buy tickets online or call (843) 546-7891. Please contact us for groups of 10 or more.
Photo by Alan Sherlock
NEW! Hopsewee Historical Museum
Self-guided; Tues.–Sat., 10 am-4 pm
Learn about the enslaved individuals who lived here as we present some of Hopsewee’s missing history through archaeological investigation and research. What we have learned is presented here so that all may have a better understanding of what life was like for those who were forcefully brought here, who were born here, who lived, loved, labored and died here and even, perhaps, sometimes laughed here. Click to learn more or make a reservation.
Deas Moore
Gullah Geechee presentation
30 minutes; Tues.–Sat., 11:15 am, 12:15 pm, 1:15 pm, & 2:15 pm
Takes place in our Slave Cabin Dwelling
Join historians Vennie Deas Moore as we expand the narrative about the experience of the enslaved West Africans on this historic plantation to include their contributions to the wealth and influence of colonial South Carolina and how their knowledge, ingenuity, and labor help to build this nation.
Folklorist and cultural preservationist Deas Moore is the 2020 winner of South Carolina’s 2020 Jean Laney Harris Folk Heritage Award recognizing the work of those in the state keeping traditional arts alive. Her presentation focuses on the experience of the West African enslaved rice growers in the plantation’s fields.
Sweetgrass Basketweaving CLASS
3 hours; Thursdays at 1:00 pm
Sweetgrass baskets are a Lowcountry tradition dating back to the 1700s, when they were brought to the United States by West African slaves. Handmade of tightly coiled strands of bundled grass, these strong yet supple baskets played an important role on southern rice plantations and today are treasured for their artistry and cultural significance.
Discover more about sweetgrass baskets and learn this unique craft in a hands-on class with instructor Vera Manigault. An eighth-generation weaver and Gullah descendant, Manigault is from Mount Pleasant, SC, one of the main areas where baskets are still made, and has been featured in national magazines and on television shows. Read more about her in an article about this important art form.
Hopsewee Ghost Tours
50 minutes; Wednesdays at 5:00 pm
Go back in time and experience Haunted Tales at Hopsewee Plantation, presenting stories of author and storyteller Elizabeth Robertson Huntsinger. She’s given hundreds of programs on the history and ghostly legends of Georgetown County as a Historical Interpreter for over 25 years. She has several books to date as author of Ghosts of Georgetown, More Ghosts of Georgetown, and Georgetown Mysteries and Legends, which you can buy in our gift shop or in our online shop.
Arrive a little earlier for Wine by the River Wednesdays! Enjoy drinks and hors d’oeuvres as you browse the Hopsewee gift shop and get your book purchases signed by the authors.
Art of Indigo Dyeing Workshop
2.5 hours; Thursdays and Saturdays at 11:00 am
Experience the magic of creating with all-natural indigo! Learn more about this important part of Lowcountry culture and history, right here at the Hopsewee, built by indigo baron and Winyah Indigo Society’s first president Thomas Lynch, Sr.
Rice was the second major crop at Hopsewee. Indigo was the first cash crop for the plantation, the dye from which was used to color the uniforms of English soldiers. All-natural indigo dyeing basics are covered as you create a bandanna, a tea towel and a tote to take home.
Eat and Drink
English tradition meets southern charm at the River Oak Cottage Tea Room, with a full menu of Lowcountry favorites, sweet and savory treats and a variety of teas.
Reservations recommended.
Plan an Event
With beautiful and bucolic wooded grounds along the peaceful North Santee River, historic Hopsewee provides the picture-perfect backdrop for private parties or your special bridal occasion.
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