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    Drayton Hall

    4.3 (103 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 5:00 pm

    Drayton Hall Photos

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    Drayton house
    Alexandra K.

    Wow! What a wonderful experience Drayton Hall turned out to be. My childhood best friend came to visit, and we decided to check it out. I've been to other historic homes, but this tour easily took first place in my book. Autumn was a wonderful tour guide. She kept mentioning that it was only her third tour, but the amount of knowledge she had was incredible. Our tour group included a few history enthusiasts, and the questions kept coming--but Autumn knew all the answers. The language used and the overall preservation of the plantation are beautiful. The site does an excellent job of honoring the lives of the enslaved, rather than centering the enslavers. It was a truly beautiful tour.

    Oyster Roast
    Ivy V.

    Oyster roast was amazing! Fresh oysters, great event meeting new people from various places.

    A horse by the horse barn
    Nancy M.

    We had an amazing day at Dayton Hall. So much to see and do here. There were so many helpful people to explain life at Dayton hall back in the day.

    View from the front of the house.
    Janine R.

    The physical structure and Palladian architecture of the house is beautiful, but the decision to preserve and not restore requires true imagination for the guests. The kitchen area is on the tour and the first floor of living quarters, but nothing else of the house. The second floor of living quarters are no longer on the tour. No furniture inside or paintings/wall ornamentation. Artists renderings of what the house may have appeared as during different periods would be nice to show in the video at the beginning of the tour. A rendering of the rooms with the original yellow walls in some rooms and red-painted staircase would be lovely to see. LACK LUSTER tour guide. They could do so much more in the accurate telling of the history of the structure, describing Palladian architecture, where the materials were sourced, etc. The little history center built next to the parking lot is quaint and air conditioned. Extremely disappointed in the tour guide's lack of knowledge regarding most elements of the house's construction or the crops grown on the property. Although this was not the main plantation the Drayton's used for growing crops, they did have some. The tour guide said "no crops were grown here." How about the indigo and rice that are in the records of the property? The guide would have one think that they only had a vegetable garden on the side of the drive leading to the house. Read the history before touring as we did. A self-guided tour with a knowledgeable docent monitoring the structure would be more enjoyable. We silently endured our guide's rote narrative. More history and information regarding the architecture or the processes involved in creating the lovely plaster carvings for example would be fascinating or how the grounds were maintained or did they have livestock on the property, etc.

    The tree predates the plantation
    Cindy W.

    With 3 plantains in a row to visit, based on other reviews, I choose Drayton for its preserved as-found condition. It's not filled with fake history, its an empty beauty and its architecture and history are fascinating. The dual staircase is a true work of art and it not accessible currently as they work to preserve its integrity, so it was disappointment not to see the upper level, but understandable. The views from the home and the property are bucolic, as are the ancient oaks, one or two older than the plantation itself. Very nice visitor center, and clean restrooms are a bonus.

    A view of the house including the reflective pond.
    Lorren P.

    Amazing tour even with the covid restrictions. Our guide was amazing and took the time to not only answer our questions but help is to tie all of the information together. Our visit was early in the day to keep from melting (there is no air conditioning in the main house or heat so plan accordingly). The grounds are fantastic and you can take a self guided tour to learn about the different history of the property. I love learning the difference between a restored and unrestored house. 70% of the floors are original; it also the only house in the Ashley River to have survived both the revolutionary and Civil war. I appreciated the sensitivity to the fact that there is a history of enslaved people having lived and served here. It is a sensitive topic and visiting here definitely helped to learn a different perspective.

    Maggie H.

    1. Be careful about taking Lyft and Uber here, especially if you'll be leaving towards the end of the day, because drivers aren't around to pick up in the late afternoon/evening and you'll find yourself in a predicament. 2. We selected Drayton Hall over Magnolia Plantation because seeing an unrestored plantation intrigued us. We were happy with our decision. The preservation staff have done a great job of leaving it as they've found it, except for where they are working to unbury even more. 3. I learned a good deal about life for the enslaved population, including some of their names, and even more about the formerly/descendants of enslaved persons. Do not skip the caretaker's house for a good such exhibit (and that has air conditioning). 4. It's a self-guided audio tour. We didn't have headphones and some other people didn't either. It can be distracting to listen to multiple places of the same recording at the same time. Bring those headphones.

    Dratons front
    Benton A.

    This is an awesome historical place to visit. The house is preserved how it was when it was first built and it is an continuous archeological site which is very interesting. The site also has a gift shop and a museum of period furniture that would have been in the house. I would defiantly recommend taking your time and take a guided tour the tour guides are very informative and answered all the questions our group had. *Do not expect the house to be restored with modern amenities

    Christa S.

    OUTSTANDING!!!! I've been to every plantation in Louisiana, and this place is a plantation lovers DREAM! This place is TRULY mind blowing. I think our to our guides name was Hannah (11:00 tour on 1/26/20). The tour is a little over an hour long, but so informative. The house is mind blowing. The house was built in 1740, and 70% of the floors are ORIGINAL! There is SO much other stuff that's also original. This is a true gem and a must see! If you're making a day of it head over to Magnolia after! Be sure to allow for 2-3 hours at Drayton to see the grounds, house, museum, and gift shop! This in my opinion is a MUST SEE!

    This is a gorgeous property on the river. The tour guide was one of the best tour guides we've ever experienced. Great connection to Charleston history

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    I thought the grounds and house were beautiful. Everyone that works there was very nice and helpful.

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    A great place to tour when you are visiting Charleston. Our tour guide Patty was amazing! Overall, a great place to learn about history.

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    14 years ago

    If you only have time to visit one southern plantation / estate, Drayton Hall is worth picking. They provide a nice tour.

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    12 years ago

    Lovely tour. Not as touristy/kitschy as some of the other historical sites around the area. Knowledgeable guide and beautiful grounds.

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    Page 2 of 3

    Ask the Community - Drayton Hall

    Review Highlights - Drayton Hall

    I would suggest using Chicora Tours for your visit to this plantation, you will not be disappointed.

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    The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon_Yelp_Sanju-5

    The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon

    4.3(130 reviews)
    10.9 miFrench Quarter

    Visited: February 16, 2026…read more The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon was the perfect blend of history and hustle. From the moment you step onto the grounds, you feel the weight of Charleston's past. Inside, the immersion begins immediately -- postcards, patches, and meaningful souvenirs that make it easy to bring a little history home for friends and family. The highlight, though, was the tour. Our guide was a jolly local with razor-sharp, dry Southern wit -- the kind of storyteller who can pivot from Revolutionary War imprisonment to a perfectly timed sarcastic aside without missing a beat. Equal parts charm and "bless your heart," she made centuries-old history feel present and personal. Down in the Provost Dungeon, those brick walls carry gravity. British occupation. Prisoners of war. Pirates passing through. It's one of those rare spaces where you instinctively lower your voice. You don't just learn history -- you feel it. History hit different here. If you appreciate immersive storytelling, preserved architecture, and a tour that balances education with personality, this is absolutely worth your time.

    Fact: Provost Dungeon is older than our country!…read more The British originally owned it and used it as a commercial exchange and customs house. Also used as a post office, prison, and city hall, it is currently a museum. In addition, in 1788 South Carolina approved the US Constitution here. Yet another testament to the rich history of Charleston, Old Exchange, and Provost Dungeon a fascinating places to visit. Built in 1771, it has changed roles countless times: it was a British dungeon during the American Revolution, an elegant hall during George Washington's 1791 visit to Charleston, and a meeting place for the ratification of the Constitution, In 1780 the British occupied Charleston for two years and housed many prisoners in one large cell in this basement making it a provost, or dungeon. Because of the awful conditions here, disease was rampant due to crowding, and no bathroom facilities. Under these conditions, many people died while in prison here. This prison held all types of people, including American and British soldiers, private citizens, and slaves. The first and second floor of the building is home to a museum dedicated to the other uses of the Exchange Building. Fee: Admission to this historic building is only $12 for adults. For a small fee, a guided tour through the lower level and you can learn a lot from the guide.

    Photos
    The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Amazing brickwork throughout dungeon

    Amazing brickwork throughout dungeon

    The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Dungeon time

    Dungeon time

    The Old Exchange & Provost Dungeon - Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon_Yelp_Sanju-6

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    Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon_Yelp_Sanju-6

    Old Slave Mart Museum

    Old Slave Mart Museum

    3.9(155 reviews)
    10.7 miFrench Quarter

    The Old Mart Museum -- History, Not "His-Story"…read more When we toured the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, we were offered the chance to double down on history -- prepay access to the Old Slave Mart Museum just a few blocks away. We took it. But first? Food. Because nothing says "processing 18th-century imprisonment" like realizing your blood sugar is tanking. After regrouping and refueling, we made our way to the Old Mart Museum. The lesson takes place upstairs -- smaller space, more intimate setting. No theatrics. No dramatics. Just truth. Our guide -- well-groomed, composed, clear-spoken -- absolutely killed it. No sensationalism. No softening. Just facts delivered with gravity. What he described was horrific. Human beings cataloged. Sold. Families separated. Lives reduced to transactions. It was hard to hear. But it was history -- not HIS-story. There's a difference. This wasn't about personal interpretation or modern spin. It was documented record. It was accountability. It was context. Charleston is beautiful. Charming. Architectural eye candy. But layered beneath that beauty is commerce that once depended on human suffering. And standing in that upstairs room, listening quietly, you feel that weight. We walked out quieter than we walked in. Some stops on this trip were fun. Some were adventurous. This one was necessary.

    Wonderful time shopping and talking to vendors and other shoppers. We got some excellent loose-leaf…read moretea!

    Photos
    Old Slave Mart Museum - Old Slave Mart Museum_Yelp_Sanju-9

    Old Slave Mart Museum_Yelp_Sanju-9

    Old Slave Mart Museum - Old Slave Mart Museum_Yelp_Sanju-18

    Old Slave Mart Museum_Yelp_Sanju-18

    Old Slave Mart Museum

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    International African American Museum

    International African American Museum

    4.7(73 reviews)
    10.4 mi

    Wow! There's not much to say besides this experience was absolutely amazing!…read more Parking wasn't terrible, actually, and it's not too far from the aquarium. There's street parking and a few lots nearby. There's also a park across the street as well. The experience begins on the outside. From the half-statues to the imprints in the ground. Once through the security check, you go to the second floor. I learned it was elevated 13 ft off the ground to honor where grounds were like almost half of the nation's enslaved were brought to the US right in that very spot. It truly was so impactful standing in that spot reflecting on that. Once inside, the ticket counter is straight ahead, and there's a gift shop on the left and a coffee shop on the right. If you look closely or ask. They will tell you where to start. Also, they have maps as well. Every exhibit was absolutely beautiful and moving. I had chills for the majority of the experience, and to think how even though it feels like ancient history, it wasn't that long ago all of these things happened was just overwhelming. They have quiet rooms as well, which I thought was very thoughtful. On one side it's a set amount of exhibits, and on the other side it's like the American experience. It is one journey after another and truly could be broken up into a multiple-visit experience. They also have a room to explore family history and much more. The art was beautiful. I mean truly an incredible experience. My children enjoyed their time as well. They have coloring pages for the young kids, but that is all, but it's okay because I still enjoyed moving through that experience with them and introducing them to our history beyond books. I had a coffee and some chips for a snack. Everyone was so kind. The coffee was pretty good. I can't wait to go back. It is literally so much to take in, and that's in more ways than one. Some parts made me sad, but overall it made me so proud thinking and reading about the perseverance and determination, and through all the circumstances, the creativity, courage, commitment, wisdom, and culture throughout every journey. It is just so beautiful there. Connecting what they present with the stories that has been shared with me, I just cannot wait to return.

    The IAAM tells the story of African American history through the lens of the coastal south. The…read morehistory is relevant and accurate, and doesn't shy away from the atrocities Black American faced over the years. You'll find moments of wonder, joy, shock, and pain. You'll find moments can tell there was intention even in the architectural design of the building. This is a must visit when in the area.

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    International African American Museum
    International African American Museum
    International African American Museum

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    Gibbes Museum Of Art

    Gibbes Museum Of Art

    4.3(63 reviews)
    10.6 miFrench Quarter

    I visited Gibbes on a Wednesday when it is free entry to Charleston residents. Before that I hadn't…read morebeen here since I was in middle school. It was a great solo treat to see so many beautiful pieces, read, and learn. This is a two story experience with every changing exhibits. Currently you can see a few Monet pieces. I had no idea they would have Monet before visiting so this was a lovely surprise! In general the regular admission price is fair. The staff are incredibly friendly and the space is beautiful. It's also worth noting you are able to host weddings here.

    A visit to the Gibbes is a great way to get a taste of low country art!…read more They feature a mix of pieces from a variety of time periods. I especially enjoyed the exhibits focused on local artists and the fascinating historical pieces like mini portraits and slave tags. The sweetgrass basketry is a sight to behold. Love that they uplift artists/art that may have historically been overlooked by other museums. The building itself is beautiful on the inside - definitely check out the grand room with the domes! I'd say to give yourself about 3 hours to be able to enjoy the museum. This is a wonderful way to break up a day in Charleston (especially if the weather isn't ideal)! We were able to gain admission for free since we're members of the Mint Museum in Charlotte, and both museums are part of the Southeastern Reciprocal Membership Program (SERM).

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    Gibbes Museum Of Art
    Gibbes Museum Of Art
    Gibbes Museum Of Art

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    Aiken-Rhett House Museum - The music room

    Aiken-Rhett House Museum

    4.3(94 reviews)
    9.9 miMazyck-Wraggborough

    This is an amazing testament to Charleston architecture and wealth circa 1820. It includes two…read morewhole un restored slave dependency buildings. Immaculate collection of antiques and the Aiken family treasures.. It's one of our local landmarks and well worth a visit.

    We very much enjoyed our visit to the Aiken-Rhett House. The guided tour was very well done, and…read moreour tour guide was knowledgeable and informative throughout the experience. We appreciated learning not only about the home and the family who lived in the home, but also about the enslaved people connected to the property and their lives. The preserved nature of the house provides an authentic experience. There were, however, a couple of distractions that took away from the experience. Early in the presentation, the tour guide was drinking a soda and repeatedly belched while speaking to the group, which felt somewhat unprofessional and made the presentation less enjoyable. We also did not care for the indigo art installation displayed throughout parts of the home. In our opinion, the artwork distracted from the preservation-focused experience that makes the house so interesting. Having modern art pieces placed among the furnishings made it harder to fully appreciate the rooms as historical spaces and also made it difficult to take clean photographs of the home itself. Overall, though, this was still a worthwhile visit, and we are glad we included it during our time in Charleston.

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    Aiken-Rhett House Museum
    Aiken-Rhett House Museum
    Aiken-Rhett House Museum - Main living room

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    Main living room

    Drayton Hall - museums - Updated July 2026

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