Where was The Patriot filmed?
2000
City Locations
South Carolina (USA)
Location Types
Ranch, House, Schools/Colleges, Museum
Location Styles
Beachfront, Georgian/Southern, Ranch Style, Gothic/Victorian
About The Patriot
The Patriot is a movie that tells the story of the American Revolution. It was directed by Roland Emmerich and stars Mel Gibson, who plays the character Benjamin Martin. Heath Ledger also features as Gabriel, and Tom Wilkinson portrays Lord General Cornwallis.
The Patriot follows Benjamin Martin, a widowed farmer who raises his seven children alone in South Carolina during the Revolutionary War. When his oldest son Gabriel joins the fight against the British, he is captured and sentenced to hang for treason. Benjamin, previously a pacifist, abandons his beliefs and rescues Gabriel with the aid of his former companion Harry Burwell (Chris Cooper). Together, they form a group of patriotic Carolinians who use their intelligence and ferocity to fight against the British army.
Critics mostly gave positive reviews to The Patriot and praised Gibson's performance for its realism and depth of emotions. According to reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, 137 critics gave "The Patriot" a 62% approval rating with an average rating of 6.10/10. The critics agree that while the movie can be entertaining, it relies too heavily on formula and melodrama. On Metacritic, the film received a score of 63 out of 100, based on 35 critics, indicating that reviews were generally favorable. The movie received three Academy Award nominations, including Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, and Best Sound, and won several awards at other ceremonies, such as the People's Choice Awards, American Society of Cinematographers, and BMI Film & TV Awards.
The Patriot Locations
The Patriot was filmed predominantly in South Carolina, utilizing many of the region's iconic locations and landscapes. The majority of scenes were shot in the Upstate and Lowcountry sections of the state, with Rock Hill serving as the production’s headquarters. Other notable locations included a private farm in Chester, a colonial village with a church and cabins, Fort Lawn, Lowrys, and Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston.
More filming took place at Cypress Gardens in Moncks Corner. The location features 170 acres of blackwater swamp with bald cypress trees.
Touring these sites for The Patriot would be an incredibly enriching experience, as each location offers stunning views, historical significance, and unique experiences. At Fort Lawn, viewers could explore the town square and other elements from the film, which remain intact today.
For those wishing to peek into Revolutionary War history, The Battle of Cowpens scene at Chester will leave an impression. As for Charleston, Randolph Hall provides an impressive example of colonial architecture and its part in major films such as The Patriot, while Cypress Gardens' swampland will transport visitors back to when rice plantations ruled this part of South Carolina.
Benjamin Martin's farm scene in The Patriot
1949 State Rd 190, Chester, SC 29706, USA
The opening scene introduces viewers to Benjamin Martin's farmhouse in South Carolina. In this place, he and his seven children live peacefully working on their land. Benjamin utilizes free servants to manage his land and is involved in carpentry, specifically rocking chair production, though unsuccessful. An iconic moment from this scene involves the main character attempting to fix a chair but ultimately falling off the chair and breaking it.
The scene was filmed on a private farm at 1949 State Rd 190, in Chester, South Carolina. At the location, acres of rolling hills and trees without modern crops were found. It was transformed into a colonial village with a church and cabins for this battle scene. In addition to replicating the18th-century era architecture and landscape, various props such as vintage firearms, cavalry uniforms, tents, and wagons were used to make it look realistic for viewers. This is the location where Martin's farmhouse, the village of Pembroke, and the Battle of Camden were filmed.
It is easy to get to the Guy Darby Farm from Charlotte in neighboring North Carolina, which is just a 40-mile drive away.
Benjamin Martin speaks against entry into the war scene in The Patriot
College of Charleston, 66 George St, Charleston, SC 29424, USA
The scene at the hall takes place in the College of Charleston. This is one of the movie's most iconic scenes, with Benjamin delivering a powerful speech to the General Assembly. In this scene we see him standing atop a podium in Randolph Hall, surrounded by delegates from all over South Carolina. Onlookers watch in awe as he passionately speaks about his deep-seated patriotism and how joining this fight will only see innocent lives lost. Benjamin's lines are memorable to fans: "Our children will learn of it with their own eyes. And the innocent will die with the rest of us."
Randolph Hall at the College of Charleston is an iconic building located at the center of the campus and is featured prominently on the school’s logo. It has been used for many films, including Dear John, The Notebook, and Cold Mountain. Along with The Patriot, it has also been a filming site for Othello and William Shakespeare's Hamlet; both were filmed in front of Randolph Hall and various other locations around campus.
The College of Charleston is located at 66 George Street in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. Visitors can get to this location by car or public transportation; there are several parking lots close by or visitors can take one of the many shuttle buses that run through campus daily.
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Charlotte's plantation scene in The Patriot
Mansfield Plantation Bed & Breakfast, 1776 Mansfield Rd, Georgetown, SC 29440, USA
After a fierce battle, during which Benjamin displays viciousness by attacking one of the British privates with a tomahawk as an act of vengeance, Gabriel is rescued. Everyone meets up with the family at the plantation owned by Charlotte Shelton (Joely Richardson), who was Benjamin's late wife's sister. The scene marks a moment of respite from the battle they faced earlier that day. After the day's events, Samuel (Bryan Chafin) goes to bed feeling upset, but Nathan (Trevor Morgan) expresses his satisfaction in killing the British soldiers to his father.
The filming location for the exteriors of Charlotte's plantation was at Mansfield Plantation, located at 1776 Mansfield Road in Georgetown, South Carolina. This historic site has existed since before the American Revolution and is now a bed-and-breakfast. Its picturesque oak alley as well as slave cabins are featured prominently in this film scene. Additionally, its stunning marsh views make it an ideal location for filming.
Georgetown is located on the South Carolina coast, about 60 miles northeast of Charleston. You can take several routes to get there from Charleston; one option is to take US-17 N for 55 miles until you reach Georgetown, take County Rd S-22-325 until you reach Mansfield Rd, and you will see the plantation on your right-hand side.
Beach slave camp scene in The Patriot
Botany Bay, Edisto Island, SC 29438, USA
The beach slave camp featured in The Patriot is depicted as a refuge for those fleeing the oppressive British forces. Cornwallis gives Tavington (Jason Isaacs) permission to use more severe intimidation tactics against the militia. Subsequently, Tavington chooses to locate and attack the families of the militia, leading him to ride to Charlotte's plantation and set it on fire. Despite this, Charlotte and her children escape and seek shelter at a nearby beach colony where former slaves live. It is there that they reunite with Abigail (Beatrice Bush). Eventually, Benjamin and Gabriel arrive, along with Anne's (Lisa Brenner) family several days later.
In The Patriot, the beach slave camp was located on Botany Bay Plantation, which is home to a beach on Edisto Island. The state took over the estate in 2007, and it's now a 3,000-acre wildlife area. Visitors can explore the historic ruins, access the beach by kayak, and admission is free. While much of what appears on screen was added digitally through CGI effects and set construction, many scenes were shot directly at Botany Bay with its iconic marshlands, wide stretches of beach, and historic ruins making it an ideal backdrop for filming.
Botany Bay Plantation is located just off Interstate 174 in Edisto Beach, South Carolina, between Charleston and Savannah, Georgia. It is around a one-hour drive southwest of Charleston.
Filming Locations Search
Gabriel's death at the Continental Encampment scene in The Patriot
Historic Brattonsville, 1444 Brattonsville Rd, McConnells, SC 29726, USA
The scene at the Continental Encampment portrays a somber atmosphere as Benjamin mourns his fallen son, Gabriel. Burwell attempts to comfort and motivate Benjamin, who is giving up hope. Benjamin believes his past wrongdoings have finally caught up with him. This pivotal scene is powerful and emotionally charged, and encapsulates the tragedy of war.
The scene was filmed at Historic Brattonsville, a living history museum located in the state’s Olde English District in York County. The family-owned property spans over 700 acres and features historic buildings and costumed interpreters, creating an authentic backdrop for a famous movie moment. The site, which is included in the National Register of Historic Places, has over 30 historic structures open to the public. These buildings, called "house museums," tell the story of the Carolina Piedmont's progress from the 1750s to the 1840s. The site also served as the interior of the Howards home.
To get to Historic Brattonsville, you’ll need to drive a little over 35 miles southwest from downtown Charlotte.
The Britisher’s ball scene in The Patriot
Middleton Place, 4300 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414, USA
In The Patriot, a spectacular scene was filmed at Middleton Place on 4300 Ashley River Road in Charleston. The scene depicted the British Army holding a grand ball with their bright red uniforms that clashed against the green grass and white columns of this historic plantation house.
The ballroom shown in the movie is now a part of the Middleton House Museum. Since 1755, this property has been under stewardship by the same family who still preserves it. Visitors can tour through its lavish interiors and furniture, examine rare books and silver collections, or even spot some wildlife down its trails.
Getting to Middleton Place is easy as it is only 16 miles from downtown Charleston. To get there, you can take South Carolina Highway 61 until you reach Ashley River Road, where you will see signs pointing to Middleton Place.
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Conclusion
The Patriot is an entertaining and action-packed movie. Though not particularly deep, the script serves its purpose of driving the narrative and highlighting the struggles many families faced during the Revolutionary War. Gibson's gripping performance effectively conveys the emotions of a grief-stricken father caught up in war and a courageous patriot willing to fight for his family's freedom.
Overall, The Patriot 2000 is worth watching if you want an adrenaline-pumping war drama with memorable performances from well-known actors such as Gibson and Heath Ledger. And with several of the movie’s iconic filming locations easily accessible around South Carolina, it’s well worth checking them out for yourself.