Mansfield Plantation

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The "Avenue of Oaks" approach to Mansfield Plantation, Georgetown, SC.

Established in 1718 on the banks of the Black River (South Carolina) in historic Georgetown, South Carolina, Mansfield Plantation is widely recognized as one of the most well-preserved antebellum rice plantations in the United States. Spanning nearly 1,000 acres (4.0 km²) of pine forest, rice fields and cypress swamps, Mansfield Plantation was once one of the largest rice producing plantations in the country. Mansfield, along with adjacent rice plantations up and down the Black River, provided much of Europe with "Carolina Gold" rice during the late 1700s and early 1800s. Rice growing was made possible by 1) perfecting irrigation techniques using tidal water and manmade dykes; 2) experimentation with natural fertilizers; 3) and most notably, African-American slave labor. After the American Civil War, rice production became too expensive and soon the plantations fell into bankruptcy and were sold off to new owners.

The main house decorated for the holidays at Mansfield Plantation, Georgetown, SC.

Today, Mansfield Plantation is preserved as an authentic rice plantation, complete with the original plantation home, winnowing barn, school house, live oak avenue ("oak alley"), slave village, chapel, guest house and plantation grounds. In fact, the entire plantation is undergoing a privately-funded, massive restoration project to keep their distinct history alive for generations to come. This is notable because Mansfield Plantation is also the only known plantation in the USA to be saved from development and reclaimed by a direct descendent of the original owners. Their efforts to preserve this slice of American history will be appreciated for generations to come.

The Old Kitchen Guest House, part of the Mansfield Plantation Bed & Breakfast, Georgetown, SC.

The plantation is also home to a luxurious, award-winning bed and breakfast (voted #1 bed and breakfast in 2006 by Planet BnB directory [1]). Three separate buildings have been divided into nine private suites, each with a private bathroom, and all decorated with period furniture from the pre-Civil War era. Charleston Magazine named it a “Top 10 Romantic Getaway” and numerous publications have written about this historic plantation over the past 20 years.

The old slave village at Mansfield Plantation, currently undergoing a massive restoration project, includes seven slave cabins and a chapel.

Mansfield Plantation has been featured in numerous films, documentaries and television shows. Mansfield served as the backdrop for Mel Gibson's The Patriot (2000 film); Fox filmed two segments of their primetime television series Treasure Hunters at Mansfield in 2006; and most recently, the Fine Living Network filmed a documentary at Mansfield Plantation in 2006 for their network television series Windshield America.

Mansfield's winnowing barn, the only one still standing in all of Georgetown County, was used to separate the rice grains before being shipped throughout the world for consumption.

Reservations are accepted from the public to tour the plantation grounds. Mansfield also encourages schools and universities to take advantage of the many educational opportunities available at this authentic antebellum rice plantation.

[edit] References

Agnes Baldwin, N. Jane Iseley, William P. Baldwin (1983). Plantations of the Low Country: South Carolina 1697-1865, Rev. edition, Legacy Pubns.
Alberta Morel Lachicotte (1989). Georgetown Rice Plantations. Reprint Co.
Suzanne Cameron Linder (2001). Historical Atlas of the Rice Plantations of Georgetown County and the Santee River. South Carolina Department of Archives and History for the Historic Ricefields Association, Inc.
South Carolina National Registry
Mansfield Plantation website