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Barbara Stevenson
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Sams Plantation Complex Tabby Ruins

6/8/2015

6 Comments

 
Sams Plantation Complex (Photo by Bill Hill)
Sams Plantation Complex (Photo by Bill Hill)
Sams Plantation Dairy and Cold Room (Photo by Bill Hill)
Sams Plantation Kitchen (Photo by Bill Hill)
New Tabby Discovery (Photo by William A. Riski)
New Tabby Discovery (Photo by William A. Riski)
Description

Sams Plantation on Dataw Island, SC, is an extensive complex of tabby ruins including the sprawling plantation house, kitchen chimney, dairy/cold room, barn/stable, blade house, slave quarters, chapel, and cemetery.

History

William Sams purchased Dataw Island in 1783 and began construction of a tabby plantation devoted to sea island cotton. His son, B. B. Sams, inherited the plantation in 1808 and expanded it to include approximately 15 tabby buildings. Not only was this a large plantation that included its own chapel and cemetery, but it was also unusual in that nearly all the structures were built of tabby. Sams died in 1855, and the federal government took over the island in 1863 because of overdue taxes. A fire destroyed the plantation in 1876. In 1983 Alcoa began construction of a residential community on the island. Alcoa and island residents formed the Dataw Historic Foundation committed to the preservation of the Sams Plantation Complex Tabby Ruins.

Update: William A. Riski of Dataw Island reports that an excavation conducted in March 2018 next to the chimney has unearthed tabby dating from the 1700s. Studies are underway to determine the function of these early tabby remnants. 

Location

GPS: N 32°25.927 and W 80°34.991

Address: 100 Dataw Club Rd., Dataw Island, SC 29920 (The ruins are in the vicinity of the clubhouse, golf course, and tennis courts.)

Accessibility: Dataw Island is a private gated community. (We had reservations at a restaurant on the island, so the guard checked us in and allowed us on the island.)

For more information, see the Dataw Historic Foundation.

6 Comments
Paula Loftis link
10/29/2022 11:38:08 pm

Friend visiting from Norway, interested in history and tabby ruins. I live on Lady's Island and have seen the tabby ruins on Dataw multiple times. This time turned away by guard who said he has been there 8 years and "private property" and no one can get a day pass or is permitted in to see the history and tabby ruins. So history is not open to citizens that pay taxes. Very embarrassing and the impression others are left with is that America is a country of keeping others out and only for the "privileged". Deplorable experience.

Reply
Sandy Lloyd
4/3/2024 02:00:43 pm

It is a country for the privileged, If you love history and love relics from the past get ready to shell out decent money just to look. Unless of course a rich person has purchased it already, and is keeping it to themselves, which happens quite often.

Reply
Kimberly Wolfe
11/10/2024 07:36:37 pm

I’m not sure what any previous visitors experienced, but we made reservations to visit the tabby ruins and had such an amazing time! We live in Port Royal and we’re connected with a wonderful docent leading our tour, Joe. It was such a memorable time! He amazing history, the enveloping stories, the engrained masterful story had us walking through time. Thank you Joe and thank you, the historical society of Dataw Island, for allowing us to walk through history with you!

Reply
Paula Loftis
4/2/2025 07:36:45 pm

Kimberly

Can you please provide me with your contact to tour the Sam’s Plantation? Would appreciate knowing how to get a pass. Friends visiting from overseas and interested in ruins.

Thank you.

Reply
Kimberly
4/2/2025 08:51:16 pm

Send an email asking for a tour. Joe was our favorite docent, but everyone is so wonderful: [email protected]

Patricia Pott
4/2/2025 02:39:08 pm

Are there any books about Sams Plantation

Reply



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