A visit to Stoney-Baynard Plantation on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina is a must-do for history buffs. In 1994, this plantation was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including a contributing site. This 6-acre site has numerous historic artifacts, including a slave quarter, as well as a large, reconstructed house.
You can easily spend 20 minutes exploring the ruins, or you can hike or bike the informal trails around the site. The informal trails allow you to get a sense of the natural surroundings. While hiking through the site, you may even feel as if you’re walking through a jungle. Pine trees, magnolias, and palms compete with lichen and moss for sunlight. The site is open daily, dawn to dusk, and admission is free.
If you’re looking for a place where history meets a bit of lore, you’ve come to the right place. Stoney Baynard Plantation Ruins are an interesting historical site on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Built around 1793, this plantation was home to slaves, cotton planters, and Confederate troops. The plantation remains are a living testament to the use of tabby, a traditional masonry method that is still common in the Lowcountry.
Located in the Sea Pines Plantation, Baynard Ruins feature a replica of a tabby plantation house, slave cabins, and a chimney. During the 1790s, Captain John Stoney built the mansion and sold it to William Edings Baynard. After William Baynard’s death, it burned down. Visitors can walk the grounds of the plantation and visit the ruins. Afterward, head south on Plantation Drive to the Baynard Mausoleum.
Located on the southern end of Hilton Head Island, Stoney-Baynard Plantation Ruins were originally part of the Braddock’s Point Plantation. Its southern portion covered Sea Pines. Stoney-Baynard Plantation had a main house built by Captain John “Saucy Jack” Stoney between 1793 and 1810. James Stoney, his brother, inherited the main house and slaves in 1810, but eventually declared bankruptcy. Eventually, the Bank of Charleston bought the land, and in 1861, the Union Army occupied Hilton Head Island.
While it is impossible to visit Baynard’s house completely intact, the site’s historic significance is worth the visit. It’s the site of Baynard’s burial, and visitors have reported seeing the ghost of the former plantation owner after dark. Others have even seen the entire funeral procession. If you’re in the area, check out Hilton Head Vacation Guide for more information and to book your hotel or vacation rental.
A great place to also visit is Bluffton, SC.
The Coastal Discovery Museum is another attraction that’s worth visiting while in Hilton Head. This educational center covers 68 acres and has a 500-year-old southern red cedar. Other attractions include a butterfly habitat and a boardwalk that crosses the marsh. The museum is open year-round, and offers educational programs as well as live animal presentations. The museum is located on the Honey Horn property, which features trails, gardens, and beautiful live oaks.