Sightseeing in Savannah

When it comes to sightseeing, Savannah has some of the finest historic homes, museums and historic sites in the Southeast. From Civil War forts to English Regency house museums, Savannah offers a broad range of sightseeing options for visitors and residents alike.

With all of the area’s unique history, arts and architecture, be sure to take the time to enjoy all that Savannah has to offer!

ARTS

Beach Institute African-American Cultural Arts Center
The permanent home of the Ulysses Davis folk art collection, the Beach Institute features changing exhibits of African-American art and cultural artifacts. 502 E. Harris Street, (912) 234-8000

City Market Art Center
The upstairs level of City Market is filled with original paintings, sculpture and photography by area artists. Jefferson at W. St. Julian Street, (912) 234-2327

City of Savannah, Department of Cultural Affairs, S.P.A.C.E.
(Savannah’s Place for Art, Culture and Education). Info line: (912) 525-3100 ext. 2863

Jepson Center for the Arts
Savannah’s newest art museum, featuring a stellar permanent collection as well as outstanding special exhibits throughout the year. Interactive children’s exhibits, cafe, gift shop and more. 207 W. York Street, Telfair Square (912) 790-8800

Savannah College of Art and Design
The largest art college in the U.S., the Savannah College of Art and Design features a number of exhibits year-round  in galleries across Savannah. 342 Bull Street, (912) 238-2487

Telfair Museum of Art
Housed in a historic 19th-century building designed by architect William Jay, the Telfair Museum of Art features an outstanding permanent collection of paintings, sculpture and photography, as well as world-class visiting exhibitions. 121 Barnard Street, (912) 790-8800

HISTORIC HOMES

Andrew Low House
Built in 1848 for cotton merchant Andrew Low, this historic home features beautifully preserved interiors with period antiques. 329 Abercorn Street, (912) 233-6854

Davenport House
This historic Federal-style home, built between 1815 and 1820, was the house that launched Savannah’s historic preservation movement in the 1950’s. 324 E. State Street, (912) 236-8097

Flannery O’Connor House
The childhood home of one of America’s greatest writers, the Flannery O’Connor House features artifacts from O’Connor’s years in Savannah. 207 E. Charlton Street, (912) 927-5289

Green-Meldrim Mansion
General Sherman’s Civil War headquarters, the Green-Meldrim Mansion is a fine example of neo-Gothic architecture and features a magnificent interior. Bull Street at Madison Square, (912) 232-1251

Juliette Gordon Low House
The birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, the founderof the Girl Scouts, has been restored to its 1800’s appearance and features period antiques and artifacts from Low’s life. 142 Bull Street, (912) 233-4501

King-Tisdell Cottage
Located in the historic Beach Neighborhood, this
restored Victorian cottage, built in 1896, serves as an African-American culture museum. 514 E. Huntingdon Street, (912) 234-8000

Mercer-Williams House
One of Savannah’s most historic mansions. This former home of Jim Williams, the antiques dealer immortalized in “Midnight In The Garden of Good And Evil,” is now open for tours. 429 Bull Street (enter through 430 Whitaker Street), (912) 236-6352

Sorrel-Weed House
One of the first two houses in Georgia to be designated an historic landmark. The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and SCAD Architectural Committee voted it one of the most important houses in Savannah. 6 West Harris Street, (912) 236-8888

Telfair’s Owens-Thomas House
One of the finest examples of Regency architecture in the U.S., the Owens-Thomas House features a formal English garden and a restored carriage house. 124 Abercorn Street, (912) 233-9743

HISTORIC SITES/FORTS

Fort McAllister Historic Site
Located in Richmond Hill, Fort McAllister features Civil War era earthworks. Spur 144 off Hwy. 144, 22 miles south of Savannah, (912) 727-2339

Fort Pulaski National Monument
This masonry fort fell to Union troops during the Civil War and features a drawbridge, moats and cannons. On U.S. 80, 10 miles east of Savannah, (912) 786-5787

Fort Screven
Fort Screven on Tybee Island is one of the nation’s last coastal batteries. On Tybee Island, just off U.S. 80, (912) 786-4077

Georgia Historical Society
Built in 1874-75, Hodgson Hall houses the Georgia Historical Society and serves as a research center and exhibition hall for an extensive collection of artifacts and documents. 501 Whitaker Street,  (912) 651-2125

Historic Railroad Shops
An outstanding antebellum railroad repair facility and National Historic Landmark site featuring a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, a blacksmith shop and a massive roundhouse. 601 W. Harris Street, (912) 651-6823

Old Fort Jackson
The oldest standing fort in Georgia, Old Fort Jackson has been in use since the 1740’s and served as the headquarters for the Confederate river defenses during the Civil War. 1 Fort Jackson Road, Islands Expressway, (912) 232-3945

Wormsloe Historic Site
A historic plantation dating back to Savannah’s earliest settlers in the 18th century, Wormsloe features tabby plantation ruins and a  majestic avenue of live oaks. 7601 Skidaway Road, (912) 353-3023

MUSEUMS

Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
A museum devoted entirely to Air Force history, featuring interactive exhibits and special programs throughout the year. Exit 102 on I-95, Pooler, (912) 748-8888

Oatland Island Education Center
This coastal nature preserve features enclosures with live panthers, wolves, deer and bobcats as well as ongoing educational programs. U.S. 80, Islands Expressway, (912) 898-3980

Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum
Savannah’s struggle for civil rights comes to life in interactive exhibits, artifacts and educational displays. 460 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, (912) 231-8900

Savannah History Museum
Housed in the former Central of Georgia Railway station, the Savannah History Museum features exhibits which tell the story of Savannah from 1733 to the present. See Forrest Gump’s bench and the “Bird Girl” statue on the cover of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and  Evil.” 303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, (912) 238-1779

Savannah Ogeechee Trail Canal Museum & Nature Center
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places and on the State of Georgia Birding Trail. Finest native trees and plants. 681 Fort Argyle Road, (912) 748-8068

Ships of the Sea Museum
This maritime museum, housed in the restored Scarbrough House, offers exhibits about maritime culture, ships and commerce. 41 Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, (912) 232-1511

Telfair Museum of Art
Housed in a historic 19th-century building designed by architect William Jay, the Telfair Museum of Art features an outstanding permanent collection of paintings, sculpture and photography as well as world-class visiting exhibitions. 121 Barnard Street, (912) 232-1177

Tybee Island Lighthouse and Museum
Featuring Georgia’s oldest and tallest lighthouse and a museum devoted to the history of Tybee Island. U.S. 80, Tybee Island, (912) 786-5801

University of Georgia Marine Science Extension
Featuring an aquarium and ongoing educational programs. Skidaway Island, (912) 353-2496