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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Drayton Hall is owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Access: Students, Scholars
Appointment required: True
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
(Exit gate closes at 5 p.m.)
Starting on the half hour at 9:30am: Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the tour.
Please arrive at least 20 minutes before the start of the tour.
10:45 a.m., 12:45 p.m., and 2:45 p.m.
An Interactive Landscape Tour on DVD: Available for complimentary rental throughout the day; enjoy at your own pace.
Adults: $18
Child (6 - 11): $6
Youth (12 - 18): $8
Children under 5: Free