Press Gallery
Main House
Second-floor Ionic loggia column, 1740s. The classical orders were important to maintaining symmetry and purity of architectural form.
Second-floor great hall pilaster, 1740s. Representing the Corinthian order, the pilaster capital is formed with acanthus leaves and scrolls. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
First-floor withdrawing room swag, 1740s. Carved from mahagony and originally set on a cream-colored wall, these details show the status of the Drayton family. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
A focal point of the great hall fireplace mantel, this architectural element has perplexed generations of visitors: is it a fox or a boar? Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
Drayton Hall across the pond. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
Drayton Hall's great hall features intricate carvings in yellow poplar and a 19th-century cast plaster ceiling.
The cast plaster ceiling in Drayton Hall’s great hall dates back to the mid-19th century.
Drayton Hall, c.1738, is one of the finest examples of Georgian-Palladian architecture in the country.
A view of Drayton Hall, c. 1738, through the branches of an ancient live oak tree.
Mahogany wainscot, balusters, handrails, and brackets featuring lotus and squash blossoms adorn Drayton Hall's stair hall.
The withdrawing room features one of the only original hand-carved plaster ceilings that remain in the United States.
The Grounds
A view of the Ashley River, a state scenic river.
Early morning at Drayton Hall. Photo credit: John Kidder
Drayton Hall's gardens in bloom as a sea of azaleas frame its crown jewel. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
The reflecting pond is home to a congregation of egrets. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
Several large alligators and their offspring have made a permanent home at Drayton Hall. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
Drayton Hall offers two self-guided nature walks along the Ashley River and salt marshes.
The Ashley River, a state scenic river, at sunset.
A view across the grounds from the land-front portico.
African-American History
Richmond Bowens (1908-1998) - the National Trust's greatest resource on Drayton Hall's African-American history. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
A sketch of the house Richmond Bowens (1908-1998) lived in as a child. Mr. Bowens was the descendant of enslaved Africans who lived and worked at Drayton Hall.
Richmond Bowens with his mother Anna and aunt Harriet May. Image courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina
School Programs
Students examine the uniforms of soldiers who fought on both sides during the American Revolution. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
A fourth grader practices using a fanner basket after learning about rice cultivation during A Day in the Life of a Plantation. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
Students learn how to conduct archaeological excavations during Archaeologist for a Day. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
During A Day in the Life of a Plantation, students learn about the range of work completed by enslaved people, including blacksmithing and coopering. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
Holiday Celebrations
Ann Caldwell and the Magnolia Singers perform a capella during the annual Spirituals Concerts in December.
Traditional greenery decorates the portico during the holiday season. Photo Courtesy of Drayton Hall.
2011 marks the fourth annual Easter Sunrise Service celebrated by Old St. Andrew's Parish on the banks of the Ashley River at Drayton Hall. Photo courtesy of Brad Nettles.
Special Events
A special evening reception.
Historical Photos
Post-Civil War riverfront view of Drayton Hall. After sitting vacant during the war, ivy and brush covered the house. (Unidentified man.)
C. 1880, this photograph shows Drayton Hall's main house along with its two flanker buildings.
Around 1900, the Draytons created a reflecting pond by excavating a former irrigation ditch on the land-front lawn.
Post-Civil War landfront view of Drayton Hall. Years of neglect are apparent in the missing pediment, broken windows, and corn growing up to the portico. (Unidentified people.)
A view to the Ashley River, c. 1891.
