Best Museums in Savannah

Savannah Georgia is one of the oldest cities in the United States. For this reason it has a very extensive history and I invite you to get to know it by visiting the best museums in this town.

Keyvis Montilva

Keyvis Montilva

9 min read

Best Museums in Savannah

Casa museo en Savannah |©RH&XL

Museums are an excellent way to learn about the culture and history of a place in an entertaining and educational way. Some cities have dozens of museums while others have only a few that are still of excellent quality. In the case of Savannah, there are a few that are worth visiting and that's why I'll tell you about them throughout this publication.

Read on to find out exactly what kind of exhibits you'll find as well as their admission prices , opening hours and location within this beautiful and entertaining city.

1. The Webb Military Museum

Sign at the Military Museum|©Kelly Michals
Sign at the Military Museum|©Kelly Michals

The Webb Military Museum is quite an interesting institution because its facilities are not excessively large and the collection on display here belongs directly to the family. However, many military specialists and collectors come to the conclusion that this is one of the best museums of its kind in the entire United States.

The collection of artifacts on display at the Webb Military Museum spans from the Civil War to the invasion of Iraq and Afghanistan. This means that there are uniforms and weapons that have been part of the entire wartime history of the United States. Note that the museum is located in the heart of the city's historic district and so tram rides throughout Savannah are a good entertainment alternative to complete the itinerary for your day's visit.

Details of interest:

  • Price: the approximate fee for this museum is around 12 euros per person and this price includes the payment of a guide who will accompany you throughout the whole experience.
  • Opening hours: This museum is open every day of the week from 11am to 5pm.
  • Location: Webb Military Museum, 411 E York St, Savannah, GA 31401-3816.

Get your general admission ticket to Webb Military Museum

2. The American Prohibition Museum

American Prohibition Museum|©Wayne Hsieh
American Prohibition Museum|©Wayne Hsieh

For more than a decade in the United States there was a prohibition on the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages that in some ways shaped the identity of this country. Many elements of film, television and literature are directly inspired by this curious moment in American history and specifically in Savannah there is the American Prohibition Museum.

This is the first museum in the country dedicated to analysing this period between 1920 and 1933. It also has a curious bar where you can sit and have a couple of drinks like Americans did in the speakeasies of the time. It is located one street away from the Savannah Market and therefore can be a good alternative for entertainment before a shopping session as well as after an excellent lunch.

Details of interest:

  • Price: the approximate fee to enter this museum is about 18 euros per person and you have to know that children can also enter. Children pay a fee of approximately 11 euros.
  • Opening hours: this museum is usually open every day of the week from 10am to 5pm. There are exceptions to this rule such as Thanksgiving Day and December 24, 25 and 31.
  • Location: American Prohibition Museum, 209 W Saint Julian St, Savannah, GA 31401-2513.

Buy your admission ticket to the American Prohibition Museum

3. The Andrew Low House Museum

Andrew Low House|©Easy Traveler
Andrew Low House|©Easy Traveler

One of the great attractions of Savannah is the architecture that managed to survive several centuries of history in this city and that allows tourists to see how the houses, or rather the mansions, looked like before the American Civil War. In this panorama it is logical that some of these constructions function as museums and specifically the Andrew Low House is one of the most interesting and important of this style.

The house was built between 1848 and 1849 by a New York architect who was directly inspired by the Renaissance and therefore Italian details are mixed with distinctive elements of the constructions that were being built in New York at that time. One of the great attractions of the museum are the extensive gardens that have managed to survive the entire middle of the 18th century as well as the 20th century.

This site is a great place to spend the afternoon on a sunny day in Savannah and you should also keep in mind that it won't take up your whole day. That's why a Savannah Ghost Tour is a good entertainment alternative to continue your evening in a curious and spooky way.

Interesting details

  • Price: The approximate price per adult to enter this museum is around 13 or 14 euros.
  • Opening hours: This house museum is open every day of the week from 10am to 4pm. The exception to this rule is Sundays, as the opening time is set at 12 noon.
  • Location: Andrew Low House, 329 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401-4634.

Meet the Andrew Low House

4. The Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences

Museum welcome sign|©Robert English
Museum welcome sign|©Robert English

The Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences is the first museum dedicated to the arts in the entire American South. Today it is actually an institution with several buildings around Telfair Square and the main academy is where you can learn about the historical origins of this important American art institution.

The museum's collection includes both European and American works, specifically those created under the innovative currents of the 19th and 20th century.

This museum is one of the best things to do in Savannah with kids because the facilities are spacious enough while also being an educational and quite entertaining experience for the whole family.

Interesting details

  • Price: Adults pay around 22 euros to enter the museum while youngsters between 13 and 15 years of age pay around 15 euros. Children between the ages of 6 and 12 pay five euros and children under the age of five are free.
  • Opening hours: This museum is open every day of the week from 10pm to 5pm. It is closed on public holidays such as 24 and 25 December.
  • Location: The oldest branch where the academy is located is at Telfair Academy, 121 Barnard St. Savannah, GA, USA.

5. The Jepson Center

Jepson Center|©Joe
Jepson Center|©Joe

The Jepson Center, part of the Telfair Academy's network of museums, is the home to all of the Telfair Academy's most contemporary works of art. The building itself is a true work of art, as it is a modernist construction located on two separate streets and is connected by an elevated bridge between two of the structure's highest floors.

The museum's collection focuses primarily on works created in the last 50 years and the museum is over 2200 m² in size. It constantly features temporary exhibitions of internationally renowned artists. Jeff Koons, Frank Stella and Richard Avedon are just some of the names that have works permanently exhibited in this museum.

This is a place that would take up about two to three hours of your day and is therefore an excellent plan to accompany the date you would choose to participate in one of Savannah' s best food tours. Especially since its strategic location in historic downtown Savannah puts you close to some of the city's best restaurants.

Interesting details

  • Price: The museum's fees are directly linked to those of the Telfair Academy. That means that when you buy a ticket to either site you also get an admission ticket to the other site.
  • Hours: This museum is open every day of the week from 10am to 5pm.
  • Location: Jepson Center , 207 W York St. Savannah, GA, USA.

6. The SCAD Museum of Art

The SCAD Museum of Art|©JR P
The SCAD Museum of Art|©JR P

The Savannah College of Art and Design is one of the most important art colleges in the world. As you might expect, thanks to this college there is a museum dedicated to exhibiting works of art by internationally renowned artists. It is also used for lectures and educational activities for students as well as tourists.

The exhibits in this museum consist of photographic art, contemporary art and also has a whole section dedicated to the world of costume. The building is quite modern and is impressive because it combines its structure with the original brick walls that existed in the railroad depot that was located on this same piece of land in the city.

It is an important institution in this community that is usually a staple stop among the best tours of Savannah Georgia. So you shouldn't miss it even if you don't have the opportunity to tour the city with a guide.

Details of interest

  • Price: Entrance fees to the museum vary. General admission costs €10 while a family of three or more pays €20 for group admission. Children under the age of 14 are free.
  • Opening hours: The museum is open Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 10am to 5pm. On Sundays it is open from noon to 5 p.m. and closed on Tuesdays.
  • Location: SCAD Art Museum, 601 Turner Blvd. Savannah, GA, USA.

7. The Davenport House

Davenport House|©Lee Bennett
Davenport House|©Lee Bennett

Historic houses abound on every street corner in Savannah and it is only logical that there are other buildings that are also museums that allow visitors to discover what life was like in the 19th century before the Civil War. In this case, the Davenport House is one of them and it is a federal style house that to this day still has the same furniture that was used by the inhabitants of the property during the Civil War.

This building is a good alternative to visit when you are in the vicinity of the city's ferry port, as it is quite close to this site. In fact, it's a good plan to do before or after taking part in one of Savannah' s best boat tours, either along the Savannah River or the city's Atlantic coast.

Details of interest:

  • Price: general admission for adults costs approximately €10 while children between the ages of 17 and 6 pay €5. Children under the age of 6 are free.
  • Opening hours: Open every day of the week from 10 A.M. to 4 P.M.
  • Location: Davenport House Museum, 324 E State St. Savannah, GA, USA.

8. Wormsloe State

Wormsloe Plantation, Savannah|©JR P
Wormsloe Plantation, Savannah|©JR P

This site is located a couple of kilometres south of the historic city centre and if you visit you'll have the opportunity to tour a countryside filled with Georgia's distinctive oak trees. You can also visit the village of Wormsloe.

This site is the oldest structure in the city and now serves as an archaeological ruin. Either way, it's a great way to see what the slave plantations of the early centuries were like in this part of the country.

This historic museum camp is usually part of the plans for a three-day visit to Savannah. Which makes sense, as it's a great place to enjoy nature and learn a bit about the history of the city.

Details of interest:

  • Price: adult tickets cost about €10 per person while youngsters between 17 and 6 years of age pay €5. Children under the age of six pay two euros per ticket.
  • Hours: The historic course is open from 9am to 4:45pm every day of the week.
  • Location: 7601 Skidaway Rd, Savannah, GA 31406, USA.

9. The Savannah Museum of African Art

Savannah African Art Museum|©Peace&Gratitude
Savannah African Art Museum|©Peace&Gratitude

There are many institutions in Savannah dedicated to exploring the city's African-American history. However, this museum focuses on appreciating the history and beauty of African art. It is one of the most interesting and complex on the planet.

It is definitely an activity recommended for the whole family, especially if you are looking for alternative plans that are not part of the typical things to do in the city. This museum is relatively new to the city and operates as a non-profit organisation.

Details of interest:

  • Price: Admission to this museum is completely free. However, in busy tourist seasons it is necessary to book a visit in advance.
  • Hours: This museum is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 A.M. to 5 P.M.
  • Location: 201 E 37th St, Savannah, GA 31401, United States of America.

10. Owens Thomas House And Slave Quarters Museum

Owens-Thomas House Savannah|©imageseekertoo (Wendy Elliott)
Owens-Thomas House Savannah|©imageseekertoo (Wendy Elliott)

The Owens Thomas House And Slave Quarters Museum is another museum that is part of the Telfair Academy's network of cultural institutions. It is a house that once belonged to a family that auctioned off slaves in the city.

The site is now dedicated to raising awareness of the barbarities of the slave-owning period in the United States. So touring the property is a great way to see the differences between the spaces in which the owners of the mansion lived and those of the family's slaves.

This is without a doubt one of Savannah' s 59 best attractions. It is also one of the best things to do in Savannah at Christmas. This is due to the fact that there are often special exhibits where you can understand how the slaves lived the end of the year festivities.

Details of interest:

  • Price: with any of the tickets you have purchased for both the Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center you have admission to this historic house. Please note that tickets are valid for one week.
  • Hours: This museum is open every day of the week, except Fridays, from 10am to 4:15pm.
  • Location: 124 Abercorn St, Savannah, GA 31401, USA.