Middleton Place
America’s oldest formal landscaped garden, with terraced lawns, a butterfly-shaped lake, and riverside views unfolding in layers, and a National Historic Landmark.
Middleton Place was founded in 1741. Its gardens follow a classical European layout, with symmetrical terraced lawns, a twin butterfly-shaped lake, a camellia walk, and riverside scenery. It is the oldest surviving formal garden in the United States. The original house was destroyed during the Civil War, and the surviving south wing has been turned into a house museum. In the stable yard, craftspeople give demonstrations and farm animals are on view. There is also an exhibit on the history of enslaved people who labored here. Admission is about $35, and the restaurant is known for Lowcountry cooking.
Opening hours
About 09:00–17:00
Nearby sights
- Magnolia Plantation and Gardens
- Drayton Hall
- Angel Oak
- McLeod Plantation Historic Site
- Aiken-Rhett House
- The Charleston Museum
- Mother Emanuel AME Church
- King Street