Telfair Museums

Telfair Museums occupy three distinct buildings in downtown Savannah: a historic art academy, a preserved residential mansion with slave quarters, and a modern art center with contemporary works. The three buildings sit near each other, allowing visitors to move between different periods and styles of art in a single visit.

The museums were founded in 1886 when a prominent Savannah resident left her private art collection to the city, creating the first public art museum in the American South. Over time, the institution grew by adding new buildings that reflected changing tastes and approaches to displaying art.

The museums reflect how art has moved through American society, with works showing what artists and collectors valued across different eras. Walking through the galleries, you notice how the collection tells stories about people, places, and ideas that shaped the region.

The academy building invites you to explore freely at your own pace, while the historic house tours run on a schedule with a guide. Plan to spend time at each location, as they each have their own character and you may want to take breaks between visiting them.

A limestone statue that originally marked a grave in a nearby cemetery was relocated to the academy building and now has a permanent home in the galleries. The sculpture became famous through an American novel and continues to draw special attention from visitors who recognize it from literature.

Location: Savannah

Inception: 1886

Official opening: 1886

Email: boylstonk@telfair.org

Website: http://telfair.org

GPS coordinates: 32.07890,-81.09530

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:00