The earliest known reference to the site (Boone Hall) is of 1681. The land grant of 470 acres was given as a wedding present to a daughter. The original wooden house was constructed in 1790. The house that stands now is a "grander style" home than what was there. Boone Hall Plantation is one of America's oldest still working plantations...continually growing crops for over 320 years.
On the grounds today, besides the house, sit nine of the original slave cabins which date back to 1790-1810, a smoke house dating back to 1750, the Cotton Gin house (1853) and the grand Avenue of Oaks that was created in 1743 and completed in 1843. The live oak trees run 3/4 of a mile long from the entrance to the front house gates.
The McRae family opened the plantation to the public in 1957 and have made great efforts to preserve the original structures and gardens.
I will be posting pictures from both sites tonight.
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