Visiting Rose Hill Plantation in South Carolina

Rose Hill Plantation is in Union, South Carolina. William Henry Gist, South Carolina's "Secession Governor" had the plantation house built in 1832. The house survived the Civil War and fifty years of deterioration after the Gist family left it. Rose Hill was purchased by the federal government and used as a bombing range in World War II. Rose Hill was dedicated as a State Park on December 20, 1960 and the work to make it what is today began.

Rose Hill is a three-story federal style mansion that seems as if it came out of a movie. The house sits on forty four acres of land and has immaculate rose gardens, which is what the house was named for. Driving up to the site I enter the plantation gates and read the mansion marker. Walking up to the house, I see the amazing three-story federal style mansion that seems as if it should be straight out of a movie. I walk up on the two story front porch and enter the large front door. Upon entering, I see a grand spiral staircase and beautiful furnishings. The Gist family bible and other pieces from that time are displayed throughout the house. Rose Hill also houses the actual document that shows South Carolina's secession from the Union. Large fireplaces and windows can be found throughout the house, making it all the more spectacular. Many portraits of the Gist family can be seen throughout the rooms. In the ballroom there is plenty of space for dancing and a large detailed mirror hangs above the fireplace. The old piano in the room catches my eye because I am drawn to all things musical. In the children's room you can see clothing from the period laid out on the bed, which I found particularly interesting to see actual clothing from that time. Walking outside, I see the original bell plantation that was used to call in slaves. I found it interesting that the kitchen for the plantation house was in a separate building away from the house and inside I saw replications of cooking items from the nineteenth century was on display. A carriage house that holds a few antique carriages is also on the grounds.

My family and I have been to Rose Hill on numerous occasions. We went there to have family gatherings, picnics, sports events, and to see the reenactments that are done for the public. We walked on the nature trail that leads to the Tyger River. When walking the trail, we experienced sounds and smells of the pine needles below our feet and the nearby river. When we picnicked there, smells from our tasty home cooked food, such as chicken and macaroni, and sounds of laughter and chatter filled the air. We enjoyed watching the reenactments, such as everyday duties of women and farming activities, and learned many things that we did not know about life in the 1850s.