Edward Rutledge House

Did Edward Rutledge ever imagine, as he penned his name on the Declaration of Independence, that his Charleston home would one day become a place where travelers could rest their heads? Here we stand before the Edward Rutledge House at 117 Broad Street. This grand Charleston double house, with its hip roof and clapboard siding, has witnessed centuries of history unfold. The Edward Rutledge House, built around 1760, isn’t just a beautiful building. It’s a tangible link to one of America’s founding fathers. Edward Rutledge, a South Carolina native trained in law in England, made this house his home. He practiced law here in Charleston, before serving in both the First and Second Continental Congresses. He was even captured during the Siege of Charleston in 1780 and held as a prisoner of war. Rutledge’s story is woven into the very fabric of this house. He served as Governor of South Carolina from 1798 until his death in 1800. Imagine him walking these very halls, contemplating the future of a fledgling nation. Though the house has seen many renovations over the years, serving as everything from a private residence to a convent, its 18th-century core remains. You can still see glimpses of the past in its architecture and design. The central gable, the modillioned pediment, and the entrance topped by a transom window all whisper tales of a bygone era. Today, the Edward Rutledge House offers a unique experience. It operates as a bed and breakfast, The Governor’s House Inn, inviting guests to step back in time. They can sleep in rooms that may have once echoed with Rutledge’s footsteps. They can enjoy the charm of Charleston from a building that witnessed its pivotal role in the birth of the United States. The Edward Rutledge House stands not just as a testament to one man’s life, but as a symbol of a nation’s beginnings.