Charleston, South Carolina, is an Atlantic Ocean port city with a history that dates back to its establishment in the colonial era in 1670. A focal point of the American Revolution and the Civil War, the city now displays its past proudly, and the many historic inns and hotels are a delight for visitors hungry for a peek into America's past.
A classic historic Charleston hotel, Mills House is near the Dock Street Theater and Charleston Waterfront Park. Lavishly appointed rooms and suites, a beautiful veranda and an impressive collection of antebellum antiques add to the charm of this former Southern mansion. The antique collection was put together by Anthony Hale, who was in charge of the White House restoration during the Kennedy era. The on-site Barbados Room restaurant hosts a lively Sunday brunch that draws both locals and visitors. Mills House is on the "Conde Naste Traveler Magazine" Gold List of Best Hotels.
A national historic landmark, the Governor's House Inn is the former home of Edward Rutledge, who was not only a governor of South Carolina but also the youngest person to sign the Declaration of Independence. Today, the inn's 11 rooms and suites have four-poster or canopy beds, fireplaces and period artwork, and some even have whirlpools in the marble bathroom. Included in the room rate is a gourmet breakfast, a traditional Low Country afternoon tea and evening wine and cheese. The inn also provides robes, slippers and bicycles for all guests.
Once the home of John Rutledge, one of the 55 people to sign the Constitution, the John Rutledge House Inn is a compound of three buildings constructed in 1763. Among its claims to historical significance is a documented visit from George Washington in 1791. The home's 18th-century architecture has been beautifully restored and the rooms are furnished with a combination of real period antiques and excellent reproductions. The ornate ballroom is now used to host morning breakfast, afternoon tea and evening sherry. The rooms and suites, most of which have wood-burning fireplaces, are divided among two carriage houses and the main house and all are decorated differently.
Located near the southern tip of Charleston, The Battery Carriage House Inn has been through many changes since its establishment in 1843, and the current owners tell the tale with great gusto. The hotel also enjoys a reputation as Charleston's most haunted inn; the so-called "gentleman ghost" and the headless torso are the two apparitions most frequently sighted. As with most historic hotels and inns in Charleston, breakfast and afternoon tea are included with the room rate.
