South Carolina’s third oldest city, Georgetown offers visitors a glimpse into 300 years of history, from colonial times to the present. Initially laid out in 1729, Georgetown became a thriving port of entry and home to a number of the area’s planters and wealthy merchants. With more than 60 structures on the National Register of Historic Places, many of which were built more than two centuries ago, Georgetown gracefully wears her colonial character along the live oak-lined streets, the historic homes and attractions, grand old churches and five museums.
In 2018, USA Today named Georgetown as “America’s Best Coastal Small Town,” saying it offers “200-year-old homes (more than Charleston, in fact), scenic plantations (and) lots of Southern charm.”
Georgetown is, in fact, home to more than dozens of historic properties in and around its downtown district, more than 60 on the National Register of Historic Places. All are within an easy stroll of the Harborwalk, where visitors discover delightful shops and award-winning restaurants. You can tour the Kaminski House Museum and step back in time. Other museums in the city are the Rice Museum, the South Carolina Maritime Museum, the Georgetown County Museum and the Gullah Museum.
Picturesque views and Southern charm at its finest await visitors to Georgetown, where history and hospitality are found in abundance. Visitors can soak it all up under oak-lined streets while visiting five museums in the downtown, or “Front Street,” area.
The town is located about an hour’s drive from Charleston to the south and about 45 minutes north to Myrtle Beach, but as the county seat of Georgetown County, it’s the very heart of South Carolina’s Hammock Coast. In fact, the Hammock Coast’s unspoiled beaches — Litchfield, Pawleys Island, Murrells Inlet and south Garden City – are only short drives from downtown Georgetown. For those looking for a taste of authentic coastal life, be it for a vacation or for a future home, Georgetown, South Carolina, is one of the key places to be on South Carolina’s Hammock Coast®.
The history of the area is tied to its rivers, bays and oceans and its heritage has been enriched by Native American, European and African influences. Other than its rich history, Georgetown is known for award-winning restaurants, unique shops, antique stores, grassy waterfront parks and the scenic Harborwalk.
