William Scarbrough House

41 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Savannah, Georgia, United States

Website

954-971-7347

954-971-7347

William Scarbrough House

Savannah Historic District

William Scarbrough House houses the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. However, the house itself is a historic mansion known for its historic and architectural value.

Designed by renowned English architect of that time, William Jay, it is an example of the Greek revival architecture of that era. The architect built the home for William Scarbrough, the president of the Savannah Steamship Company, and one of the owners of the steamship, Savannah. The house was one of the earliest examples of the Greek Revival style of architecture in the South. Classical ornament and cast iron characterize the house. The mansion was completed in 1819. It features a magnificent stairway at the entrance.

Scarbrough lost the house in 1820, after suffering financial hardship. But within a few years the home was back in the hands daughter, Charlotte Scarbrough Taylor.

The Scarbrough House served as a boys’ orphanage from 1870 to 1876. Later, it became the first public school in Savannah. It was one of the first in the south that allowed African-American students to attend. The West Broad Street School ran for about eighty years, until it closed in 1962. The house remained unoccupied for a number of years thereafter. The Historic Savannah Foundation purchased and renovated it. Telfair Museums later took over the house in 1990. Later on it underwent further rehabilitation for use as a maritime-themed museum. Consequently, in 1994, the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum acquired the house.

Historical Significance

Today, the significant architectural and historical value of the Scarbrough House is recognized. It became a National Historic Landmark in 1974. Two years later the house opened to the public. Presently, the House houses the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, which features an impressive collection of nautical artifacts, paintings, and scale models of famous ships significant in Savannah’s maritime history, including a re-creation of the historic steamship, Savannah, together with models of other famous ships like the Titanic. It also houses collections of maritime sketches and ships in bottles. Every day, educational tours are conducted.

The gardens of the Scarbrough House have a history all their own. They are among the largest in the Savannah Historic District. They were renovated and expanded within the last twenty years. The garden behind the house, which is landscaped in the style of a 19th-century parlor garden, contains native, historically accurate plantings. The other garden, the north garden, is designed in a modern style. The public is welcome to visit the garden without the museum admission.

Special events, exhibits, and concerts are occasionally held at the Ships of the Sea Museum. There is a gift shop featuring a large selection of books and gifts on the maritime theme of the museum.

The William Scarbrough House is on the list of National Historic Landmarks in Georgia and is on the National Register of Historic Places listings in Chatham County, Georgia.

The William Scarbrough House is in the Savannah Historic Town district.

Book a Hotel Near the Scarbrough House Now

 

Call 954-971-7347 today to check out discount rates

Book a Hotel Near the Scarbrough House Now

Visited 3523 times, 1 Visit today

Posted in Historic Sites and Museums

Related Listings

The Pirates' House

The Pirates’ House

954-971-7347

20 E Broad St, Savannah, GA 31401, United States

954-971-7347

The Pirates’ House Savannah Historic District The Pirates’ House is one of America’s most unique restaurants, and it is only a block away from the Savannah River.…enjoy More

The Olde Pink House Restaurant & Tavern

The Olde Pink House Restaurant & Tavern

954-971-7347

23 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA, United States

954-971-7347

The Olde Pink House Restaurant & Tavern Savannah Historic District Named for the lovely pink-colored stucco which covers its exterior walls, The Olde Pink House Restaurant &…enjoy More

Owens-Thomas House

Owens-Thomas House

954-971-7347

124 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA, United States

954-971-7347

Owens-Thomas House Savannah Historic Town The Owens-Thomas House occupies an entire full block in the Savannah Historic District. The structure boasts a columned entrance, an impressive double stairway…enjoy More

Georgia State Railroad Museum

Georgia State Railroad Museum

954-971-7347

655 Louisville Rd, Savannah, GA 31401, United States

954-971-7347

Georgia State Railroad Museum Savannah Historic District The Georgia State Railroad Museum, formerly named the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, is located in Tricentennial Park. It is the oldest…enjoy More