Jelly Belly Bus

The sisters discover the Jelly Belly Bus had come to Columbia. Can you find Mrs. Nastee visiting the goodies at the bus? Ms. Nastee liked the VW Jelly Belly Bug - can you see her?

An Unusual Building

The spring house at the Milford Plantation was built to resemble the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral
In Columbia, South Carolina. Susan Frances Hampton Manning, the wife of the plantation owner, had been raised in Columbia and John Manning had lived there as governor. The sisters visit the spring house.

Spring House at Milford Plantation

The Milforc Plantation has an unusual spring house. Remember a spring house was used for refrigeration by having the cool water of a spring pass through the structure. The water coming out of the spring house could also be gathered for drinking and bathing. A pond is in front of the spring house at this plantation.

Speaking of Horses

In 1850 a 26 stall barn for horses was constructed at the Milford Plantation. Why so many stalls? Remember that all transportation used horses, including carriages and for racing. Most plantation owners had race horses because horse racing was considered a common sport for the wealthy. There are pillars on both sides of this barn - how elegant! Where are the sisters at the barn?

Water Tower - Imagine!

Most houses before and after the Civil War did not have running water inside the house. Have you ever seen those lovely pitchers and large bowls in very old home tours? The water usually came from a well or spring and you or your servants put it into those large pitchers. When you wanted to clean yourself, you poured the water into the bowl. The Mannings had a water tower built which pumped the water up into the tower and gravity fed it into the house. How wonderful! The sisters investigate the water tower.

Horses in the House!

It is said that in order to disgrace the owner of the plantation, four Union solders rode through the entrance hall side by side and back and forth. The hall is very large! Former Governor Manning, the owner of the plantation, had signed the articles of secession and kept a copy. If the troops had found those papers in his desk, the plantation would have surely been burned! Here is the side of this beautiful building.

Don't Burn this Plantation

On April 19, 1865 Union Troops arrived at the Milford Plantation. They were met by the owner (and former Governor of South Carolina), John Manning, who told their leader, Brigadier General Edward E. Potter, that the house was built by a Potter and would be destroyed by a Potter. The Brigadier General was said to have answered, "No, you are protected. Nathaniel Potter was my brother." Can you find the sisters in front of the house?

Milford Plantation

This plantation outside of Pinewood, South Carolina was built between 1839 and 1841 and is considered to be one of the finest examples of house Greek Revival architecture in America. The man who designed it was Nathaniel F. Potter and that probably saved it from being burned near the end of the Civil War. Read on and find out how.

Koala Mom and Baby

The sisters visited the zoo and saw an amazing sight!

The Kitchen to the Side

Although the main house had a 10,000 gallon cistern in the raised basement to provide an early running water system for the people, we know that kitchens were always in separate buildings during this time period. This kitchen was beside this house but remember, never too close for fire reasons! Ms. Nastee visits the kitchen - do you see her?

The Front of the House?

No one is quite sure whether the last photograph of the house facing the river is the front or this is where the guests came to enter the home. Regardless all the visitors climbed the stairs to go into this magnificent house. Can you see Ms. Nastee at these entrances?

Another Plantation Home

Ms. Nastee disappeared on her own to visit this house built in 1854. This Italianate mansion had 29 rooms and 12,000 square feet of floor space. This side of the house faced the river about 2 km. (a mile and a half). Can you find Ms. Nastee in the photograph? Don't look for Mrs. Nastee because she got left behind!

Music in the Swamp

John James Audubon, the famous bird artist, visited Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and now there is the Audubon Swamp Garden for the sisters and others to visit. They saw many birds, turtles, flowers (a Cherokee rose - state flower of Georgia) and alligators. They even saw a band playing near the entrance. What is Ms. Nastee hiding in?

Magnolia Tree in Magnolia Gardens

Mrs. Nastee found a cucumber magnolia tree that was blooming.

Joggling Board

A joggling board is a long bendable board supported on each end by wooden stands. This board is springy so whoever sits on it is able to bounce. Traditionally these boards are painted Charleston green and they have been traced back to plantations in South Carolina in the early 1800's. Some say they were used for exercise, others say they were used for courting (couples would end up bouncing together in the middle) but many say they were and are just for fun!

Alligators!

On the boat ride the sisters saw American alligators. What are those wood structures they are on? These wood planks were built in the water so the alligators would have a place to sun themselves. Otherwise they might lie in the sun in the pathways where people walk. Would you like to disturb a sleeping alligator?

Boat Ride on the Ashley River

The sisters decided to take a boat ride to see the wildlife and birds of the Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Cy was our Captain and he was glad to answer the questions that the sisters asked, especially about ALLIGATORS.

Magnolia Gardens

The sisters loved visiting the gardens with all of its bridges. Some of the bridges were there before the Civil War!

The Plantation House

The original manor house was burned during the Civil War probably by the Union forces. The oldest part of the house was built before the Revolutionary War (1775 - 1783) near the town of Summerville and was brought down the Ashley River after the Civil War to rebuild the house. The wide porch and columns were added later. Find the sisters at the house.

Magnolia Plantation and Garden

The sisters flew outside of Charleston to this beautiful plantation and its gardens. It was founded in 1676 and the gardens were opened to the public in 1870.

GATOR!

Behind the springhouse the sisters found an American alligator resting on the bank. Even though the gator was small, the sisters did not get too close!

The Springhouse at Middleton Place

The sisters found a springhouse, built in the 18th century, which is a refrigeration building used for long-term storage of food that would spoil. The sisters looked inside where meat, fruit, and dairy products would have been kept cool by the cool water of a spring. There was no food but the flowers outside were pretty.

Middleton Place

Outside of Charleston the sisters went looking for gators. They flew to Midddleton Place, a plantation along the Ashley River. Rice was grown here in the 1700's and all the way up to the Civil War. South Carolina was the largest producer of rice in the world before that War. Can you find the sisters in The Great Oak along the Ashley River?

Necessary Room

What room do you think is necessary? If you guessed a washroom you would be right.

Laundry and Garden

Mrs. Nastee is in the laundry room where water was heated in a fireplace. Would you like to wash your clothes here? The sisters enjoyed the garden and looking back towards the house.

The Kitchen is Out Back

Ms. Nastee went into the backyard to find the kitchen and the laundry building. Remember food was cooked away from the main house to prevent fires and contain the smells. Can you see Ms. Nastee in the kitchen and what do you think she is cooking?

The Heyward-Washington House in Charleston

The sisters flew over to this home built by Daniel Heyward, a wealthy rice plantation owner, for his son Thomas Heyward, Jr.. Built in 1772 as a town-house for the son who would be one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, this house was very fancy for its time. The first president of the United States, George Washington, rented the house for a week in May 1791 when he visied Charleston and so the house acquired a second name. Can you find the sisters at the front door?

The Nathanel Russell House in Charleston

The sisters decided to visit this house built in 1808 by a wealthy Rhode Island merchant. He paid $80,000 to have it built and that was a great deal of money at the time. If you could see inside you would be amazed, especially to see the free-flying staircase that goes up three stories. Can you find the sisters at the front door and in the garden?

Haunting in The Old Citadel

The sisters especially wanted to see "The Lost Cadet", a ghost who is said to haunt the hotel. He appears to be a teenager and is reported to be a happy chap. He supposedly only has half a head, from his eyebrows up there is nothing as if a cannon ball took the top off. Some employees call him "Half Head" but since he causes no mischief they are only startled by him and not frightened. The sisters could not find him but can you find them in the atrium or courtyard?

Staying Overnight in the Old Citadel

The South Carolina State Arsenal was built in the early 1830's. in 1842 the South Carolina Military Academy, a military college was established by the state legislature. The next year the college moved into this building which was called The Citadel because of how it looked (a fortress). Cadets from The Citadel were the first to fire shots in the Civil War on January 9, 1861.
The college was relocated to another campus in 1922. This building was used for government offices until it was turned into a hotel in 1994.

Back to Charleston

The sisters flew back to Charleston to visit the Joseph Manigault House. It was built in 1803 and the architecture is Federal or Adam-style. The Manigaults came from France and had plantations growing rice. This house also features a Gate Temple in the garden to welcome guests. Can you find the sisters in the photographs.