Telfair Museums

Telfair Museums, the oldest public art museum in the South, has been an integral part of Savannah’s cultural and social landscape for over a century. With a history of innovation as well as tradition, Telfair comprises two National Historic Landmark buildings—the Telfair Academy and the Owens-Thomas House—and the stunning contemporary Jepson Center.

Telfair Academy presents a celebrated collection of fine art, decorative art, and period rooms, displayed within the stunning architectural setting designed by European architects William Jay and Detlef Lienau. Highlights include masterworks of American Impressionism and the Ashcan school by artists such as Childe Hassam, George Bellows, and Robert Henri, in addition to special exhibitions.

A National Historic Landmark, the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters tells the story of antebellum life in Savannah, taking visitors on a tour of a prominent southern home and one of the oldest intact urban slave quarters in the South. Designed by British architectural prodigy William Jay, the museum highlights one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture in the country—including period furnishings, a unique indoor bridge, a beautiful parterre garden, and plumbing technology ahead of its time. Guided tours run all day long and are led by professional interpreters.

Devoted to contemporary art and world-class traveling exhibitions, the Jepson Center links Telfair’s past with its future, unifying the museum’s three distinct sites. Designed by internationally acclaimed architect Moshe Safdie, the Jepson Center features highlights from the museum’s modern and contemporary collection and also treats visitors to an ever-changing array of exceptional artwork—from classical European masters to daring emerging artists. Featuring a hands-on children’s museum space, daily drop-in studio activities for all ages, and unique shopping, the Jepson Center is also home to the Bird Girl statue made famous by the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.