Heyward-Washington House

The Heyward-Washington House is a historic house museum at 87 Church Street in Charleston, South Carolina. Built in 1772, it was home to Thomas Heyward, Jr., a signer of the United States Declaration of Independence, and was where George Washington stayed during his 1791 visit to the city. It is now owned and operated by the Charleston Museum. Furnished for the late 18th century, the house includes a collection of Charleston-made furniture. Other structures include the carriage shed and 1740s kitchen building.

Heyward-Washington House
Heyward-Washington House
Location87 Church St., Charleston, South Carolina
Coordinates32°46′32.57″N 79°55′46.14″W
Built1771
Part ofCharleston Historic District (ID66000964)
NRHP reference No.70000576
Significant dates
Added to NRHPApril 15, 1970[1]
Designated NHLApril 15, 1970[2]
Designated NHLDCPOctober 9, 1960

The house was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970.[2][3]

History

Built in 1772, this Georgian-style double house was the town home of Thomas Heyward, Jr., one of four South Carolina signers of the Declaration of Independence. A patriot leader and artillery officer with the South Carolina militia during the American Revolutionary War, Heyward was captured when the British took Charleston in 1780. He was exiled to St. Augustine, Florida, but was exchanged in 1781.

The City rented this house for George Washington's use during the President's week-long Charleston stay, in May 1791, and it has traditionally been called the "Heyward-Washington House." Heyward sold the house in 1794 to John F. Grimké, also a Revolutionary War officer and father of Sarah and Angeline Grimke, the famous abolitionists and suffragettes. It was acquired by the museum in 1929, opened the following year as Charleston's first historic house museum, and was recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1978.

The museum features a collection of historic Charleston-made furniture including the priceless Holmes Bookcase, considered one of the finest examples of American-made colonial furniture. The property also features the only 1740s kitchen building open to the public in Charleston as well as formal gardens featuring plants commonly used in the South Carolina Lowcountry in the late 18th century.

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See also

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. January 23, 2007.
  2. "Heyward-Washington House". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. Archived from the original on 2011-06-06. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  3. James Dillon (1978). "National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Heyward-Washington House" (pdf). National Park Service. Cite journal requires |journal= (help) and Accompanying two photos, exterior, from 1969 (32 KB)
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