City: Charleston, SC

Category: Tours & Attractions

Telephone: (843) 722-2996

Address: 87 Church St.

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Description: This handsome, early Charleston “dwelling house” is now known by two names because of two prominent Americans associated with it—one an owner, the other a distinguished guest. It was built in 1772 by Daniel Heyward, a wealthy rice planter and the father of Thomas Heyward Jr., a South Carolina signer of the Declaration of Independence. It is documented that the younger Heyward lived in the house until 1794. In 1791 President George Washington made a grand tour of the new nation and included Charleston on his itinerary. In anticipation of this distinguished visitor, the city rented Heyward’s house for Washington’s accommodations, and Heyward was thus displaced to his country house for the duration. In Washington’s diary, he recorded his visit to the property, saying, “The lodgings provided for me in this place were very good, being the furnished house of a gentleman at present residing in the country; but occupied by a person placed there on purpose to accommodate me.” Today the house is furnished with a magnificent collection of period antiques, especially some fine Charleston–made furniture of the 18th century. Look for the famous Holmes bookcase that still bears the scars of an incoming British mortar from the days of the American Revolution. This is the only 18th-century house museum in the city with original outbuildings (kitchen, carriage house, and necessary) still a part of the courtyard. You’ll also find a small formal garden, in keeping with the period of the house. Heyward-Washington House was saved from destruction in the early 1920s by the Preservation Society of Charleston. It is now a National Historic Landmark owned and operated by the Charleston Museum. It’s open daily, Mon through Sat from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sun from 1 to 5 p.m. No entry is allowed after 4:30 p.m. Note that the Charleston Museum offers discounted combination ticket prices for this house and the Joseph Manigault House.