Drayton Hall

Drayton Hall America's oldest preserved plantation home open to the public. Circa 1738.
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This week, we honor Toby Carpenter, Venus, and Azakias, an enslaved family living at Drayton Hall and/or nearby Savannah...
08/30/2026

This week, we honor Toby Carpenter, Venus, and Azakias, an enslaved family living at Drayton Hall and/or nearby Savannah plantation.

In 1785, Toby was the first carpenter mentioned by name in Charles Drayton’s writings. He sought freedom on more than one occasion, being absent from the plantation for as long as two months. In 1804, he was seriously injured after falling a great distance while constructing a barn at Drayton Hall. Less than two weeks later, he was made to work again.

Less is known about Venus. Several women with her name are referenced in the records, which do not include surnames. One woman named Venus was purchased by Charles from Rebecca Perry Drayton when he bought Drayton Hall. Venus had four children at that time, but the surviving records alone are not enough to identify her as the woman married to Toby.

In November 1807, Toby and his wife Venus both died, only a few days apart. Later this week, we’ll explain what happened to Azakias.

08/29/2026

Welcome artist/researcher Dominique Greene to Drayton Hall! Dominique is an MFA student studying printmaking at Rhode Island School of Design. She’ll be conducting research on the plantation’s enslaved community here for two weeks, then create art based on what she’s learned. We’re thrilled to have Dominique onsite and look forward to seeing what she creates to honor the people of Drayton Hall.

This brightly-colored Eastern Box Turtle took a stroll through the Lenhardt Garden at Drayton Hall today.Eastern box tur...
08/29/2026

This brightly-colored Eastern Box Turtle took a stroll through the Lenhardt Garden at Drayton Hall today.

Eastern box turtles (Terrapene carolina carolina) are native to the region and are identifiable by their bright patterns and high-domed shell, or carapace. They are called box turtles because they have a hinged plastron (bottom shell) that allows them to close up their shell and seal it tight to protect themselves from predators.

Eastern box turtles can live for more than 50 years, but they do not reach maturity until they are 10 years old. Once mature, females can produce a clutch of eggs each year. They often live within a small range, sometimes of just a few acres, for their entire lives.

In some parts of the Carolinas, these turtles’ natural habitats are at risk from development and roads, making population decline a concern. It’s a pleasure to see one of these beauties at Drayton Hall!

08/28/2026

Drayton Hall’s Curator of Archaeology, Nicole Houck, was recently onsite at the Four Seasons Hotel project in downtown Charleston. Our archaeology team is always pleased to provide advice and support as this important investigation helps uncover and document Charleston’s layered history.

The project provides a compelling example of why a citywide archaeological ordinance could be a positive step for Charleston. While the Four Seasons project chose to undertake an archaeological investigation, projects of this nature are not universally required to do so. Establishing a thoughtful archaeological ordinance could help ensure that significant archaeological resources are identified and documented consistently before they are lost to development.

08/25/2026

This Spring, our archaeologists recovered a large copper kettle within the 17th-century well at Drayton Hall. It is now at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center where it will undergo treatment. Follow along for updates of the conservation process!

August 23 is International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.Today, we honor those enslaved p...
08/23/2026

August 23 is International Day for the Remembrance of the Slave Trade and its Abolition.

Today, we honor those enslaved people at Drayton Hall whose names were not recorded in surviving historic documents but who made immeasurable impacts within their communities and upon the Lowcountry landscape.

Many records kept at Drayton Hall reference enslaved individuals or groups who were not recorded by name. They were referred to by generalized titles, including laborers, attendants, hands, crews, gangs, and taskables, a word that described people literally by their work rather than their humanity.

Some terms were used interchangeably, but taskables designated people in a labor system, unique to the Lowcountry, in which they were required to complete a task within a certain amount of time. Once the task was completed, the remaining time in the day was the only time they could claim for themselves. That was when people tended their own gardens, prepared their own food, and kept their own traditions alive.

Though enslaved people’s names were not always recorded, their humanity is not defined by words on a page but rather by the lives they lived, the trials they endured, and the culture they carried forward.

IMAGE TEXT: “Sent from Sava[nnah plantation] 8 taskables to assist the harvest at Jehosse.” Charles Drayton, September 10, 1797.

08/18/2026

Meet Cody!

You may recognize Cody if you’ve been on a tour at Drayton Hall! He first joined our team as a Historical Interpreter in August 2024, sharing Drayton Hall’s history and stories with visitors. We’re excited to announce that Cody is our new Events & Strategic Partnerships Manager, where he’ll bring that same passion and knowledge to creating memorable events and building meaningful partnerships in our community.

Please join us in congratulating Cody and we hope to see you at our Sip & Stroll on August 29!

08/14/2026

Our ceiling team is still hard at work, and over the past couple of weeks, their focus has been on carefully repairing the tongue-and-groove heart pine flooring that will eventually be reinstalled in the Upper Great Hall.

Each board is being meticulously prepared, with previous nail holes filled using epoxy and hand-widdled wooden pegs made from salvaged heart pine. It’s a tedious process, one that honors the craftsmanship and history held within every board.

Board by board, they’re helping preserve this historic floor so it can return to the Upper Great Hall and be enjoyed for generations to come.

Address

3380 Ashley River Road
Charleston, SC
29414

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 3:30pm
Friday 9am - 3:30pm
Saturday 9am - 3:30pm
Sunday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(843)7692600

Website

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