Drayton Hall, SC

Drayton Hall is an 18th-century plantation on the Ashley River about 15 miles northwest of Charleston, South Carolina, and just across the Ashley River from North Charleston, in the Lowcountry west of the Ashley. It is a National Historic Landmark and a remarkable example of Palladian architecture in North America, as well as the only plantation house on the Ashley River to remain intact through both the Revolutionary and Civil Wars.

Is Magnolia Plantation home to Drayton Hall?

Perhaps it was the discovery that the two plantations belonged to the same extended family, with Magnolia built by Thomas Drayton in 1676 and Drayton Hall built by John Drayton, Thomas's youngest son, around 60 years later.

How did Drayton Hall manage to stay afloat during the Civil War?

All but four plantation homes were burnt along the river during the Federal occupation. Smallpox quarantine flags, which were likely posted as part of John's work as a surgeon, may have rescued Drayton Hall, which is now the only preserved residence existing today.

Is it worthwhile to pay a visit to Drayton Hall?

Drayton Hall, which has been reimagined, now offers a comprehensive museum experience that is worth a trip to Charleston on its own. Drayton Hall's continual research into the people, places, and events of its past means there will always be something new to discover, whether it's your first visit or one of many.