South Carolina Scenic Drive: Ashley River Road

Covering a distance of only 11 miles, the Ashley River Road is a journey into the history, culture, and beauty of the South Carolina low country. 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.

The grandeur of the Old South comes alive on this driving tour of old plantations and towering live oak trees.

Cultural Qualities of Ashley River Road

In addition to the grand architecture of the mansions and gardens of the area, the African-American churches that chronicle their religion from slavery to emancipation are no less remarkable. As the first non-native culture to live in the area, the early slave and subsequent emancipated African cultures contributed to the shaping of the Ashley River Road and the surrounding area.

The Springfield Baptist Church along the byway is an example of community efforts of the African-American culture of the area. Coming together in the mid 1860s, African-American individuals established the first freely organized Baptist congregation. The Ashley River Road connected these congregations with rural African-American communities such as Red Top, Marysville, Sanders, Drayton, Bullfield, and Cherokee. This connection ensured that the heritage of the people would remain intact by allowing open and free communication between people.

The plantation mansions and magnificent gardens are witnesses of the influence of English architecture for both mansion and garden. Drayton Hall is an example of the Georgian-Palladian architectural style, which meant that these homes were often rectangular in shape and that the rooms were arranged symmetrically around a spacious hall. The Middleton Place Gardens also illustrate order, geometry, and balance, with a variety of sweeping vistas and blooming flowers, shrubs, and trees.

Historical Qualities of Ashley River Road

An extraordinary blending of plantation, slave, religious, war, and mining history along the Ashley River Road secures this 11-mile stretch of road as an important snapshot of the history of South Carolina. The grand architecture of the plantation mansions, the road itself, and local historic churches speak of a time rich in tradition.

During the colonial period of U.S. history, the low country of South Carolina was ideal for rice plantations, and the nearby Ashley River was used to cultivate these rice fields. The fields were planted, flooded, and harvested at the hands of mainly African slaves.

In addition to work on the plantations, slave labor was an integral part of the construction and development of the Ashley River Road itself. Plantation owners were required to send their slaves to work on the road; consequently, while the funds generally came from the white landowners, the labor for the road is due to the work of the slave population.

The Ashley River Road saw dramatic changes when action at Fort Bull during the Civil War resulted in the abandonment of the fort to Union troops and the burning and looting of many of the great manor houses along the road. With the slave labor era waning, the search for new ways to make money resulted in the mining of nearby phosphate rock. Signs of this mining are seen today in low berms and high mounds of mining tailings from Drayton Hall to Middleton Place.

Follow this map of Charleston's Ashley River Road to see historic plantations and canopies of live oaks.

Find more useful information related to South Carolina's Ashley River Road:

Find more useful information related to South Carolina's Ashley River Road:

South Carolina Scenic Drives: Ashley River Road is just one of the scenic byways in South Carolina. Check out the others.
How to Drive Economically: Fuel economy is a major concern when you're on a driving trip. Learn how to get better gas mileage.

Highlights of the Ashley River Road

The Ashley River Road provides a classic South Carolina low-country scenic experience. The live oak allée, with its ancient trees and Spanish moss, creates a kinesthetic experience of light and shadow as travelers pass beneath the spreading arms of each tree. Glimpses of tree-lined drives beyond the road or views of the Ashley River beyond a wide marsh further enhance the scenic experience for the visitor.

The following itinerary takes you from the beginning of the Ashley River right on in to the city of Charleston.

Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site: Not officially on the byway, but a significant site in the telling of the Ashley River history, and just six miles outside of Summerville on State Road 642 south is the 325-acre Colonial Dorchester State Historic Site. This historic park is the former location of a village founded in 1697 by a group of Congregationalists from Massachusetts who abandoned the community after the American Revolution. Attractions here include the site of the tabby fort, ruins of the once thriving village, ongoing archaeological excavations, the tower of the St. George's Parish Church, and signage explaining the history of the town and the upper Ashley River area. The park is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Middleton Place: Originally constructed in the mid-1700s, this plantation survived the American Revolution, hurricanes, and an earthquake, but the manor house nearly didn't survive the Yankee troops intent on burning it to the ground in the Civil War. Today visitors can tour the surviving south wing of the manor with an elegant glimpse into the lives of the former residents, and the stableyards for demonstrations of slave life, skills, and crafts.

Magnolia Plantation and Gardens: Adjoining Drayton Hall and still in the possession of the original owners, the Drayton family, is Magnolia Plantation and Gardens. Dating back to 1676, the plantation offers tours of the manor house and the world-famous gardens, including the Barbados Tropical Garden and a horticultural maze. The entire 500 acres of Magnolia Plantation have been managed as a wildlife refuge since 1975. Nature trails offer a narrated tour of the wildlife refuge, and hiking trails and an observation tower afford other viewing opportunities. A petting zoo is available for children.

Drayton Hall: Drayton Hall, a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest preserved plantation house in America that is open to the public and has remained in nearly original condition. Jointly owned by the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the State of South Carolina, Drayton Hall is considered one of the finest examples of Georgian Palladian architecture in the nation. It was the only home along the Ashley River that was not vandalized by the invading Union troops during the Civil War.

Old Saint Andrew's Parish Church: The oldest surviving church in South Carolina, Old Saint Andrew's Parish Church still retains many of its historic features, including original flooring and the original baptismal font. Nestled close to the Ashley River and containing ten acres of land, Old Saint Andrew's property is comprised of a cemetery, an education building, and the main building dating back to 1706.

Springfield Baptist Church: Another historic church on the Ashley River Road is the Springfield Baptist Church. It was originally organized as St. Andrew's Baptist Church in 1863 on land donated by the owner of nearby Springfield plantation. Though enlarged and encased in a brick veneer in the mid-1900s, the present building actually dates back to 1865.

Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site: The Ashley River Road was developed by early settlers to travel down to Charles Towne Landing. Today travelers will find that a visit to Charles Towne Landing State Historic Site, though not officially part of the scenic byway, is an appropriate and enjoyable way to complete the Ashley River Road experience. This protected historic site includes a reproduction sailing vessel, a recreated settlement that portrays 1670s village life, Animal Forest, guided tram tours, foot and bicycle trails, and the original fortified town site from 1670 that established the first permanent English settlement in the Carolinas on these grounds.

The Ashley River Road marks some of the earliest settlement in South Carolina, and offers a unique glimpse into the communities that founded the American South.

Find more useful information related to South Carolina's Ashley River Road:

South Carolina Scenic Drives: Ashley River Road is just one of the scenic byways in South Carolina. Check out the others.
How to Drive Economically: Fuel economy is a major concern when you're on a driving trip. Learn how to get better gas mileage.