Press Gallery
Main House
Second-floor Ionic loggia column, 1740s. The classical orders were important to maintaining symmetry and purity of architectural form.
Drayton Hall's great hall features intricate carvings in yellow poplar and a 19th-century cast plaster ceiling.
Drayton Hall across the pond. 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.
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.
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.
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.
The cast plaster ceiling in Drayton Hall’s great hall dates back to the mid-19th century.
The withdrawing room features one of the only original hand-carved plaster ceilings that remain in the United States.
Mahogany wainscot, balusters, handrails, and brackets featuring lotus and squash blossoms adorn Drayton Hall's stair hall.
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.
Weddings
A private evening reception at Drayton Hall.
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.
Richmond Bowens with his mother Anna and aunt Harriet May. Image courtesy of the South Caroliniana Library, University of South Carolina
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.
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.
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.
Students learn how to conduct archaeological excavations during Archaeologist for a Day. Photo courtesy of Drayton Hall.
Holiday Celebrations
For the past two years, Old St. Andrew's Parish has celebrated Easter Sunrise Service at Drayton Hall on the banks of the Ashley River. Photo courtesy of Brad Nettles.
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.
Special Events
A special evening reception.
A torch-lit path from the Ashley River during the annual Candlelight Concerts.
Historical Photos
C. 1880, this photograph shows Drayton Hall's main house along with its two flanker buildings.
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.)
Post-Civil War riverfront view of Drayton Hall. After sitting vacant during the war, ivy and brush covered the house. (Unidentified man.)
A view to the Ashley River, c. 1891.
Around 1900, the Draytons created a reflecting pond by excavating a former irrigation ditch on the land-front lawn.
