History rarely passes without leaving its fingerprints on human memory or on the sacred grounds which it occupied. In fact, it often leaves heavy scars when it allows for the depravity and oppression of human freedom. Middleton Garden is a witness and a victim of such an injustice, slavery. The garden rests quietly now, submerged into a chronic stillness and put to sleep by the flow of the Ashley River. Often, it is impossible to comprehend the ugliness of the scars on this place due to the beautiful landscapes formed by the same hands that scarred it. But, if one looked closely at the rice fields or touched the cold brick of an old ruin, one would hear the cries of their toil. One would see their backbreaking work on the rice fields and realize the magnitude of their oppression. What would the garden look like to him then? Hundreds of tourists visit Middleton each year to see the flourishing garden and enjoy the quiet, natural environment. They enjoy the scenery but what impression do they leave with? Do they later look at their photographs and remember fresh air and green grass? Or do those images evoke emotion and sympathy toward the people who suffered while building this beautiful garden. Perhaps, in order to truly experience this garden, they need a reminder prior to entering the place. Imagine a room full of various kinds of flowers. All of the flowers are collected from the garden. Certain plants are unique and are placed on special displays. This is like a small, beforehand experience of the upcoming garden. Now, picture a person walking through the room smelling and enjoying the flowers. As he exits the room into the garden, he stumbles on the old, ugly ruin of the Rice Mill. The rusty, iron bars on the windows plunge his thoughts into the memory, memories of slavery. The musty smell uncovers the essence of heavy work and sweaty toil. The feel of cold brick evokes undesirable images of cold prison walls behind which people were forced to labor. How does the visitor feel like standing inside the brick ruin? Like a slave. He proceeds after a dramatic encounter into the garden with new eyes ready to see the garden as it really is.