318 Habersham St.
Private HomeThis row of five townhomes was built in 1883 by Miriam Cohen, widow of Mr. Solomon Cohen who was a lawyer, postmaster, and Georgia’s first Jewish senator. Mrs. Cohen never occupied this row; census data shows that over the decades, this home was owned or rented by a diverse array of professionals, including a police officer, court clerk, blacksmith, teacher, railroad switchman, and a vocal coach.In 1959 the row was purchased by James Hundy, a home-demolition tradesman, with the intention of tearing it down and selling the bricks, heart pine flooring, moldings, windows, and mantelpieces to “modern builders” who wanted reclaimed materials. For some reason, thankfully, Mr. Hundy changed his mind and the row was saved.The current owners purchased the house in 2022. Their renovations embrace a fresh take on a traditional home with a mix of bold colors and contemporary patterns and textures to balance the old and new. The design reflects the owners’ rich and layered art collection to create unique and powerful rooms that allow you to experience a consistent and beautiful aesthetic running through each space.The artwork predominantly features works from the American Regionalism movement of the 1920s–1940s, a modern form, which opposed the domination of European art and depicts mostly Midwestern cities, small towns, and rural landscapes.
7 W Charlton St.
Private HomeStep back in time as you enter this elegant Italianate residence, built in 1879 by John Francis Grimball for Captain Daniel Guel Purse. Featuring classic architectural elements such as arched windows, a symmetrical façade, ornate eave brackets and ironwork, this home captures the refined style of its era. Grimball’s craftsmanship extended beyond this residence, with similar projects on E. Taylor Street and a grand Second Empire home on W. Liberty Street.Praised at the time as being “finished in the very best style, the entire work being first class in every respect,” Grimball’s homes were considered among the most convenient and luxurious in Savannah. Captain Purse, a prominent fertilizer merchant, moved in with his wife, Laura, and their four sons. They welcomed two more sons here, and in 1883, Purse became President of Savannah Bank & Trust Co. and Secretary of the City and Suburban Railway.The current owners fell in love with the home at first sight, drawn by its resemblance to a beloved residence they enjoyed while living in Australia. A painting of that home now hangs in the main hall, reflecting their personal connection to this historic gem. Throughout the house local and personal artwork, along with rich patterns and colors, create a warm, inviting atmosphere that makes this home truly special.
116 W Gaston St
Private Home This elegant home was built in 1852 for Gustavus Holcombe as part of a pair of attached townhouses (112-114 and 116 – 118). Originally two rooms deep, all the properties were expanded later in the century with rear additions to maximize interior space. Some facades were altered—112 and 118 gained bay windows, while 114 received a Mansard roof—but this townhouse is the most representative of the original design. Unusually for Savannah, the houses feature deep front courtyards bordered by cast iron fence panels that once surrounded Forsyth Park.Over the years, the house has had several owners and even survived a fire a generation ago. The interiors remain remarkably intact, boasting 12 fireplaces. Two pairs of original etched glass doors lead to the Victorian dining room, which retains its dumbwaiter down to the garden-level kitchen. The main level also includes a charming library and kitchen. The top floor has four bedrooms, one of which serves as an office and has recently had its original cupola and fireplace restored. The garden level features a large courtyard and access to a carriage house. The arrangement of the windows and doors of the carriage house is largely unchanged from when the home was built, featuring a loft hay door and ventilation slats for livestock.Recent projects include restoration of the windows and raising the powder room ceiling to its original height.
513 Whitaker St
Private HomeTransformation from family home to elegant businessThis Greek Revival mansion, grandly designed to complement the circular fountain in Forsyth Park, was the creation of architect G.L. Norman for businessman Lawrence McNeil. It was completed in 1903, the same year McNeil established the Savannah Lumber Company.The mansion has been painstakingly preserved and updated by owner Chad Crawford to serve as the 13 Secrets Jewelry‘s Flagship Store. Retaining the period architectural elements while adding contemporary touches, the owner has transformed the space into a place for luxury shopping. The family-owned business is renowned as a provider of custom jewelry design and repair services.Their newest location features a deep, curved veranda and grand entrance. Beyond the arched portico entrance, the structure is awash in carved wood columns, ornate doorways, crystal chandeliers, and numerous fireplaces, several of them trimmed in imported marble.With a direct view of the park, the showroom is dressed up with luxury custom wallpapers, and the iconic arched ceiling is updated with Venetian plaster.The 10,500-square-foot mansion includes a ballroom on the upper floor which the owner plans to offer for private jewelry appointments and special events. For the tour visitors, the ballroom has been set up with an exhibit that highlights the history of the location.
326 Bull St.
Private HomeEliza Ann Jewett HouseOverlooking historic Madison Square, this home was built in 1843 by Eliza Ann Jewett on a Trust Lot. The property consists of a mansion, a book store, and a carriage house.The exterior is comprised of traditional stucco over brick and features a two-bay, 3 story free-standing townhouse with a curved staircase leading to a Greek Revival portico. Significant architectural details include the original carved Corinthian columns, grapevine plaster moldings, soaring ceilings, a dramatic entrance with a curved staircase, tripartite windows, seven marble fireplaces, an elevator, and an outdoor roof deck.Eliza Ann Jewett, born in 1779, was a successful real estate investor and developer in Savannah. This was her first residential project and was built as her personal residence. She invested in numerous building lots and subsequently constructed several more houses on Harris Street, Macon Street and Jones Street. She died in 1856 at age 77. Her funeral was held in her home.Alida Harper Fowlkes purchased the property in 1956 for $29,70. She was the steward of many notable Savannah properties including the Pink House, The Hermitage Plantation and the Alida Harper Fowlkes house.
126 W Taylor St
Private HomeBuilt-in 1856 by Edward Lovell, a hardware merchant and gunsmith, this home is one of a pair of brick and stucco Greek Revival houses. The corner home (128) was for the Lovells’ use; its mate (126) was for the future use of their children. The houses were state of the art with piped water and gas. The walls are 13” thick brick, and the floors are made from heart of pine.The present owner purchased the severely distressed home in 1992 and over time restored the property, reconnecting the two upper floors in 2008. She removed the partition then dividing the front hall and replaced the two modern front doors with an exact copy of the original front door and sidelights of the home on the corner. Internally, there are Greek Revival door and window surrounds and ceiling medallions in the front hall and parlors.The two parlors have particularly fine proportions being approximately 16 feet square in plan with 12-foot ceilings. They can be separated by the original pocket doors. The mantels are original faux marbled slate with cast iron coal burning inserts.There are many items of interest in the house inherited by the current owner from the Meldrim, Habersham and Noble Jones families of Savannah. These prominent families had a significant impact on the history of Savannah, and the photos and furnishings in the home tell their story.
Bellwether House
Historic Inn - 11:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.211 E. Gaston StreetBellweather is a new kind of experiential Bed & Breakfast housed in a spectacular pair of adjoining Italianate townhomes built in 1876 for merchants Henry Dresser and Samuel Palmer, who once ran the largest hardware store in Savannah. It boasts the longest contiguious front porch in the city, providing ample room to lounge in the shade of our warm southern climate and people-watch with a cup of fresh coffee or tea in hand.We believe every guest matters and should experience all that Bellwether has to offer. That means as our guest, you get unlimited access to breakfast, afternoon high tea, evening champagne toasts, anytime on-call staff, unlimited valet, 24/7 on-demand digital trainers in our high-tech gym, daily yoga, seasonal wellness programs, and so much more completely included with any stay. You'll also have exclusive access to the serene Greenhouse Spa and our curated evening bar.Join us for any of our happenings that are open to the public or spend the night as our guest for the full experience.Visit bellwether.house to see what's happening.
Thomas Weihs Haus
Historic Inn - 11:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.222 E GwinnettDesigned with stunning Victorian architecture, this inn captures all the romantic allure of the time period while including contemporary interior features. It was built in 1884 for Virginia Lloyd Drane on a lot valued at $760. Upon completion, the two-story home was valued at $4,000. Although placed in Virginia’s name for insurance purposes, her husband Henry Martyn Drane, a Confederate Captain, is the sole occupant mentioned in the directory of 1886.Restored nearly a century later, the Thomas Weihs Haus features the elegance of the original wooden baluster, 12-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, original pine floors, and impressive plaster crown molding in the formal rooms. Visitors can enjoy Victorian splendor with crystal chandeliers, plaster medallions, and a balanced mixture of handpicked antiques and contemporary furnishings. Each room is artfully arranged to recreate the look and feel of life at the turn of the century while enjoying present-day luxury amenities.Situated on a double lot in the historic landmark district a few steps from Forsyth Park, the inn’s exterior features a 40-foot Charleston-style porch overlooking a beautifully arranged garden landscape with a variety of tropical southern plants.The name of the inn honors the owners' two grandmothers whose last names were Thomas and Weihs. Haus is German for house
Green Meldrim House
Museum House - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.14 West MaconThe Green-Meldrim House is one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival architecture found in the South. The house was constructed in the early 1850s as the residence of Charles Green, an Englishman who came to Savannah in 1833. Mr. Green was not possessed of great wealth when he arrived in Savannah, however, he became a cotton merchant and ship owner. By 1850, he had amassed a fortune sufficient to build the most elaborate house in Savannah at a cost of $93,000. The architect was John S. Norris, who also designed the U.S. Customs House in Savannah and other fine residences in the city.Mr. Green invited General William Tecumseh Sherman to use the house as his headquarters when the Union Army occupied Savannah during the Civil War. It was at this time (December 1864) that General Sherman sent his famous telegram to President Lincoln offering him the City of Savannah as a Christmas gift.The house has been owned by only two families and St. John’s Church. After the death of Mr. Green in 1881, it became the property of his son, Edward Moon Green. On July 14, 1892, the house was purchased by Judge Peter W. Meldrim. In December 1943, the Meldrim family sold this historic treasure to St. John’s, thus ensuring its preservation. The former kitchens, servants’ quarters and stables have been converted into the rectory of the church.
Massie Heritage Center
Museum - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.207 E. GordonThe Massie Heritage Center was named for its benefactor, Peter Massie, who died in 1841, leaving $5,000 for the establishment of a school for the poor in Savannah.Designed and built by John S. Norris, this outstanding example of Greek revival architecture was completed in 1855-1856 and dedicated to the education of poor children. One of Savannah’s historic treasures, the building features a gable roof, wood cupola and cornice, and a unique connecting passageway.The Massie School operated as a public school until its closing in 1974 and is Georgia’s oldest school in continuous 207 East Gordon operation. The only remaining building of Georgia’s original chartered school system, the school now serves as a resource center for living history.Exhibits include a collection of period costumes and information on state and local history, as well as historic preservation. One outstanding exhibition documents the Greek, Gothic, and Roman influence on Savannah’s architectural history. An educational program, “The Nineteenth Century Classroom,” allows young students to experience a 19th century school day.
418 E Jones St
Private HomeBuilt-in 1870, this home has undergone an incredible transformation in the last two years. The current owners were faced with an enormous challenge when they purchased the house in 2022. A renovation in the 1970s had stripped the exterior of all the original Victorian detailing. A simpler ‘Colonial’ porch was added, changing the aesthetic to the 1970s preference for Federal-style architecture. This renovation also stripped the interior of much of its detailing. The current owners were left with only the original fireplaces and staircase.They worked with HALLETT & Co. to come up with a plan to renovate the property with their contractor JAK Homes. They restored the Victorian-era front porch, replicated all the original interior trim and moldings, and added a sympathetic, three-story, 20-foot extension to the rear of the property. The construction also included a two-story carriage house.On the garden level, the addition houses a large family room with glass facing the courtyard. On the main level, the back wall of the house was removed to open the double parlor up to the new kitchen with a north wall that is almost completely glass. The space is full of custom cabinetry, with a cooking zone, a large bar/entertaining area, and a balcony. The property won a preservation award from the Historic Savannah Foundation in 2024 in honor of their efforts.
Headquarters
Hotel Bardo700 Drayton St.
120 W Jones St.
Private HomeLikely built in 1850 for John Murchison, a successful grocer on Market Street, this home is a twin townhouse to 122 West Jones. The home’s exterior was updated in 1870 with its current Italianate style, possibly by Cornelius Rogers.The windows were enlarged, decorative arches were added over them, and detailed molding with carved acorns was added to the top. The ironwork and interior staircase are the same as those on 122 West Jones. One of the many charming and unique historic features of the house is its exterior staircase that leads from the courtyard to the parlor floor.The current owners undertook an extensive renovation to the home, a 7,850-square-foot structure, after they purchased it in 2017. They remarkably converted it from a condominium building with five separate kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms along with separate HVAC systems back to the historic elegant home it is today. The layout is unique to their needs and creates an incredible setting for entertaining.The owners are collectors of early American art and furniture. They have been amassing and curating their collection for many years, purchasing from the finest dealers, antique shops, and auction houses. Their extensive collection will be on display throughout the house, and each item holds a special story.
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Barnard St and W Huntingdon St.
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Abercorn and E Gordon (Massie Heritage Center)
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NE corner of Habersham St. and E. Jones St
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North side of E. Hall St. at Drayton St. (Headquarters, Hotel Bardo)
Harper Fowlkes House
Museum Home - 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.230 Barnard StreetHarper Fowlkes House is noted for its unique "Temple of the Wind" columns, richly furnished interiors, important oil portraits, and original architectural details to the home.The home was built in 1842 and then was purchased by Aaron Champion in 1843. It remained in the Champion/McAlpin family from its original purchase until1939 when it was bought by Alida Harper Fowlkes. Alida was an entrepreneur and preservationist who ran several businesses and restored multiple historic buildings in Savannah.When Alida Harper Fowlkes died in 1985, she willed the house to the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Georgia and stipulated that her furnishings would remain intact and stay with the home. The Society of the Cincinnati is a hereditary society with branches in the United States and France. The Society was founded in 1783 to preserve the ideals and fellowship of the Continental Army officers who served during the American Revolution.After years of repairs and renovations, the Harper Fowlkes House opened in 2008 as a museum to share the vision and mission Alida saw for the future of the home. Period pieces abound, including her silver, china and crystal. One of the featured treasures of the house is the elliptical opening viewed from the lower and upper levels of the entry and stairwell.
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Bull and E. Harris St.
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Barnard and W. Taylor St
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Barnard St. and W. Harris St.
109 E Gordon St.
Private HomeThis stately home, reflecting a thoughtful blend of Savannah’s historic architecture and modern sensibility, was designed by Lynch Associates Architects. This firm is dedicated to strengthening communities through architecture that respects both natural and historical contexts and shapes spaces that truly belong in their unique environments.Completed in 2022, the property is one of three townhouses that were constructed in front of an historic structure located along Gordon Lane. The home was designed to appear as a stand-alone structure in order to align with the footprint of the existing historic building. A portion of the original structure was renovated into a carriage house. A garden-level apartment and courtyard complete the residence. The townhouse’s façade nods to the neighboring historic homes while presenting a fresh perspective on modern living. Inside, the owners have curated a stylish, comfortable setting with contemporary furnishings that harmonize with the city’s historic character. A view of the Tiffany windows in the nearby Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church and the lush neighboring garden, complete with palms, add to the home’s sense of place and are favorite features of the home to the owners.This elegant residence combines classic inspiration with adaptable, livable spaces in the heart of Savannah’s Landmark Historic District.
