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Drayton Hall

TripAdvisor Traveler Rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
TripAdvisor Popularity Index: #4 of 103 attractions in Charleston
Traveler Description: This Georgian-Palladian gem, built in 1738, is America's oldest plantation house open to the public.
Familiar with Drayton Hall? Write your own description and share what you know with other travelers.
Attraction type: Historic home, Garden, Other
Activities: Group tours/walking tour
Address: 3380 Ashley River Rd Charleston, SC 29414
Tel: 843-769-2600
Fax: 843-766-0878

TripAdvisor Traveler Reviews

Reviews of Drayton Hall

( 1-10 of 23 )
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5 of 5 stars
Toronto, Ontario
Mar 10, 2008
1/1 found this review helpful

Drayton Hall is absolutely beautiful! It feels like we were being transported back in time. Just a warning, there is no furniture in the house but that doesn't matter because the house is in it's original state and is spectaular. The grounds are beautiful and it's better to go in the Spring or Summer months. The tour guides are very... more

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5 of 5 stars
South Carolina
Dec 23, 2007
6/6 found this review helpful

Drayton Hall is the oldest preserved plantation house open to the public in America. Please note that it is preserved, not restored. Most of the paint in the house dates to the mid 1800s, some places even have paint that is original to the construction of the house. It always drove me crazy to go to historic house museums and... more

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2 of 5 stars
Michigan
Oct 25, 2007
8/9 found this review helpful

We were disappointed with the Drayton Hall experience. Yes, the house itself is interesting in its unrestored state. However, beyond the Hall, there is little to see and do especially compared to the other plantations. There are no large gardens to wander in or ponds to enjoy. No out-buildings of interest and no need to wander through the swamp area... more

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5 of 5 stars
Lake Wales, Fl
Oct 22, 2007
2/2 found this review helpful

The tour of the facility is both informational and fun. This is a real gem in that it is preserved rather than a facsimile of the original. I encourage everone going to Charleston to enjoy this piece of history dating to prior to the American Revolution. more

Oct 18, 2007
2/3 found this review helpful

Drayton Hall was lovely and educational. It's preserved which I found out is a big difference from the restored home was saw in the city. They both have their advantages/disadvantages. Don't go if you want to see period furnishings and such since the house is empty. But it's still cool. The grounds are great for a stroll too. Our tour... more

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5 of 5 stars
Greenville, South Carolina
Sep 3, 2007
4/4 found this review helpful

My family of four (kids age 6 and 9) all really enjoyed Drayton Hall. As other reviewers mentioned, there is no furniture. The tour guide told us it was so not to focus on a certain time period of its 300 yr history but rather the house itself. Believe me when I say the house doesn't need furniture to be... more

Jun 25, 2007
1/1 found this review helpful

My husband and I toured Drayton Hall about 2 years ago. It was lovely and very interesting. Our tour guide was just great, the history we learned and took away was fantastic! I joined the Preservation Society and got a "Rice Spoon". It was a wonderful experience and I hope Drayton Hall endures for generations.... We enjoyed it so much... more

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3 of 5 stars
Indianapolis
Apr 29, 2007
1/2 found this review helpful

We were glad we went and I know the money goes to help with upkeep and restoration, so that helped - but the admission seemed a bit steep. Our guide was really friendly, but we ended up learning a lot more about the mansion on a completely different tour downtown! It is a beautiful atmosphere and it's nice to see... more

Apr 15, 2007
1/1 found this review helpful

I found Drayton Hall very interesting. The house is definitely "preserved" and not "restored." But you could imagine in your mind how grand it must have been. The tour guide was very good. Walking around the grounds was peaceful and relaxing. However, their are not clear markers to follow, even though they give you a map for the self-guided walking... more

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5 of 5 stars
North Carolina
Mar 28, 2007
2/2 found this review helpful

If you are looking for a look back into real history then this is the place. We've done both the restored and preserved houses on this visit to Charleston and both are so unique that you can't really compare them. Both offer a lot. Drayton Hall is a glimpse into the way things were back before the Civil War. The... more

Reviews of Drayton Hall

( 1-10 of 23 )
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Drayton Hall Address

3380 Ashley River Rd, Charleston, SC 29414
Tel: 843-769-2600 Fax: 843-766-0878