Drayton Hall

Drayton Hall is the only surviving plantation along the Ashley River. The main house was built in the Georgian-Palladian style of architecture in 1738, and today is considered a National Historic Landmark. Visit the house and surrounding plantation to learn about daily life in the 18th century and the generations of families that have lived there.

The plantation lies nine miles (14.5 kilometers) northwest of Charleston. The land was bought by the son of a wealthy cattle farmer in the 18th century and the house took four years to complete. Conservation projects have preserved original details, such as the hard-carved moldings, mahogany wood panelling, and elaborate handrails and balustrades.

Use the Voices of Drayton Hall DVD to take a self-guided tour of the house and grounds. Rental of the DVD and portable player is included in the admission price. You are free to use them all day, as well as stopping to join the guided tours whenever you like.

Guided house tours last between 30 and 60 minutes and are included in the price of entry. Learn about the Drayton family and the domestic staff that worked at the property. During the American Revolution, the British army used the mansion as a military base.

Join the talk called Connections: From Africa to America, which explains how diaries, documents, maps and artifacts are used to tell the story of slavery in the U.S. Volunteers run the 45-minute talk held several times a day.

Stroll through the grounds using one of the self-guided nature tours and look for wildlife in the trees, marsh and river. Layers of history are preserved in the garden house, privy and rice fields.

Drayton Hall is about 30-minutes’ drive from downtown Charleston and parking is available on-site. The plantation is open daily, except for major national holidays, and the entry fee includes activities and access to the grounds.