Middleton Place

Charleston, United States

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Middleton Place, located near Charleston, South Carolina, is a historic plantation known as the oldest landscaped gardens in the United States and an important American heritage site.

Established in the 1730s, it was the home of the prominent Middleton family, including Arthur Middleton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The plantation once spanned 7,000 acres and was a major rice producer. Its gardens, designed in the 18th century, include America’s oldest camellias and elaborate terraced lawns, reflecting formal European influences.

The main house and several buildings were heavily damaged during the Civil War and an earthquake in 1886, leaving only part of the south wing intact. Restoration efforts began in 1916 under a family descendant, rebuilding the gardens and surviving structures. Today, Middleton Place is a National Historic Landmark offering insight into colonial and antebellum history, horticultural achievements, and early American plantation life.