Although most of us think of the Low Country when thinking of rice in SC, farmers further inland grew varieties of upland rice. This included farmers in what was then called Lexington District, including Lemuel Boozer and John Fox.

Fox’s house is now a part of the museum complex. He grew 375 pounds of rice in 1860 at his plantation, which is now Governors Grant subdivision.

We started successfully growing rice last year on the grounds of the museum. Although we’re not sure of the variety grown by local farmers in the 1850s, we’re growing Carolina Gold, a variety that was once everywhere in South Carolina in the 18th and 19th centuries.

JR Fennell is Lexington County Museum director.