Walking Through Shadows and Oaks: My Visit to Boone Hall

Hello fellow wanderer!

As summer nears, the East Coast humidity rises, and while I grumble about the stickiness, I stay enchanted by this region’s layered history. Recently, I visited Boone Hall Plantation, and while the experience was beautiful, it also reminded me how essential it is to engage with the full truth of our past. History isn’t always comfortable, but understanding it helps guide us toward a better future.

A perfect spot for dreamy photos or a reflective stroll.

🌳 Avenue of Oaks

Before your first glimpse of Boone Hall’s plantation house, you pass through the breathtaking Avenue of Oaks. The mile-long path is lined with 88 live oaks planted in 1743. This iconic lane has been featured in The Notebook, North and South, and even Days of Our Lives! It truly sets the stage for a nature-filled day of exploring the historic grounds.

A glimpse of the plantation at the end of the Avenue of the Oaks

🏡 The Plantation House

The original Boone home, built in 1681, was replaced in 1936 by the current Colonial Revival structure. While not original, the house is grand and filled with antique furnishings that echo a romanticized version of plantation life. The first-floor tour covers the McRae family, who purchased the estate in 1955. No photos allowed were inside, but trust me, it’s elegant.

The current mansion was built by Thomas and Alexandra Stone in 1936 and reflects classic Southern Colonial Revival architecture the Stone’s wanted.

🏚️ Slave Cabins & Black History in America Exhibit

The preserved brick slave cabins are humbling. Dating to the 1700s, they now house the “Black History in America” exhibit. One especially moving moment: seeing child-size fingerprints in the bricks. A volunteer delivered a powerful talk from the perspective of the enslaved, an emotional and necessary lens on this site’s history.

Fingerprints marking the bricks on one of the cabins

🌺 Boone Hall Plantation Gardens: History & Highlights

The gardens, also from 1743, are stunning year-round. As I wandered the brick paths, I could almost see women in hoop skirts drifting past camellias and boxwoods. But these gardens aren’t just pretty; they reflect centuries of resilience, both botanical and human.

A bumblebee was happily enjoying the gardens during my visit.

A Japanese beetle enjoying a snack from this lovely peony.

🐎 Gullah Culture Presentation

Don’t miss the live Gullah presentation, where descendants of West African slaves share stories, crafts, and songs. Gullah is a unique creole language born from survival and ingenuity. This performance was one of the most enriching parts of my visit.

The presenter shared examples of basket weaving, quilting, and cuisine through entertaining stories.

🎒 Travel Tips

Plan for 3–4 hours. Wear comfy shoes. Take the tractor tour to see the working farm, and either enjoy the small café or picnic under the oaks. And don’t forget your camera! Boone Hall is as photogenic as it is thought-provoking. Click here for more information.

What's next?

Next week, we are going to head over to Virginia and explore National Park number 40, Shenandoah National Park! And I found my first waterfall of the year, a spectacular flow called Dark Hollow Falls.

Doing my best to capture this amazing waterfall. See the final result next week!

Until next week!

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