the plantation perimeter tour.

Our first tour of Magnolia Plantation

       The tours are broke up into four different tours and 3 are taken on trams , whereas the house is a walking tour.  These tours are only available when you buy an all inclusive pass and you must buy early if you plan to take advantage of all the tours. It was suggested to me to be there early and we were directly after they opened at 8:30 am. Lucy and I were still a little tired from not getting to motel late due to being lost. Oh yeah like I am going to get out of a car in South Carolina on a back road and ask directions, remember those people lost the war between the states.  We managed to get back on track, despite the man thing of not stopping and asking for directions,  but it put us into the motel late in evening. Then we were back up at 6:30 am and soon heading out for 45 minute drive to plantation.

 Little ramps are built in the swamp to allow the alligators to come out and sun when the weather is right. normally this is done on dead trees in a normal swamp but this was once a rice field so all the trees have been removed. those are egrets nesting in the tree in the water.

       The first tour dealt with driving around the perimeter of the plantation showing where all the sites were and explaining more about the history of Magnolia Plantation and how it was started as well there was ample talk about the flora and fauna we would experience while at Magnolia. The calls of peacocks pierced the morning air as we set out for our tour. The trams were large but ours was fairly empty and I was thinking, they must expect a crowd as it was a weekday and I wondered if they would be able to fill them up. I would say no problem to that by 11 o clock as the parking lot filled up and began to flow into other areas I wasn’t aware of. The ride was a little rough but covered a wide swath of the 600 acres that was what was left of the original magnolia plantation. A portion was sold off after the civil war until Thomas Drayton happened on tourism as a means to sustain himself and his family. We were taken through cypress swamps and alongside a burial mound of ancient Indians, , then to a cabin still owned by extended members of Thomas Drayton family and is used as a guest house at times. Then we were taken on to the rice paddy dikes and explained to how the rice was taken to market by tidal flows on boats ran by slaves. 

 This is another pic of a reclaimed rice field. the alligators like this as compared to the tidal marsh areas as they are fresh water animals rarely venturing into salt water except to heal themselves. 

       All the while different birds and their nesting habits were pointed out, as the importance of marsh grass and plough mud was explained. Also the salt of the marsh was no good for growing rice and especially the golden rice the Carolina’s were known for at the time and how slaves built and maintained the dikes by hand as well set up the unique gate system that would allow only the fresh water to enter the rice patties during high tide . It appears as though the fresh water is lighter than the salt water and floats on top of the tidal flow , so gates were used and a slave would sit by the gates and taste the water when it started tasting salty they would close the gates and keep the salt water out. That would be a great job for someone as you tasted swamp water infested with untold bacteria. Still the system of levees and gates would allow water into the rice fields and out as necessary for purposes of harvesting or planting of rice. Land was cleared of trees and stumps and made level by slaves. These same fields are now returning to their natural state as time goes on and rice is no longer planted at this location. Limited amounts of Carolina golden rice is available as another grower is still producing the rice but I doubt it is with slave labor and instead modern methods of agriculture and hopefully organic ones at best.

     A view of the most photographed bridge of the south.

         The tours each lasted about 45 minutes and were about an hour apart allowing you time to get to your next tour and grab a seat. Our next tour was the slavery tour and I will go on more about that tomorrow.