Summerville

In the 1840s, the Rev. John Grimké Drayton planted the elaborate romantic gardens for his wife. She was from Philadelphia and not entirely thrilled about moving from the city to what was then the middle of nowhere. The Rev. Drayton hoped the gardens would not only add beauty to their property but, more importantly, bring his wife joy. He directed the enslaved people at Magnolia in planting the gardens that continue to flourish almost 200 years later.

Following the Civil War, the Rev. Drayton believed the best way to preserve the gardens at Magnolia was to open the space to the public. Visitors have been admiring these gardens since the early 1870s.

In the late 19th century, Magnolia Gardens was recognized in Baedeker’s Guide to the United States as one of the top places to see in the country. Only two other places received such notoriety: Niagara Falls and the Grand Canyon.

For 100 years, the gardens were open seasonally when the camellias and azaleas were blooming in late winter and early spring. Now open year-round, Magnolia still hosts special tours and programs highlighting the extensive and historic camellia and azalea plants.

Magnolia’s story isn’t just about the gardens. It’s about the people who toiled in the rice fields – enslaved men, women and children who lived and worked on the property.

After Emancipation, roughly half of the newly freed African Americans stayed at Magnolia to work as paid gardeners, tour guides, and domestic servants. Descendants of the enslaved as well as other African American families lived on what was called the “Street” until the late 20th century.

Four former slave cabins have been preserved and restored. They now provide a focal point for education and discussion about the history of slavery and African American culture not only in South Carolina, but also the United States.

The Drayton family has owned Magnolia since the 1670s. Operations are overseen by a board of directors that includes the 10th and 11th generations of Drayton family descendants. The Magnolia Plantation Foundation, a philanthropic entity created by J. Drayton Hastie, Sr., provides charitable aid to wildlife, conservation, horticultural, and educational entities, with a special focus on local African American causes.