Kaminski House Museum

The Kaminski House Museum is a must-see in Georgetown, South Carolina. Built in the mid-18th century, the Kaminski House stands as one of the most well-known and representative of the Georgian-style homes of the era. It overlooks the Sampit River and still stands as one of Georgetown’s most well-known historic sites.

The house was originally built by Paul Trapier, known at the time as “The King of Georgetown.” By the 1750’s, Trapier was considered to be one of the wealthiest merchants in the colony, even supplying the military with provisions against the British during the American Revolution. With existing documentation, it is unclear when the home was built exactly, however it is assumed that the home existed by the 1760’s. He gifted the home and property to his daughter, Elizabeth, in 1769 in order to make her a more attractive marriage prospect. Luckily, that plan did work eventually as Elizabeth eventually married the then Sheriff of Georgetown.

Over the years, the home passed along to multiple members of Elizabeth’s family and many prominent Georgetown families until 1931 when Harold and Julia Kaminski purchased the property. Harold came from a wealthy merchant family and served as Mayor of Georgetown. Due to his work, the Coast Highway was developed, the Intracoastal Waterway was improved, and inexpensive electricity was brought to Georgetown residents. He also served as an officer in the United States Navy during World War I and World War II. He was on duty at Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 during the attack by the Japanese.

While the Kaminski family owned the home, a series of renovations took place, updating facilities and making it more of a comfortable family home. Today, the property hosts a series of events like fundraisers, corporate functions, anniversary celebrations, and weddings.

Admission to the Kaminski House is by tour only. Call for a reservation at (843) 546-7706. Tours cost $12 for adult tickets, $10 for seniors, $6 for children ages 6-17, and free for children age 5 and under. The Museum Gift Shop is open from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Monday through Saturday. They also offer school tours and field trips, as well as group tours, giving all visitors insights on what society and life was like in the last 200 years of Georgetown’s vibrant history.