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See the oldest American plantation house still open to public--Drayton Hall--a typical Palladian style edifice, inspired by ancient Greek and Roman temples. It has remained in close-to-original condition, since the mid-18th century when it was built. Hear about seven generations of Draytons who lived on the property, about their servants, and about slavery. The teapots they used and the marble-topped tables are still there. So are the copper slave tags. Walk through the Victorian gardens and see the reflection pond. Take a guided tour, and have a camera ready. Use our Charleston online road trip planner to arrange your visit to Drayton Hall and other attractions in Charleston.
Drayton Hall reviews
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We made the 2.5 hour drive from North Myrtle Beach to Drayton Hall last Thursday. (We visited the plantation prior to our walking tour of Charleston the same day). The young lady at the admission...
We made the 2.5 hour drive from North Myrtle Beach to Drayton Hall last Thursday. (We visited the plantation prior to our walking tour of Charleston the same day). The young lady at the admission... more »
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We enjoyed the self guided tour of the house. Learning the history of the plantation was great. Beautiful grounds! Plan to spend 1.5 hours to do the house tour and walk the grounds. Don’t forget the..... more
We enjoyed the self guided tour of the house. Learning the history of the plantation was great. Beautiful grounds! Plan to spend 1.5 hours to do the house tour and walk the grounds. Don’t forget the..... more »
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One of very few surviving plantation homes in the area post civil war period. Took the audio tour rather than a guided one which was great as you can wander at your own pace and listen to the guide, pausing her when you want to stay in one area a little longer. Having some info is a must though, to understand what went on in and around the estate and the architecture of the building. Staff were very friendly and informative too.
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Exceptionally interesting and well-preserved area offering fascinating insights into the world of a southern plantation. Unlike similar sites, the focus here is on preservation rather than restoration, meaning the old buildings, including the main house, have had minimal work done on them since the 1800s. The guided audio tours were informative and well-paced, guiding you both through the main house and the grounds. The only downside to an audio tour vs a guided tour would be the inability to visit the top floor of the house, although I don't think one is missing too much there. On the Sunday I went in September, there were hardly any other people on the grounds, so crowds weren't an issue. There were two historians on site in the main house available to answer additional questions, which was a great feature. Moreover, despite much of what we know about the location coming from the former owner's diaries, I appreciated how the audio tour did what it could to speak from the perspective of the enslaved peoples forced to work the plantation, as well. For $26 per person, I thought this was a very worthwhile place to visit.
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