Adult Group Tours
African-American History
During
Connections: From Africa to America, you'll start at the beginning, in Africa, and you'll continue well past Emancipation into the 20th century. In an
unscripted program, researched and designed by specially trained interpreters, you'll have access to historical photographs, slave lists, artifacts
unearthed during archeological digs, and oral histories. In the end, you'll walk away with a comprehensive understanding of African-American history at Drayton Hall. Connections is a perfect complement to the house tour and allows for a deeper appreciation of the rich and complex history of the site.
"I am an historian of Africa based in Knoxville (Univ. of Tennessee). I was initially hesitant, but came away thoroughly impressed, especially by your treatment of
the African heritage of Drayton Hall. Well done."
-- Catherine Higgs, Ph. D., Knoxville, TN
Carolina Gold Rice Connoisseur House Tour
Lasting up to two hours and led by senior interpreters, the Carolina Gold / Rice Connoisseur Tour will introduce visitors to rice cultivation and its importance to South
Carolina, particularly in the 18th century. Drayton Hall was the “headquarters” of a vast network of as many as fifty other Drayton-owned plantations where rice was grown in
inland water swamps that were drained into the Ashley River – but it was the labor, knowledge, and skills of its enslaved Africans that made production viable and the
plantations prosper. Information from the diary of Charles Drayton, who owned Drayton Hall from 1784 - 1820, will describe the growing and processing of rice and will include
information about the economies of scale and the task system that assigned daily jobs to the enslaved workers. With a leisurely pace, the Carolina Gold / Rice Connoisseur Tour
provides visitors with the time and flexibility to freely ask questions, photograph, videotape, and immerse themselves in that period of plantation life at Drayton Hall. 1½ - 2
hours. By reservation only. Please contact Debbi Zimmerman, Group Tour Coordinator, at 888-349-0588 ext 2630 for reservations or by email debbi_zimmerman@draytonhall.org
A Day in the Life of a Plantation
This program focuses on daily life and the workings of a Lowcountry plantation during the colonial period. Hands-on activities are based on field work (including rice
cultivation and processing), cooking, the work of the cooper and blacksmith, and life in the enslaved quarters beyond daily tasks. Visitors will learn about geography,
identify the influence of European and African traditions, describe the interactions between European and African Americans, and compare and contrast the slaves' lives and
routines with those of the plantation owners. 1 - 1 ½ hours. Please contact Debbi Zimmerman, Group Tour Coordinator, at 888-349-0588 ext 2630 for pricing and reservations.
Artisans and Apprentices
This program introduces visitors to the crafts utilized in the building of Drayton Hall and teaches how early Americans lived and worked in South Carolina. A house tour
ocusing on colonial era building techniques and materials such as plastering, woodworking, brick making, and bricklaying is followed by hands-on activities including design
tool sage, and masonry skills. Emphasis will be given to the skilled craftsmanship of the enslaved Africans whose work is reflected throughout Drayton Hall. 1 ½ - 2 hours.
Please contact Debbi Zimmerman, Group Tour Coordinator, at 888-349-0588 ext 2630 for pricing and reservations.
Voices of Drayton Hall Interactive Landscape Tour on DVD
Produced by The History Channel, this multimedia presentation uses new technologies to reveal over 300 years of history embedded within Drayton Hall's landscape. The perfect
companion piece to any of Drayton Hall's house tours and hands-on programs, the DVD allows the larger story to unfold through the voices of Drayton Hall's people, both black
and white, and through hundreds of stunning and rare archival images. Visitors especially appreciate the fact that this self-directed DVD gives them complete control: they can
pace themselves and take as much or as little time as they prefer; they can visit stations in sequence or at random; they can dig deeper on a favorite topic or skip ahead at
any point during the tour – plus their rental fee provides all-day access! One user-friendly DVD player easily accommodates two adults or a family of four. For more information
and the special group rate, please contact Debbi Zimmerman, Group Tour Coordinator, at 888-349-0588 ext 2630.
African-American History Walking Tour
This tour enables participants to interpret the important roles of African-Americans, enslaved and free, in the history of Charleston. The tour – spanning the African slave
rade, life in the American colonies, the American Revolution and the Civil War, emancipation, and the Civil Rights movement – will present the places, people, and events that
are key to African-American history. Also, by observing Charleston's architecture and landscapes, participants will come away with a new appreciation of the importance of
African-Americans to the building of the city as seen in decorative architectural details wrought by their skilled craftsmanship. 1-1½ hours. Please contact Debbi Zimmerman,
roup Tour Coordinator, at 888-349-0588 ext 2630 for pricing and reservations.
