How to ethically tour plantations in the South

You’ve seen the pictures before — tourists wait in line to get that magical picture underneath the massive oaks dripping with Spanish moss. And why wouldn’t they? Plantations in the south, places like Charleston or Savannah, are a vital source of tourism and visitors flock to see the expansive, impeccably kept grounds comparable to a museum or botanical garden.

But the paradox is that behind the beauty of locations such as these, there lies a darker past.

Vacationers don’t often want to learn the truth about slavery. Just take a look at reviews criticizing the amount of time spent discussing this topic by guides at plantations which acknowledge their history, without which they wouldn’t exist.

While you might admire the beautiful gardens, grand oak trees, and magnificent architecture (and that’s ok!), don’t let the environment romanticize or re-write the painful reality so many people of color faced here. We cannot ignore the grim past of plantations built on the backs of enslaved people who underwent immeasurable suffering and tragedy, the effects of which are still being passed on. Given that so many lives were tortured and lost, we implore you to see these locations for what they are.

Playing such a large role in the Lowcountry’s history, we can’t create travel guides without recommending that you visit some of the numerous plantations the area is known for!

But how can we visit these historical sites ethically?

“Now that I have the attention of the public by sleeping in extant slave dwellings, it is time to wake up and deliver the message that the people who lived in these structures were not a footnote in American history.”

– Joseph McGill, Founder of the Slave Dwelling Project

Visit southern plantations to learn about history

Touring Southern plantations and historic homes gives us the opportunity to more deeply understand and acknowledge the past and reflect on the ways in which we can do better in the future.

Plantation tours range in quality. While some focus on the mansions, or the luxurious furnishings, or the elite families that once lived there, we encourage you to forego the tours that whitewash history, and instead find tours and locations that offer educational experiences. If a plantation offers both, don’t opt out of learning. Seek out tours that honor the enslaved people that once lived on the grounds and tell their true stories .

Seek out plantations that Amplify Black Voices

Many plantations and historic homes in the South have made proactive choices to elevate the history of enslaved persons. An example of this would be plantations that have close relationships with the living descendants of enslaved people that worked and lived on that property. Middleton Place, here in Charleston, has descendants on their Board of Trustees. They have a say, an impact, on how the property is run and its role in the community. Other locations promote Black tour guides with Gullah lineage, to tell the story of the local Black culture and history.

Avoid weddings at Southern Plantations

Just as you would not hold your wedding at a prison, consider how celebrations held at plantations create a disconnect from the sad truth. It doesn’t feel appropriate to revel in such a somber location. Many plantations are hesitant to stop hosting weddings or events due to the revenue it brings in, but we feel — and maybe you do too — that to these institutions should be for educational and reflection purposes only.

Encourage Change

If you’ve been on a plantation tour that seems to skim over this part of their history, that glorify the families and architecture while glossing over, making optional, or charging extra discussions of the experiences of enslaved persons, use your voice. While we’d never promote trolling or leaving nasty reviews, let the location know that their guests crave more substance in their offerings.