Saturday, April 18

  7:15am     Gather with your fellow travelers at Capitol Tours office on Leaphart Road to prepare for departure to Charleston at 7:45am.

10:00am     Arrive at the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon for a guided tour.  It was from this site on August 5, 1776, that people in Charleston had their first chance to hear the newly-adopted Declaration of Independence

11:30am     Board the motorcoach and travel to Middleton Place Plantation.

12:15pm     Arrive at Middleton Place Plantation and Gardens.  The plantation was acquired in 1741 as part of the dowry of Elizabeth Williams who married Henry Middleton. The Middleton’s played a dominant role in the colonial era with Henry Middleton serving as President of the First Continental Congress and his son, Arthur Middleton, as signer of the Declaration of Independence.  Our visit starts with a tasty buffet lunch in the Cypress Room.

1:30pm       After lunch the group will be divided into two groups and will alternate between the guided Garden Tour and the guided House Tour.

                   Guided Garden Tour – Explore the gardens with a trained interpreter who will explain the gardens’ history and horticulture.  Learn about the land, the flora and hear the stories of those who designed, created and maintained the gardens.

                   Guided House Tour – The house serves as a museum of rare Middleton family furniture, silver, china, and historic documents.

  3:30pm     Have some free time to explore the Stableyards and the Gift Shop.

  4:00pm     Time to make our way back to West Columbia.

  6:30pm     Estimated arrival at Capitol Tours.