©National Park Service
Charles Pinckney was one of
South Carolina's most distinguished
political leaders.
Pinckney was born in 1757 to a prominent family and grew up on Snee Farm, a coastal plantation. The 715-acre farm was a working plantation for almost 250 years. Rice was the main crop, though indigo and cotton were also grown, and slaves made up the labor force. In 1817, Pinckney sold the farm to settle his debts.
Pinckney began his public career at age 22 and went on to become one of South Carolina's most distinguished political leaders. The successful statesman served as one of four South Carolina delegates at the Constitutional Convention, and he was a four-term governor of the state. His four decades of public service also included terms as a state legislator, U.S. congressman and senator, and ambassador to Spain.
Congress authorized Snee Farm as a historical site in 1988 to preserve what was deemed a landmark of national value. Only 28 acres of the Snee Farm remain. The rest has been absorbed by surrounding communities. The story-and-a-half gabled house on the site was built in 1828, after Pinckney sold the property. It is typical of the simple but refined coastal cottages once common throughout the region. The site tells the story of Charles Pinckney, Snee Farm, and the United States as a young, emerging nation.
Charles Pinckney National Historic Site Information
Address: 1214 Middle St., Sullivan's Island, SC
Telephone: 843/883-3123
Hours
of Operation: Open daily 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's Day
Admission: Free
Learn more about these other national historic sites:
To learn more about national
monuments, memorials, and historic sites, and other travel destinations in North America, visit:
- National Monuments: Learn more about America's national monuments.
- National Memorials: Discover national memorials in the U.S.
- National Historic Sites: Read about American national historic sites.
- Charleston City Guide: Find out where to stay, what to do, and where to eat when you visit Charleston.
- South Carolina State Guide: Learn about Mobil Travel Guide-rated hotels and restaurants in South Carolina as well as other recreational activities.
Eric Peterson is a Denver-based author who has contributed to numerous guidebooks about the Western United States.
