Drayton Hall
3380 Ashley River Rd., Charleston, SC, 29414
Drayton Hall, 3380 Ashley River Rd., was founded in 1738 by John Drayton, a member of the Privy Council of the royal governor; the mansion remained in the family for seven generations. It is America's oldest unrestored plantation house open to the public and its earliest example of fully executed Palladian architecture. Never modernized with electric lighting, plumbing or central heating, the main house is unfurnished, allowing the beauty of the architectural details to become the focus for visitors. The Steven and Laura Gates exhibit gallery, the Ben and Cindy Lenhardt Courtyard Garden, as well as the interactive program “Connections: From Africa to America,” are included with a grounds and exhibits pass. Visitors can see an 18th-century African American cemetery, one of the oldest documented African American cemeteries in the nation still in use, and take a stroll along the historic grounds and nature walks at their own pace. Note: The entrance gate closes at 3:30 and the exit gate closes at 5. Guided tours are available. Picnicking is permitted.
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