Prince George Winyah Episcopal Church is one of the oldest churches in the state. It was completed in 1755 and is home to a congregation established in 1721. The building itself, which is constructed of brick and oyster shell mortar, features Jacobean style gables on either end, doors and windows with fanlights, brick pilasters, and a tower consisting of a square section with an octagonal section and cupola on top. The interior features a vaulted ceiling and wooden box pews. The congregation is one of the oldest continuously active parishes in South Carolina.
This historic home was built in 1886 by its namesake, William Doyle Morgan, who served as mayor from 1891-1906. Morgan was responsible for the city's growth, modernization, and increasing prosperity at the turn-of-the-century. The house is a beautiful example of Georgian architecture and appears to be a private residence today.
Originally opened in 2005 in a former Masonic lodge, the Georgetown County Museum—now located in the History Center as of 2014—promotes and preserves the county's history through its collections, exhibits and event programming. It features several themed-rooms including the military, slavery, industry, plantation life, and 20th century rooms. Items displayed in these rooms include military uniforms, agricultural tools, photographs and memorabilia. The museum is also making an effort to make video recordings of oral histories and two can be seen on the website.
The Georgetown County Courthouse has served as the seat of the county government since it was built in 1824. Designed by famous architect Robert Mills, it is a fine example of Classical Revival architecture. Mills, who called the courthouse "a great ornament to the town," designed many well-known buildings and structures around the country including the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C. The courthouse is a contributing property of the Georgetown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Rice cultivation in Georgetown County began in 1750 and for over a century rice proved to be a lucrative crop. The Rice Museum preserves and promotes this history through its exhibits and educational programs. It is located in the historic Old Market Building, which was built in 1848 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum also explores African American history. There is an exhibit exploring the remarkable story of teach Miss Ruby Forsythe (1905-1992), who, for decades, taught children in a one-room school on Pawley Island. Another exhibit is dedicated to Joseph Hayne Rainey, the first African American elected to the House of Representatives. The museum also explores maritime history. The remains of the oldest American-made boat, the Brown's Ferry Vessel, which is believed to have sunk between 1730-1740, is on display (it is also listed on the National Register). Right next to the museum is the Kaminski Hardware Building (1840s) which houses the vessel and contains an art gallery. Guided tours take visitors through both buildings.
The South Carolina Maritime Museum opened in 2011 and its inception resulted from the success of the Georgetown Wooden Boat Show, which began in the early 1990s and run by the Harbor Historical Association. The association wanted to a museum to preserve the state's long maritime history and started efforts to establish the museum in 1996. The museum features numerous photographs, artifacts, documents and interactive exhibits. Highlights include the Fresnel lens light that was once housed in the old North Island Lighthouse. Another is the 1:10 scale model of the Brown's Ferry boat, which is considered the oldest American made boat ever recovered and believed to have been sunk in 1730-1740. In addition to its exhibits and collections, the museum offers various educational programming such as youth sailing classes and a history lunch series.
The Kaminski House Museum is an excellent example of 18th century antebellum homes representing the Lowcountry "single style" architecture. One of 60 such homes in the Georgetown, it was built in 1770 by wealthy French merchant Paul Trapier. The well-maintained house features period furnishing and allows visitors an to see what life was like for wealthy South Carolinians from the 18th century through WWII. The home is one of the structures that comprise the Georgetown Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum also maintains the adjacent Parker House, which was built around 1740 and is used for offices and is available to rent for wedding, meetings, etc.
Located in downtown Georgetown, the Gullah Museum celebrates the culture of the Gullah people, the descendants of slaves brought here from West Africa and who have lived mostly in the Lowcountry region (South Carolina and Georgia). The museum promotes this history through arts, crafts, artifacts as well as tours and presentations. It was founded by husband and wife, Vermelle "Bunny" and Andrew Rodrigues.
Joseph Rainey was born into slavery in 1832 in Georgetown, South Carolina, and later became the first African American Congressman in the United States. This historic home was built in the 1760s and was Rainey's birthplace and he was enslaved here until his family was able to purchase their freedom and moved to Charleston in 1846. The family maintained a barbershop and Rainey was able to attend school in the latter years of his youth. After working aboard ships in the Civil War, Rainey returned to South Carolina and was elected to the state legislature in 1868 and served in Congress two years later. The home was listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was later declared a National Historic Landmark in 1984.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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Starting at the Joseph Rainey House, Gullah Museum, and Kaminski House Museum, this short walk includes a variety of landmarks that show the diverse history of Georgetown. The tour includes the Rice Museum and South Carolina Maritime Museum along with historic homes, churches, and civic buildings.
