Beautiful in an understated way, Hopsewee Plantation (494 Hopsewee Rd., 843/546-7891, www.hopsewee.com, Mon.–Fri. 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Feb.–Nov., appointment only Nov.–Jan., $15 adults, $7.50 ages 5–17, under 5 free) on the Santee River 12 miles south of Georgetown was the birthplace of Thomas Lynch, Jr., one of South Carolina’s signers of the Declaration of Independence. Some key archaeological work is going on at the former slave village on this old indigo plantation; you can visit two of the original slave cabins on your tour.

While not as grand as many other Lowcountry plantation homes, the 1740 main house is a masterpiece of colonial architecture and all the more impressive because it’s very nearly original, the black cypress exterior largely intact. The focus here is on preservation, not restoration.

The home and its surrounding plantation were owned by the wealthy planter Thomas Lynch, one of South Carolina’s original delegates to the First Continental Congress. While deliberating in Philadelphia in 1776, Lynch suffered a severe stroke. His son, Thomas Jr., asked for leave from the South Carolina militia in order to tend to his ailing father. The request was denied, but the state legislature intervened and named the 26-year-old son as a delegate to the Continental Congress so he could join his father in Philly.

And that’s how the Lynches became the only father-son team of signers of the Declaration of Independence. (Or in spirit, anyway. There’s an empty signature line on the original Declaration between South Carolina’s Edward Rutledge and the younger Lynch; the elder Lynch, who would die shortly afterward, was physically unable to sign his name.)

Unusually, Hopsewee Plantation remains in private hands, and as such has a more lived-in feel than other house museums of its type. There’s a fairly active calendar of events throughout the year, including sweetgrass basket-weaving classes in the basement. Check the website for more specific info.