Visit treasured house museums in the lowcountry of South Carolina and Georgia, exploring the essence of ante-bellum elegance. 222 lovely color photographs guide you through the corridors of nine classically built, exquisite manor homes and the shaded pathways that wend through heirloom gardens. Experience an era long past, when wealthy planters and slaves wrested fortunes from virgin swampland to produce rice and indigo for a hungry European market. Re-discover American history as you enjoy stories of the dynastic families who built these homes, shaped the growth of the region, and were instrumental in founding the nation. This book is a wonderful souvenir for those who've explored the Lowcountry, and a wish list for those who aspire to do so.