Statement of Significance (as of designation - January 3, 2001):
Magnolia Plantation is significant in the history of American agriculture as one of the largest and most intact plantation complexes in the southern United States. The site contains a collection of extremely rare slave cabins. Magnolia also retains its cotton pressing and ginning equipment. The late nineteenth century system gin is an extremely rare survivor within the region, as is the antebellum screw press. Considered in context with extant structures on the plantation, cotton gins are potentially a powerful tool with which to interpret the American South’s quintessential industry, the production of raw cotton. The period of significance spans from c.1835, the date of the earliest building, to 1939, when Magnolia, following a trend across the South during the 1930s and 40s, stopped ginning its own cotton.

Condition:
Many of the problems that were threatening the main house, such as moisture infiltration and deterioration of chimney masonry, were addressed by a recent large-scale rehabilitation effort. The owners worked closely with NPS to make sure that threats were assigned the appropriate priority and addressed properly. NPS is currently working to ensure the stabilization and preservation of the outbuildings for which they are responsible.

There are no changes since the last reporting period