Day Trip: Visit Historic Brattonsville in York County
I love reading fiction. Give me a book with a mystery, sci-fi adventure or romantic theme, and I am happy.
I love history, but I’m not a fan of reading about it. I like a hands-on approach to learning about the past. Fortunately, it’s easy to learn about the Carolinas’ history at the public parks and museums that are within an easy driving distance.
One such place is Historic Brattonsville, a 778-acre outdoor museum with more than 30 colonial structures, two museums and a Revolutionary War battlefield site. It’s an hour away from Charlotte and gives visitors a glimpse into the workings of an 18th and 19th century plantation.
During my visit, I wandered through the buildings and walked the land, taking in the craftsmanship of the buildings, amazed by what they accomplished using the limited tools they had to build their structures.
A visit to Brattonsville gave me an appreciation for the struggles people centuries ago endured and a perspective on how our history is very much connected to our present day lives.
Activities
Once you’ve purchased admission tickets at the Visitor Center, watch the 8-minute orientation video that describes Brattonsville and its history. If you’re interested in the Revolutionary War, catch the 12-minute video about Huck’s Defeat, one of the first battles in the South won by the Patriots.
Tour Historic Brattonsville at your own pace. Wander through the site, walk through buildings that are open to the public and look for interpretive programs. According to Kevin Lynch, site manager at Historic Brattonsville, visitors can see original structures like Colonel William Bratton’s home, his son’s plantation house, a slave house and Hightower Hall, an example of Italian architecture and the film location of Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Patriot.”
Other buildings from York County that represent the same time period have been moved to the site. A few replicas of corn cribs and sheds have been built as well.
“You come on site any day, there will be people dressed in historic clothing doing historic activities — farming, historic cooking demonstrations, blacksmithing,” Lynch said. “We have sheep, hogs, cattle, team of oxen and horses.”
Visit the gift shop and plan for a picnic in the shaded area adjacent to the Visitor Center. Hike or bike the seven miles of nature trails that cross through woods and fields and go around a pond.
Special events
Historic Brattonsville hosts events throughout the year that highlight the African American story.
“By the Sweat of Our Brows” is an interpretive program from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sept. 9. For interpretive programs, volunteers dress in period clothing and showcase activities that are reminiscent of the time, like cooking, sewing and farming. Visitors can observe the activities and also ask specific questions about what it was like in Brattonsville in the 1800s.
“The large majority of the people who lived here and worked here were African Americans,” said Lynch. “You have a chance to meet descendants of the slaves of those families and hear their stories.”
On Sept. 23, Historic Brattonsville will celebrate local potters in their “Piedmont Pottery & Pickin’” event. Visitors can purchase regional pottery, listen to local music and eat barbecue.
Look for holiday events and Civil War and Revolutionary War reenactments on the website.
Historic Brattonsville
1444 Brattonsville Road, McConnells, S.C. 29726
(803) 684-2327
Hours
10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday; 1-5 p.m. Sunday; Closed Monday
Closed on New Year’s Day, Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Admission
$8 adults, $7 senior citizens, $5 youth, Free for children 3 and younger
No smoking or pets permitted on the site.
Photos: Historic Brattonsville, Mike Watts
This story was originally published August 8, 2017 at 10:00 PM.