Ashley River Road Overview

Published on Sep 17, 2003

Covering a distance of only eleven miles, the Ashley River Road is a journey into the history, culture, and beauty of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Ancient live oaks, Spanish moss stirring in a warm summer breeze, and elegant brick gates hinting at the architecture within hearken back to days gone by. The Ashley River Road itself reflects the history and culture that has been at home along this great river.

As you drive through the brick gates of Drayton Hall and pass under live oaks dripping with Spanish moss, you may feel as though you are heading back in time. Indeed, this preserved estate will show you the ins and outs of plantation life through a forty-five-minute interpretive tour given by professionally trained tour guides. The architecture-lover in you will be inspired by the original mantelpieces, pilasters, and wood floors. Self-guided tours lead you along the banks of the Ashley River, a State Scenic River, as it flows under the overhanging trees. Drayton Hall, with programs like "Connections: From Africa to America," brings to life the landscape and culture of this area. However, it is only the beginning. Its two-story portico is one of the first of its kind in the nation and the main house itself is the oldest unrestored plantation house that is open to the public in America. The museum shop offers distinctive Lowcountry crafts, food products, and other unique items.

Continuing north on the Ashley River Road, you will come across Magnolia Plantation and Gardens and Middleton Place. These two estates with expansive gardens and stables provide an escape from the doldrums of normal life. Meandering among the camellias and azaleas, the saucer magnolias and drooping trees, you will feel a resurgence of life. Let your inner child come out to play in the horticulture maze or through exploring the Audubon Swamp Garden at Magnolia Plantation. Enjoy the activities, the crafts and farm animals, such as lambs, turkeys and guinea fowl, and take a tour of the main house with its spectacular collections of Middleton family antiques. You may also take a carriage ride through the plantation grounds for a more leisurely pace of exploration. Middleton also features the oldest landscapes gardens in the nation, dating to 1742.

Aficionados of history will bask in the opportunities to experience old churches, such as St. Andrew's Parish and Springfield Baptist Church. Enslaved laborers and artisans worked and developed many aspects of Ashley River Road, and churches along the byway are important landmarks in African-American history. Lining the Ashley River Road, these churches unite the past with the present by gathering those whose plantation roots run deep with newcomers and visitors.

Photo Credits

^ Back to top