Magnolia Plantation & Gardens: A Legacy of History, Beauty, and Resilience

In the late 17th century, Stephen Fox bought a 400-acre plantation along the Ashley River, which his son-in-law, Thomas Drayton, expanded to nearly 1,700 acres by the Civil War, forming what is now Magnolia Plantation & Gardens. The wealth was built on Carolina Gold Rice, cultivated by enslaved laborers whose contributions are honored through preserved cabins and ongoing conservation efforts.

In the 1840s, Reverend John Grimké Drayton created the Romantic gardens to help his wife, Juliana Ewing, adjust to Lowcountry life. These gardens showcased his collection of azaleas and camellias, planted outdoors for the first time in South Carolina’s climate. While Drayton had the vision, it was the enslaved individuals who carried it out and worked tirelessly to bring the Romantic garden dream to life.

After the Civil War, Drayton sold land for phosphate mining but also opened the gardens to the public in 1871, making Magnolia one of Charleston’s first tourist attractions. Visitors arrived by steamboat and were guided by formerly enslaved individuals. Today, the gardens are open year-round, and ongoing research helps preserve and share the stories of all who contributed to Magnolia’s history, ensuring their legacy endures.