While Justin and John went golfing again today, Sarah, Maggie, and I drove out to Boone Hall Plantation, just north of Charleston.  To get from Charleston into Mount Pleasant, you cross the Arthur Ravenel Bridge, built just over 5 years ago.

Arthur Ravenel Bridge

It really is a neat-looking bridge, and Sarah and I both took quite a few pictures as we passed over it.  Though she was more adventurous than I and actually stood up through the sunroof to get hers!

trying to capture a shot through the windshield

The entrance into Boone Hall is a beautiful one, with hundreds of Living Oak trees lining the quarter mile road up to the main house.

Avenue of Oaks

Boone Hall Plantation has been a working plantation since before the Civil War.  It is one of the few plantations in the south that still has some of its original slave quarters, now turned into mini museums focused around slave culture, the civil war, and the Civil Rights Movement. One of the only reasons these quarters are still standing, is because they were originally constructed from bricks (made by the plantation slaves).

One of only nine small homes still standing.

The plantation house itself is actually not the original house at all, but one that was built in 1937.  According to the tour guide, this is the 4th house to stand in its place since the 1700′s.  We were not allowed to take any pictures inside the house.

The 4th Boone Hall Plantation Home

Also on the grounds was a small enclosed Butterfly Pavilion.  While not teeming with butterflies, there were still a fair number flitting about the flowers and plants, posing for the photographers.

showing off

It was another beautiful day to spend outside, take in some history, and get some great photographs.

A bizarre and captivating flower!

Carolina Gold Rice - one of the first crops to have been grown in SC

White and Purple Eggplants at a nearby Farmer's Stand