Fodor's Expert Review Heyward-Washington House

This Georgian-style double house was the townhome of Thomas Heyward Jr., patriot leader, signer of the Declaration of Independence, and slaveholder. The city rented the residence for George Washington's use during the president's weeklong stay in Charleston in 1791. Inside, visitors find historic Charleston-made furniture, notably the withdrawing room's Holmes Bookcase, considered to be one of the most exceptional examples of American colonial furniture. Also significant is the 1740s kitchen building, as it's the only one of its kind open to the public in Charleston. Don't miss the formal gardens, which contain plants commonly used in the area in the late 18th century. While enslaved people lived and worked on this property, both before and after the Heyward family, there's little reflection of their lives or experiences; artifacts they used are only featured in some exhibits.