Last updated: 11/15/2012
Charleston, South Carolina
Address
3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC 29414
phone: 843-769-2600
fax: 843-766-0878
e-mail: info@draytonhall.org
web: www.draytonhall.org/

Hours

Main Gate
Monday - Saturday
9 AM - 3 PM
Sunday
11 AM - 3 PM
(Exit gate closes at 5 p.m.)
House Tours (except Sunday):
Starting on the half hour at 9:30am: Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the tour.
Monday - Saturday
9:30 AM - 4:30 PM
House Tours SUNDAY
Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the tour.
Sunday
11:30 AM - 3:30 PM
Museum Shop
Monday - Saturday
9 AM - 4:30 PM
Sunday
11 AM - 4:30 PM
Connections: From Africa to America:
10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 2:45 p.m.
Voices of Drayton Hall:
An Interactive Landscape Tour on DVD: Available for complimentary rental throughout the day; enjoy at your own pace.

Admissions

2 adults and up to 2 children under the age of 18: $39
Grounds only: $8

We also proudly offer discounts to military personnel ($2 off) and for members of AAA ($1 off).

Don't forget! Members of the Friends of Drayton Hall always receive free admission. What's more, as a member you can bring up to four guests every time you visit. Your membership will pay for itself in as few as one or two visits, and you'll save when you visit other National Trust Historic Sites across the country, too!

Adults: $18
Child (6 - 11): $6
Youth (12 - 18): $8
Children under 5: Free

Staff

George McDaniel
phone: 843-769-2600
Description

Drayton Hall is different. It's the real thing, and we are bound by our mission to preserve the property; that is, to keep it in near-original condition just as the National Trust received it from the Drayton family in 1974.

Instead of being restored to the vision of those who lived centuries after it was built, Drayton Hall is an artifact that has survived the American Revolution, the Civil War, the earthquake of 1886, hurricanes like Hugo, and maybe most surprisingly today, urban sprawl.

On top of that, it's not just that it's a survivor. The main house is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the United States. The grounds represent one of the most significant, undisturbed historic landscapes in America. And Drayton Hall?s stories?stories of race, family, culture, sacrifice, innovation, and preservation?reveal who we are and where we?ve come from.

Mission

The Mission of Drayton Hall, a Historic Site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, is to preserve and interpret Drayton Hall and its environs in order to educate the public and inspire people to embrace historic preservation.

History

Drayton Hall is the oldest surviving example of Georgian Palladian architecture in the United States and one of the only Pre-Revolutionary houses that remains in near original condition today. Seven generations of Draytons are tied to Drayton Hall- from John Drayton who began construction of Drayton Hall in 1738 to Charles and Frank Drayton who sold the property to The National Trust for Historic Preservation in 1974- and so are seven generations of African Americans, including the Bowens family who were brought as slaves to South Carolina by the Draytons.

Artifact Collections

Drayton Hall's Museum Collection focuses on fine arts, decorative arts, and historical artifacts that tell the site's story from its prehistory to the present. Some of the objects, such as a tea set and a pair of marble-topped tables, illustrate the Drayton family's status and taste through time and are representative of the belongings of other Lowcountry rice planter families of the era. Others, such as fanner baskets and slave tags, put a human face on slavery and everyday life on a Lowcountry plantation.

The Archaeological Collection includes objects and artifacts found on the site during excavation and field study.

Educational Programs

Our programs are grounded in professional research. They have been crafted in cooperation with teachers and successfully field tested and updated for over 25 years. Students learn while having fun

Governance

Drayton Hall is owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Library
Access: Students, Scholars
Appointment required: Yes
Publications

Drayton Hall publishes a quarterly magazine, "Interiors," that is circulated to all Friends of Drayton Hall.

Services

Visitors to the museum shop have an opportunity to learn firsthand about the building's history and to find out even more about the history of Drayton Hall and the Lowcountry through the excellent selection of books, period-specific toys, regional foods, Drayton Hall-inspired merchandise, handcrafted treasures, personal luxuries, and much more.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
Group Tours
ADA

Wheelchair Accessible = No

Exhibitions
Museum Events
DISCLAIMER
This information, including business hours, addresses and contact information is provided for general reference purposes only. No representation is made or warranty is given as to its content or the reliability thereof. User assumes all risk of use. Stories USA, Inc. and its content suppliers assume no responsibility for any loss or delay resulting from such use. Please call ahead to verify the dates, the location and directions.

MUSEUM CONFERENCES

Public Lands Alliance 2025 Convention and Trade Show

February 2 - 6, 2025

Las Vegas, Nevada

Georgia Association of Museums 2025 Conference

February 5 - 7, 2025

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Small Museum Association 41st Annual Conference 2025

February 17 - 19, 2025

Gaithersburg, Maryland

2025 California Association of Museums Conference

February 18 - 22, 2025

San Fransico, California

2025 Tennessee Association of Museums Conference: HOPE

March 11 - 14, 2025

Knoxville, Tennessee

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