Historic Landscapes of the South Carolina Low Country was a project for Case Studies in Public History at Georgia State University. It is a long term project, which seeks to document and present the historic cultural landscape history of the low country in South Carolina. More historic landscapes will be added, which will present not only the landscape of the plantations but the landscape of yeoman farmers, the landscape of religion, and more in depth material on the landscape of slavery.

Historic landscapes by there very nature are fragile and vulnerable to loss and alteration in addition to being invisible to both the public and policy makers. America's historic landscapes are subject to loss and change through inappropriate use, development, vandalism, and natural forces such as flooding.

When historic cultural landscapes are publicly identified as significant, they become visible and can be incorporated into local, state, and federal planning and recording processes. This site seeks to encourage and promote the preservation of historic landscapes of the low country. Historic sites are much more than just a house, historic landscape interpretation tells the complete history of a site and contributes to a sense of place.

This site was placed online April 25th, 2004. Drayton Hall, Crowfield, and Middleton Place were the first sites presented because of the significance of their historic landscapes. The Landscape of Slavery, describes and documents the contributions of the slaves to the landscape but also how they shaped and adapted it for their own needs.

Recognition

This site would not have been possible without the guidance and patience of my husband, John. Jim Cothran introduced me to the low country, its people and history - I will always be grateful to him. Richard Laub and Dr.Cliff Kuhn directed this project and kept me on track. Dr. George McDaniel, the Director of Drayton Hall, from the start of my research at Drayton Hall has been a constant source of support and has provided me with valuable insight and critiques. Dr. Glenn Eskew reintroduced me to southern history and allowed me the latitude to form my own interpretation of the south's history. Special thanks to Andy, who has patiently listened to my ideas, problems and dreams for this site.

About the Author

Barbara Orsolits has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from Indiana University and a Master's of Heritage Preservation from Georgia State University. She has done research on the landscape and garden history of Drayton Hall. In addition she has done research on the work of Loutrel Briggs, a landscape architect whose landscape and garden designs were instrumental in the restoration Charleston's historic gardens. In 2004, she attended Historic Landscape Institute at Monticello and the University of Virginia. Barbara is in the Ph.D. program at Georgia State University with research areas in southern colonial history and environmental history.