Georgetown in Georgetown County, South Carolina — The American South (South Atlantic)

Joseph H. Rainey House

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

1. Joseph H. Rainey House Marker

Inscription. The Joseph H. Rainey House is a historic house at 909 Prince Street in Georgetown. Built in the 1760s, it was the home of the first elected Black representative in the United States Congress, Joseph Hayne Rainey. Rainey was born a slave in 1832 in Georgetown. His father was comparatively prosperous with a barbershop business in Charleston, which allowed Joseph to gain some private education. After he was drafted to serve the Confederacy as a laborer in 1862, he was able to escape with his wife to Bermuda, where he also worked as a barber and continued his education. In 1866, they returned to Georgetown and in 1868 he was elected to the South Carolina State Senate, In 1870, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives where he served until 1878. After a career in government service, he retired in 1886 and died the following year. The house was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1984.

Erected by Discover Georgetown South Carolina.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Civil Rights • Government & Politics • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1760.

Location. 33° 22.092′ N, 79° 17.161′ W. Marker is in Georgetown, South Carolina, in Georgetown County. It is at the intersection of Front Street and King Street, on the left when traveling west on Front Street. The marker is located at the entrance to Joseph H. Rainey Park. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 929 Front Street, Georgetown SC 29440, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South Carolina’s Pee Dee

and on Waccamaw Neck.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Joseph Hayne Rainey (a few steps from this marker); City of Georgetown (within shouting distance of this marker); Landing of Lafayette (within shouting distance of this marker); The Charters of Freedom (within shouting distance of this marker); 24 Pound Naval Gun (within shouting distance of this marker); Kaminski House (within shouting distance of this marker); 926 Front Street (within shouting distance of this marker); 923 Front Street (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Georgetown.

Also see . . .
1. Joseph H. Rainey House - National Register - South Carolina. (Submitted on April 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
2. Located at 909 Prince Street in Georgetown, the Joseph H. Rainey House was the home of ….

Photographed by Brandon D Cross

2. Joseph H. Rainey House Marker

(Submitted on April 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)
3. Joseph Rainey Park. (Submitted on April 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida.)

Joseph H. Rainey House image. Click for full size.

3. Joseph H. Rainey House

Credits. This page was last revised on July 20, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. This page has been viewed 221 times since then and 35 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 8, 2025, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.