Founded in 1738, Drayton Hall is the nation’s earliest example of fully executed Palladian architecture and the oldest preserved plantation house in America still open to the public.

Because of our preservation philosophy, all imperfections and changes over time have survived to the present.

Your visit starts with a brief orientation film, then you’ll begin an interpreter led tour of the main house at Drayton Hall. You'll be guided through the cellar, the first, and the second floors of Drayton Hall.

After the interpreter led tour, you are encouraged to explore the landscape, the Caretaker's House Exhibit in the Richard and Jill Almeida Gallery, the Stephen F. and Laura D. Gates Gallery, the Lenhardt Garden, the Stephen J. Wood Conservation Laboratory and the African American Cemetery at your own pace.

The earliest surviving record describes its use as a burying ground and dates from about 1790, indicating this sacred ground may be even older. In keeping with the wishes of Richmond Bowens, a descendant of the enslaved at Drayton Hall, the cemetery has been left natural, not manicured or planted with grass or decorative shrubs.

Take a leisurely walk around the grounds to explore the gardens and natural features of Drayton Hall.

Enjoy the self-paced Within the Garden: Exploring Outside The Main House, landscape audio tour.

See layers of history carefully preserved on the 125 acres that surround the main house: the central axis and clear view to the Ashley River, planned by John Drayton over 285 years ago; Richmond Bowens’ camellia; the Historic Lawn & Gardens; the site of the former garden house or the 18th-century live oaks which continue to provide the structure to the Drayton estate.

Take a leisurely walk around the estate’s grounds to explore the gardens and natural features of Drayton Hall.

Enjoy the self-paced Within the Garden: Exploring Outside The Main House, landscape audio tour.

See layers of history carefully preserved on the 125 acres that surround the main house: the central axis and clear view to the Ashley River, planned by John Drayton over 285 years ago; Richmond Bowens’ camellia; the Historic Lawn & Gardens; the site of the former garden house or the 18th-century live oaks which continue to provide the structure to the Drayton estate.

This tour will take approximately 45 minutes.

This state-of-the-art facility will give guests a unique hands-on experience with Drayton Hall’s archaeology and preservation teams. In this shared space, preservationists will work on the conservation of architectural materials and artifacts uncovered during current archaeological excavations which will be brought back to the laboratory for processing allowing visitors to witness the cleaning, mending and conservation in real time. Studying Drayton Hall through the archaeological record is one of the most valuable ways we can continue to preserve and advance our historical understanding of this important landmark

Anchoring the Sally Reahard Visitor Center experience, the Lenhardt Garden surrounds a 200-year-old oak tree.

The garden's plantings are historically inspired, with horticultural specimens related to John Drayton's botanical lists. The courtyard has a selection of benches to best enjoy the seasonal flora and fauna.

The exhibit in the caretaker’s house highlights the post-Civil War period and the 20th century at Drayton Hall. Learn about the African American community that formed because of the phosphate mining industry and kept the property alive for 100 years after the Civil War.

Constructed in 1870, the caretaker’s house was built for a caretaker to watch over the main house and grounds while phosphate was mined on the property. The house has been rehabilitated to serve as a conditioned exhibit space, creating opportunities to see layers of its construction and decorative materials.