When I discovered that the Historic Charleston Foundation was hosting an oyster roast and picnic at Drayton Hall—a circa 1738 plantation house on Ashley River Road—I jumped at the chance to tour the pre-Revolution structure, roam the expansive property and feast on some down home Lowcountry fare.

It was a cool, windy afternoon, actually perfect for strolling along the lovely grounds brimming with azaleas or meandering aside the Ashley River. Inside, the Georgian-Palladian Drayton Hall is quite different from what you might expect. It’s not actually a restoration, as our guide explained, it’s a preservation. That means it’s maintained as true as possible to its original condition. To put this into perspective, the last time the house was painted was not too long after the Civil War.

The staff is so mindful of preservation that our guide asked us to climb up the staircase on one side, and descend on the opposite side to minimize wear and tear.  One feature of Drayton Hall that intrigued me was still-legible inscriptions carved on a mantelpiece by three Federal soldiers after the Civil War.

A Lowcountry buffet of steamed oysters, fried chicken and pulled-pork barbecue—with all the trimmings, of course—not only satisfied my hunger after a busy day of sightseeing but provided an opportunity to chat and share local experiences with native Charlestonians and visitors alike. And as dusk fell, the backdrop of the handsome manor with its magnificent lawn stretching into the distance seemed timeless. While Drayton Hall in its current preserved condition is but a shadow of the splendor of its heyday as a bustling plantation complex, I was still awed by its presence and the centuries of history it has recorded.

Drayton Hall is at 3380 Ashely River Rd. The house and grounds can be toured daily.