William Scarbrough House

The William Scarbrough House is a two-story masonry mansion with stuccoed brick walls and a low-pitch hip roof, now operated as a maritime museum. The building displays Greek Revival features and contains nine exhibition galleries filled with maritime artifacts and ship-related objects.

Built in 1819 by architect William Jay, it belonged to William Scarbrough, principal owner of SS Savannah, the first steamship to cross the Atlantic Ocean. This connection to maritime history gave the residence special importance in Savannah's port and commercial life.

The building served as a school for African-American children from 1873 to 1962 and shaped the lives of generations in the community. This role as an educational space remains an important part of how locals remember the place.

The mansion is easy to reach on foot in downtown Savannah and welcomes visitors most days of the week. The nine gallery spaces are well-marked and straightforward to navigate at your own pace.

The grounds feature two acres of gardens designed in 19th-century styles, including the Waring Memorial Garden laid out by landscape designer Clermont Lee. These green spaces offer a quiet escape from the surrounding city streets.

Location: Savannah

Architects: William Jay

GPS coordinates: 32.08028,-81.09917

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:04