Savannah’s Historic Houses

A Guide to Touring the Historic Houses in Savannah, Georgia

If you happen to have a penchant for historic homes, storied pasts, and southern charms, then visiting the houses of Savannah’s historic district are the perfect travel destination for you. Drawing rooms, art galleries, gorgeous details, and mysterious passageways will have you smitten and ever-the-more curious about Savannah’s past elite residents.

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Savannah’s historic houses have a number of things going for them. First, they are lovingly looked after by various historical and preservation societies who have spent years re-acquiring original furnishings and artifacts. The history of the architecture, contents, and former owners have been woven together to be re-told and bring these spaces back to life. I was well and truly hooked as I went house-to-house hanging on every word and furiously taking photos.

Second, most of Savannah’s historic houses are located in the downtown historic district within walking distance of each other. So, it is convenient to plan out a walking itinerary without the transportation logistics. Plus, there are numerous parks, historic squares, antique shops, and cafes en route just in case you want to mix things up a bit!

Also worth mentioning are the general operations of most of these homes. Tour groups are kept small to avoid crowded, impersonal experiences. I was even on one tour where it was just myself and my tour guide! This environment is so pleasant and conducive to dialogue. I learned so much at each location and left feeling completely inspired.

Convinced you need to go? This post will provide an overview of the best historic houses and tips on how to make the most of your time. As always, it is recommended to also peruse the official website of each property for the most up-to-date information, opening times, and admission fees.

To read my complete post on everything we did in and around Savannah, click here.

Top Ten Historical Houses to Visit in Savannah:

• The Girl Scout First Headquarters, 330 Drayton Street, Savannah, Georgia 31401
• Andrew Low House, 329 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home, 207 E. Charlton Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum, 10 E Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, GA 31401
• Harper Fowlkes House, 230 Barnard Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Mercer Williams House Museum, 429 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Green-Meldrim House, 14 W Macon Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Sorrel Weed House Museum, 6 W Harris Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters, 124 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Davenport House Museum, 323 E Broughton Street, Savannah, GA 31401

Other Notable Mentions:

• The Olde Pink House, 23 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA 31401
• Telfair Academy, 121 Barnard St, Savannah, GA 31401
• The Pirates’ House, 20 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401
• Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, 41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401
• General Lachlan MacIntosh Home, 110 E Oglethorpe Avenue, Savannah, GA 31401

At the bottom of this article, I have provided a suggested 3-day itinerary if you are interested in touring all the historic houses in Savannah’s downtown historic district. It is very do-able! Our total stay in Savannah was around five-and-a-half days. We used a couple additional days to visit Tybee Island and some of the other points of interest outside of the main downtown area, such as Bonaventure Cemetery, Wormsloe, and the Low Country.

Top Ten Historical Houses to Visit in Savannah

The Girl Scout First Headquarters

330 Drayton Street | Standard Pass $5 | Website

I kicked off my itinerary with a stop at the Carriage House of the Andrew Low House, which became the first headquarters of the Girl Scouts of America. Juliette Gordon Low, who founded the organization, was married to William Mackay Low, the son of Andrew Low. She inherited the house upon his death and later willed the Carriage House to the Girl Scouts. Although the Carriage House and the main Andrew Low House are on the same block, they are separately owned and operated.

The Girl Scout First Headquarters serves as a museum, program center, and shop. It also houses archives, which can be accessed for research by appointment. If you ever were a Brownie or Girl Scout, it is worth stopping in to walk through the rooms on the ground level that house memorabilia from the past.

Above photos: Girl Scout First Headquarters

Andrew Low House

329 Abercorn Street | Standard Pass $15 | Website

The Andrew Low House Museum sits on one of Savannah’s most beautiful historic squares. Before going inside, I couldn’t resist walking through LaFayette Square and admiring the Semiquincentenary Fountain at its center.

Above photo: Semiquincentenary Fountain in LaFayette Square

The Andrew Low House is the oldest home on LaFayette Square. It was built in the 1840s for the young, Scottish immigrant and his growing family by architect John Norris. The garden and huge, stately front doors foreshadow the grand interiors.

Above photos: Andrew Low House

I was lucky enough to be the only person in my tour group at the Andrew Low House, which afforded me the opportunity to deep dive into the history of the art, furniture, and other decorative artifacts with my guide. He was an encyclopedia of knowledge! Our conversations kinda fueled my antique shopping obsession, but it is the stories behind these pieces that is truly fascinating.

Above photos: Andrew Low House

Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home

207 E Charlton Street | Standard Pass $15 | Website

In full disclosure, I did not visit the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home Museum. However, this is where it would have fit in my itinerary. Given the amount of time that I had, I decided to skip this one. The Flannery O’Connor Childhood home is located on the opposite side of LaFayette Square from the Andrew Low House, and directly across the street from The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist.

Mary Flannery O’Connor was a writer who penned numerous short stories, two novels, and other essays during her career. The home in which she lived during her childhood is one of Savannah’s historic homes, a Greek Revival-style house built in 1856. A garden designed by landscape architect Clermont Huger Lee is also included in the tour. The focus of the visit is primarily on day-to-day life of a middle-class American family during the depression, as opposed to the opulent lifestyles of Savannah’s upper class during the 1800s.

Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum

10 E Oglethorpe Avenue | Standard Pass $15 | Website

The next stop on my afternoon itinerary was the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum. En route from the Andrew Low House, I made stops at The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist, which also sits on LaFayette Square, and Colonial Park Cemetery.

Above photos: The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist (left); Colonial Park Cemetery (right)

By the time I made it over to the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum, it had closed for the day:( So, I was only able to admire the exterior. Although I would have preferred to personally tour the Federal-style house, I later looked at photos online to satisfied my curiosity.

The house was originally built for Elizabeth and James Moore Wayne, who later became a United States Supreme Court Justice. The house eventually sold to William and Sarah Gordon, Juliette’s grandparents. Juliette’s father purchased the house from his mother and lived there with his extended family. Ultimately, the house was purchased by the Girl Scouts in 1953.

Above photos: Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace Museum

The house museum is sandwiched between another two of Savannah’s historic squares: Wright Square and Chippewa Square. These are among the most beautiful squares in Savannah and you won’t want to miss them. Since The Perry Lane Hotel, where I was staying, is close to Chippewa Square, I ended up walking through it multiple times. But, if you won’t be back this way, be sure to make time for these while you are in the area.

Above photos: Wright Square (left); Chippewa Square (right)

Harper-Fowlkes House

230 Barnard Street | Standard Pass $15 | Website

The last stop for the day before returning to my hotel was the Harper-Fowlkes House. I knew in advance that I would not be able to make a tour due to the very limited opening hours, which are on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10 am – 3 pm. Nonetheless, I really wanted to see it.

The Harper-Fowlkes House sits on Orleans Square. Much like LaFayette Square, Orleans Square has gorgeous old oaks draped with Spanish moss and an ornate fountain at the center. The German Memorial Fountain commemorates the contributions of the early German immigrants to the growth of the colony of Georgia.

Above photo: Orleans Square

The nineteenth century Harper-Fowlkes House is a Greek Revival mansion that was built for shipping magnate, Stephen Gardner by architect Charles B. Cluskey. The ownership of the home changed numerous times, and eventually came into the hands of Alida Harper-Fowlkes. Alida renovated it over the course of 40 years during the 20th century and became recognized as one of the top preservationists in Savannah.

Upon Alida’s passing, the house was willed to the The Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia, which is patriotic organization founded by officers of the Continental Army and their French counterparts who served in the American Revolution. It continues to be used by the organization today, and is also used as a wedding venue.

Above photo: Harper Fowlkes House

Mercer Williams House

429 Bull Street | Standard Pass $13.50 | Website

The first historic home on Day 2 of my itinerary was the Mercer Williams House Museum. As mentioned earlier, most historic home tours start around 10 am. So, there was plenty of time to enjoy some other things while I waited for the doors to open. With coffee in-hand from Franklin’s, I enjoyed walking through Madison Square, Monterey Square, and Forsyth Park while there were relatively few other people around.

Above photos: Madison Square (left); Monterey Square (right)

The Mercer Williams House was built in 1860 for for General Hugh W. Mercer, great-grandfather of celebrated songwriter Johnny Mercer, by architect John Norris. The building was interrupted by the Civil War and was sold to John R. Wilder who completed the house in 1868. The design is a combination of Renaissance Revival, Greek, and Italianate elements. In other words, it’s stunning. Like many other historical homes, it fell into disrepair. In 1968, the vacant house was purchased by James A. Williams who spent years restoring the property.

Above photo: Mercer Williams House

The Mercer Williams House rose to notorious fame when James murdered Danny Hansford in 1981. The murder trial was retold by John Berendt in his best-selling novel and movie adaptation, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Naturally, this is your homework before coming to visit:). Sadly, photography is not permitted inside the Mercer Williams house due to the many invaluable artifacts.

On the opposite side of Monterey Square, be sure to also see Congregation Mickve Israel, a historic synagogue and Jewish history museum that dates to 1878,

Above photo: Congregation Mickve Israel

Green-Meldrim House

14 W Macon Street | Standard Pass $15 | Website

Just a few blocks away from the Mercer Williams House is the Green-Meldrim House, easily one of my favorites. In between the two are some other interesting stops including Jones Street (a.k.a., the prettiest street in America), the SCAD Arts Coffee Shop, and St John’s Episcopal Church, who currently owns and operates the Green-Meldrim House next door.

The Green-Meldrim House opens to views Madison Square, also shared by the Sorrel Weed House on the adjacent corner. Madison Square is also home to the historic Savannah Cannons and the William Jasper Monument. Lots going on in these parts!

Above photos: Savannah Cannons (left); Houses facing Madison Square (right)

The Gothic Revival house was built in 1850 for cotton merchant Charles Green and his wife, Lucy, by architect John Norris. Charles offered the house to General Tecumseh Sherman to use as his personal headquarters during the Civil War. It was from this home that Sherman penned his famous Christmas message to President Abraham Lincoln offering the City of Savannah as a gift.

Above photos: Green Meldrim House

Later, John’s son Edward Green sold the house to Judge Peter Meldrim, who lived here with his wife Frances and their five children. Judge Meldrim was a prominent and well-respected figure in Savannah, becoming Mayor of Savannah and President of the American Bar Association. The house was then sold to neighboring St. John’s Episcopal Church in 1943 and is used as its Parish House.

Above photo: Bedroom inside Green Meldrim House

If you are pressed for time and need to narrow down the historic homes on your itinerary, this is one I would prioritize. The ironwork, architectural castings, and oriel windows are exquisite!

Above photos: Exterior and garden at Green Meldrim House

Sorrel Weed House

6 W Harris Street | Standard Pass $14 | Website

About ten steps away from the front garden of the Green-Meldrim House is the Sorrel Weed House & Carriage House Museum, making for very nice back-to-back house tours! The Sorrel Weed House is a Greek Revival mansion built in the 1830s for shipping merchant Francis Sorrel by architect Charles Clusky. The house was then sold to Henry D. Weed, whose family owned the house until 1914. A couple other changes of ownership later, the house is currently in the hands of Stephen Bader, who has carried on the preservation work of the property.

Above photos: Sorrel Weed House

There is a lot of history to unpack at the Sorrel Weed House. Visits from notable guests, such as Robert E. Lee, tales of untimely deaths stemming from disease and mental illness, and stories of southern grandeur mixed with the sinister slave trade. All of this brings context to the 16,000 square foot home and its architectural splendor.

Above photos: Sorrel Weed Carriage House Museum staged to reflect enslaved persons quarters

Above photos: Sorrel Weed House

That nearly put a wrap on Day 2. On my way back to the hotel, I walked through Chippewa Square again, this time taking it slower and making a couple new friends. I also happened to catch the doors open at First Baptist Church, which sits on Chippewa Square. So, of course, I popped in and had the nicest conversation with the volunteer parishioner hosting tours and showing off the magnificent church organ. On the opposite side of the square, keep an eye out for the historic Savannah Theater. It was established in 1818 and still features live performances.

Above photos: First Baptist Church (left); Savannah Theater (right)

Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters

124 Abercorn Street | Standard Pass $30 | Website

After covering most of the South Historic District on Days 1 and 2, I changed direction for Day 3 and started working through my itinerary for the North Historic District and River District areas.

The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters is an English Regency-style house built in 1819 for shipping merchant Richard Richardson by architect William Jay. The Richardson family only lived here for a few years before moving away from Savannah. The house became a boarding house for about five years, and then sold to lawyer and landowner George Welshman Owens. The house remained in the Owens family for over 120 years until it was willed to the Telfair Academy by Margaret Gray Thomas, George’s granddaughter.

Above photos: Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters

Tours of the Owen-Thomas House & Slave Quarters are poignant as the history and stories of enslaved individuals are told through the salve quarters and artifacts.

The rooms of the house are a combination of beautiful entertaining spaces and intimate private rooms. The most interesting feature is a hallway bridge that connects the bedrooms on the second level. The experience of visiting this home was impressive and was one of my favorites, along with the Green-Meldrim House. The mansion and all of its finery, combined with the slave quarters and history of its occupants makes for a very rewarding and educational hour.

Tickets for the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters are a 3-in-1 pass for all Telfair Museums, which also include the Telfair Academy and Jepson Center.

Above photos: Owens-Thomas House

Davenport House Museum

323 E Broughton Street | Standard Pass $15 | Website

The Davenport House Museum is just a quick four-minute walk away. En route, we walked through Columbia Square, which features the Wormsloe Fountain originally from the Wormsloe Estate, one of Georgia’s earliest settlements.

Above photos: Wormsloe Fountain, Columbia Square

The Davenport House is a Federal-style home built in 1820 by master carpenter Isaiah Davenport for his own family, which included his wife Sarah and their children. It is one of the oldest brick structures in the city. After Isaiah passed away, Sarah ran the house as a boarding house until 1840, when she then sold it to Benjamin Baynard of South Carolina.

Above photo: Davenport House

As the story goes, the house fell into disrepair and was in line to be demolished until a group of women protested to save it. Not only were they successful, but they went on to establish the Historic Savannah Foundation and save numerous other buildings.

The house museum contains 19th century furnishings based on Isaiah’s estate inventory, although most of are not original to the house. The museum has curated its collection in order to provide visitors with an experience that accurately reflects the home’s history.

Above photos: Davenport House

Following our tour of Davenport House, we filled the remainder of our day with other sightseeing and shopping. For more ideas on things to do in Savannah, click here to read my complete post on everything we did in and around Savannah.

Above photos: The Paris Market (left); Historic Steps (center); Leopold’s Ice Cream (right)

Other Notable Mentions

Although most visitors don’t think of these next few places as Historical Homes, they were all originally built as private residences. They tend to be called out on their own because they are not only historically significant, but now serve other purposes, be it a restaurant, museum, or other business.

The Olde Pink House

23 Abercorn Street | Restaurant | Website

The Olde Pink House is a fine dining restaurant that opens up to Reynolds Square. Originally, the property was known as the Habersham House, named after its owner, cotton merchant James Habersham, Jr. The house changed ownership many times, serving as a bank, attorney’s office, bookstore, and tea house.

Above photo: The Olde Pink House

Eventually, the house was bought by Herschel McCallar, Jr. and Jeffrey Keith who together launched a massive restoration. They would travel to England in search of antiques and bring them back to furnish the house or sell at the shop on the second floor. They opened the restaurant in 1971. Although the restaurant has sold to new owners, the restoration work has been maintained.

To walk around, you’ll need to make dining reservations. Well worth it though! We had an incredible meal here (one of our favorites in Savannah) and also got to see the thirteen dining rooms and bar. At the very least, it is worth passing by the house to see it the exterior, along with the John Wesley Statue in Reynolds Square, and the Lucas Theatre For the Arts on the other side.

Above photos: Dining room in The Olde Pink House (left); The Olde Pink House (center); John Wesley Monumnet in Reynolds Square (right)

Telfair Academy

121 Barnard Street | Standard Pass $30 | Website

The Neoclassical Regency style building that houses the Telfair Academy was originally built in 1819 by architect William Jay. It contains two period rooms in addition to its art collections. The $30 ticket also provides entrance into the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters and the Jepson Center.

Above photos: Telfair Academy

Pirates’ House

20 E Broad Street | Restaurant | Website

Situated on the former grounds of the Savannah experimental garden, the Pirates’ House was built as an inn for visiting sailors and pirates to the thriving sea port town of Savannah during its earliest years. It fell into disrepair, but was saved by Mrs. Mary Hillyer, the wife of the president of the Savannah Gas Company. She, along with several gal pals, restored it and renovated it into the restaurant it is today.

Above photos: The Pirates’ House

Ships Of The Sea Maritime Museum

41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd | Standard Pass $15 | Website

The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum is also known as the William Scarbrough House & Gardens. The early Greek Revival house was built in 1819 for shipping merchant William Scarbrough by architect William Jay.

William Scarbrough was the lead investor in the SS Savannah, the first steamship to cross an ocean. Out of his success, he built his home, which he referred to as “The Castle.” Unfortunately, his company and wealth declined to the point where he became insolvent. The house and its contents were sold off.

The house was later used as an African-American public school from the 1870’s – 1960’s, after which it was left vacant. In 1972, Historic Savannah Foundation (who also restored Davenport House) began its preservation and restoration work on the house. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1974. As recently as 1995, it was sold to the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum and underwent another restoration effort to house the museum’s collection of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques.

General Lachlan MacIntosh Home

110 E Oglethorpe Avenue | Website

The home of General Lachlan MacIntosh was built in 1770 and is the oldest standing brick residence in Savannah. The first constitutional session of the Georgia Legislature was held here is 1783. Shortly after George Washington visited Savannah and stayed at the General’s home.

The 3-story home has been completely renovated from top-to-bottom. And, believe it or not, it is now a luxury rental property that anyone can stay in while visiting Savannah. Imagine that!

Above photos: General Lachlan MacIntosh Home,

Suggested 3-Day Itinerary

To read my complete post on everything we did in and around Savannah, click here.

Getting Around Savannah

If you are coming to Savannah for a weekend of historic home tours, a car is not essential. Downtown Savannah is very walkable! There are a couple options if you’d like to save your feet though.

First, consider taking the hop-on-hop-off Trolley Tour! These super cute little trolleys circle the downtown area and stop at all the major points of interest. You can get off at any stop you want to explore, and then hop back on at any other stop to keep going.

The other option that I highly recommend trying at least once is a pedicab! These eco-friendly bicycle rides are all foot-powered and offer a really fun way to get around Savannah. You’ll see them lined up like taxis around the River Street area and at major attractions. Or, plan a ride ahead by booking online.

Of course, there is always Uber too! We used Uber here and there when we were tired and hot. Even though we had a rental car parked at our hotel, we didn’t want to fuss with parking. Uber is always a solid option.

Above photos: Savannah Trolley Tour (left); Riding in our Pedicab (right)

Thank you for reading my post! Please feel free to add friendly comments or questions below!