Charleston, SC — In celebration of July 4th, and in recognition of and thanks for all they do to keep America safe and free, Drayton Hall is once again offering complimentary admission to American military (active duty and veterans), firefighters, police officers, and emergency medical services personnel. Admission includes extensive access to the property, a professionally guided tour of the house, an interactive program on African-American life, self-guided marsh and river walks, entrance to A Sacred Place: the African-American cemetery, and shopping at Drayton Hall’s artisan-inspired Museum Shop.
The promotion runs July 1 to September 15; participants must show their official identification cards at the front gate to receive free admission for themselves and up to four of their immediate family members.
“Drayton Hall is pleased and honored to open its doors to America’s heroes for the second year in a row,†said Director of Marketing, Vera Ford. “Last year we welcomed nearly a thousand participants during the months of July and August, and we hope that by extending this year’s promotion for an additional two weeks, even more of our military, firefighters, police, and EMS personnel from around the region and across the U.S. who visit the Charleston area will have an opportunity to come to Drayton Hall to discover and enjoy one of their country’s national treasures.â€
Circa 1738, Drayton Hall is the oldest preserved plantation house in America open to the public. In near-original condition, it has survived the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the 1886 earthquake, hurricanes like Hugo, and seven generations of family descendants, to preserve the authentic American and distinctively Southern experience as it was lived over the course of nearly three hundred years. This is living history in its purest form – one of only a handful of rare encounters still available to visitors in the country, in this century. Drayton Hall is also a National Historic Landmark, a historic site of the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and an accredited museum.
In addition to the programs and activities included with admission, guests can experience the new, self-paced “Voices of Drayton Hall†Interactive Landscape Tour on DVD. Produced by The History Channel, and available for a small additional fee that includes the rental of a user-friendly DVD player, it presents fascinating archival images, archaeological artifacts, and family memoirs, as well as stories of vanished structures and rare period features.
Drayton Hall is open daily throughout the year except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Hours through October are 8:30am – 5:00pm. House tours begin on the hour from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. with an additional tour on the half hour at 4:30 p.m. Located only nine miles NW of downtown Charleston on Highway 61. Handicapped accessible. For more information call (843) 769-2600 or visit www.draytonhall.org