Where History And Nature Meet

Middleton Place: An American Treasure

If you like old houses, American history, magnificent gardens and centuries-old trees—I have the perfect bucket list destination for you!

Called Middleton Place, this plantation was established in the 1730s by planter John Williams, who selected the site for its view of the Ashley River. Future residents of the house played roles in both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, and the sweeping, colorful and lavish grounds are noted as being the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States.

The Middleton Plantation House

After the death of the Williams, the plantation became part of the dowry of his daughter, Mary, who married Henry Middleton in 1741. Henry continued acquiring land, eventually becoming one of South Carolina's wealthiest planters. At one point, he owned 20 plantations consisting of 50,000 acres and owned 800 slaves.

The original brick main house of Middleton Place stood three stories tall and was completed around 1741. In 1755, Middleton added two, two-story free-standing wings, or "flankers” to each side of the house, as was common during the time period. The north wing contained a library and ballroom, while the south wing was used as a guest house.

Although this looks like an entire house, it is actually only the South flanker. The main house and North flanker were burned during the Civil War, and collapsed during an earthquake in 1886.

Unfortunately all three buildings were ransacked and torched in 1865 at the close of the Civil War. The only one to partially survive was the South Flanker, which was restored and expanded to serve as the family residence after the war. Repairs began in 1869 and included a new roof and Dutch gable ends.

Thus strengthened, the South Flanker survived Charleston’s Great Earthquake in 1886, that felled the gutted walls of the other buildings. The South Flanker continued to serve subsequent generations until becoming a House Museum in 1975, where visitors can see family furniture, portraits, silver and documents.

Steps to the main house at Middleton Place and the rubble left following an earthquake.

The People Behind The House

From 1741 to 1865, this property was home to four successive generations of the Middleton family, each of whom played an important role in our history. Henry Middleton was active in politics and served in the First Continental Congress. After the death of his wife Mary in 1761, Henry moved to a small house north of Charleston, and passed the plantation on to his son, Arthur, who had been born in 1742.

In 1776, at the outbreak of the American Revolution, Arthur became one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence. Four years later, at the height of the war, the British landed several thousand troops at Charleston with plans to invade the southern colonies. They not only ransacked Middleton Place, beheading many of the statues and looting the plantation's artwork and furniture, they also captured Arthur Middleton. He was held in St. Augustine, Florida, as a prisoner of war until his exchange in July of 1781. In 1783, the surrender terms of removing British troops from the Southern colonies was signed at Middleton. Arthur died in 1787 at the age of 45. His tomb is located within the gardens.

The Next Generation

Arthur’s son Henry (1770-1846) oversaw much of the plantation’s transition from a country residence to a more active rice plantation, and served as governor of South Carolina. Upon Henry’s death in 1846, Middleton Place passed to his son, Williams Middleton (1809-1883) who went on to sign the South Carolina Ordinance of Secession in 1860. South Carolina’s actions led to the attack on Fort Sumter in April 1861, the spark that ignited the Civil War.  

On February 22, 1865, less than two months before the end of the war, Union troops from the 56th NY Volunteers set the house on fire and killed livestock, including water buffalo that had been imported as experimental draft animals, suited to the deep muck in which rice was grown.

The Gardens

The beauty and majestic splendor of the gardens at Middleton Place are impossible to describe.

It reportedly took 100 slaves almost a decade to complete the wide-sweeping terraces, walks, and artificial lakes that spread to the river and marshland beyond. In addition to the stunning views, there are acres of landscaped gardens that were first laid out in 1741 by Henry Middleton.

The estate now consists of 110 acres, with 65 acres of gardens. The gardens at Middleton Place are said to be the most authentic expression of the 18th-century formal garden ideal — a marriage between Man and Nature. Although enhanced and expanded over the years, the original framework of Henry Middleton’s plan prevails.

In 1941, the Garden Club of America cited Middleton Place as not only the oldest, but also the most important and interesting garden in America.

Henry Middleton’s friendship with French botanist resulted in the first camellias grown in an American garden (1786). Three of the four camellias planted at the corners of the main area survived and grew to 15 feet. The next generation of Middleton’s expanded and enriched the gardens, introducing the first Asiatic azalea and the crap myrtle, one of the oldest in America.

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love old trees. When I say “old,” usually that means 200 to 300 years old. At Middleton Place, that means 600 to 700 years old. The tree in the picture below, called the Middleton Tree, sits right on the Ashley River. As you can see, it recently lost a limb – which is probably about four feet in circumference. Imagine what this tree has witnessed in its lifetime.

Notable buildings on the property:

The Middle Place rice mill— located immediately east of the Butterfly Lakes, where a natural east-flowing stream empties into the Ashley River. Williams Middleton built the mill in 1851 as he began more intensive planting at Middleton Place. The mill has undergone several alterations in modern times.

The Middleton Place springhouse, located behind the south flanker, was built in the 18th century. In 1850, the second story of the springhouse was converted into a chapel.

Eliza's House is a freedman’s residence built around 1870. The house is named after its last occupant, Eliza Leach (1891–1986).

The Stableyard is a demonstration area that includes a barnyard and stable, both built in the 1930s.

Middleton Place is open for tours: The house tour gives insight into the Middleton family and the slaves that helped maintain the plantation. General admission gives access to the plantation stable yards and gardens while the museum house tour is an additional fee. The plantation has an excellent restaurant and an Inn with 55 rooms on the property. Allow about two hours to tour the house and gardens.