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Photo by Alan Sherlock
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. 13. We close for weddings and special events, so please be sure to check our calendar when booking for availability.
WHAT'S HAPPENING AT HOPSEWEE
Learn more about what we're planning for the 250th anniversary of Revolutionary War. • Watch Hopsewee Plantation on Grand Stand Today with Halley Murrow from Myrtle Beach's WMBF News at 11 am ! It airs again at 11 am Tuesday, June 20.
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 by giving us a call at (843) 546-7891. Please contact us for groups of 10 or more.
Photo by Alan Sherlock
Gullah Geechee presentation
30 min, Tues.-Sat., 11:15 am, 12:15 pm, 1:15 pm, & 2:15 pm
Learn about the enslaved African experience on this historic plantation as we expand the narrative to include their contributions to the wealth and influence of colonial South Carolina and how their knowledge, ingenuity, and labor helped build this nation.
You'll learn from Gullah historians Glander Pressley (left) and Vennie-Deas Moore about the Gullah Geechee people and the special significance of their creolized culture and language. Pressley grew up in the Gullah Community speaking the language and has a desire to share the history of her ancestors who came from the plantations in the Georgetown area. 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 working to keep traditional arts alive.
Photo by Chris M. Rogers Photography, Inc. courtesy of the Georgetown County Chamber of Commerce and South Carolina's Hammock Coast
Sweetgrass Basketweaving CLASS
Thursdays from 1:00 to 4:00 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
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.
NEW! Art of Indigo Dyeing Workshop
11:00 am-1:30 pm: Tue 5/30, Thur 6/1, Sat 6/3, Thur 6/8, Thur 6/15, Sat 6/17, Thur 6/22, Sat 6/24, Thur, 6/29
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. Picnic lunches also are available.
English tradition meets southern charm at the River Oak Cottage Tea Room, a versatile venue featuring a full menu of Lowcountry favorites, sweet and savory treats and a wide selection of teas.
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.