Hampton Plantation State Historic Site

Tucked away among live oaks and magnolias in the Santee Delta region,Hampton Plantation State Historic Site is home to the remote, final remnants of a colonial-era rice plantation. The plantation’s Georgian-style mansion and well-kept grounds serve as an interpretive site for the system of slavery that helped build such plantations in South Carolina into the greatest generators of wealth in early American history.

The property also tells the story of the freed people who made their homes in the Santee Delta region for generations after emancipation. Visitors can explore the mansion, wander the plantation grounds or look out upon Wambaw Creek at the remains of rice fields that once stretched as far as the eye could see. 

Hampton inspired the works of a South Carolina poet laureate, Archibald Rutledge, who lived here and gave it to the people of South Carolina as a legacy.  The site is a National Historic Landmark.

Want to see more plantations in South Carolina? You can visit more historicPlantation Homes of the South at Rose Hill Plantation State Historic Site andRedcliffe Plantation.

Fishing Information: Enjoy fishing for catfish, bream and bass in Wambaw creek. A valid South Carolina fishing license is required.

Boating and Boat Access: Visitors are encouraged to contact Nature Adventures Outfitters for guided paddling tours of the area.

Bird Watching: Hampton Plantation is home to the unique and endangered red-cockaded woodpecker and swallow-tail kite. The park’s nature trail and quiet environs offer the perfect opportunity to watch for these special species.

Birding: Yes

Interpretive Trails: This easy, two-mile loop trail begins in the parking area and circles an abandoned rice field directly behind the Hampton Plantation Mansion. You will have an opportunity to explore the rich natural diversity, as well as the history, of the lowcountry, as you pass beneath ancient Magnolia trees that border the trail. You will find a map and information about the trail available on information kiosks at the parking area. Plaques along the way also offer historically significant information as well as information on local plants and animals. Bug repellent is recommended in the warmer seasons as ticks, horseflies, mosquitoes, and the southern "red bugs," or "chiggers," are common.

Hiking: Yes