Gingerbread house the gingerbread house, also lesser known as the asendorf house, is 108 years old, was built in 1899, and is considered one of the most outstanding examples of steamboat gothic gingerbread carpentry in. Thats the year general james oglethorpe and the 120 passengers of the good ship anne landed on a bluff high along the savannah river in february. Owensthomas house upon your future visit to the beautiful riverside city of savannah ga, i would like to tell you the story of how a mansion became a museum. In the owensthomas houses long history, it has seen just about it all. Revolutionary real estate history smithsonian magazine. The mansion was built 18161819 for richard richardson, a savannah merchant. Title owensthomas house, completed in 1819 in savannah, georgia contributor names highsmith, carol m.
Built in 1816 by william jay, one of americas first formally trained architects, the house stands as a monument to the ancient southern aristocracy. Owens and thomas family papers georgia historical society. Slavery and freedom in savannah is a richly illustrated, accessibly written book modeled on the very successful slavery in new york, a volume leslie m. The owensthomas house, also known as the richardson owensthomas house, was designed by english architect william jay for richard richardson. The tour includes an exploration of the lives and complicated relationships of the most and least powerful people in 19th century savannahsuch as. There are also slave quarters, a carriage house, and gorgeous gardens. Owensthomas house, 1819, savannah designed by william jay, one of the first professional architects in the united states, for prominent savannah cotton merchant richard richardson, this house is considered one of the most important of the english regency style in america.
Everything you need to know about the owensthomas house. Founded through the bequest of mary telfair 17911875, a prominent local citizen, and operated by the georgia historical society until 1920, the museum opened in 1886 in the telfair familys renovated regency style mansion, known as the telfair academy. One of the most beautiful homes in savannahs historic district, this house also chronicles the real lives of 19 th century savannah, including urban slaves. Built by the architect william jay for richard richardson. If you are acquainted with savannah, this book will help solidify your knowlegde. The purpose of this blog and the posts which follow is to explore the impulses, values, and diverse social, political, emotional, and.
It boasts a decorative arts collection comprised primarily of owens. On oglethorpe square in the heart of our historic downtown sits a stately and well kept home. Plus, it overlooks oglethorpe square, one of the most beautiful and historic parks in savannah. Owensthomas house tells the untold stories community. Owensthomas house is a national historic landmark in downtown savannah. The haunted owensthomas house haunted mansion in savannah.
Oglethorpe named the th and final american colony georgia after englands king george ii. The owensthomas house savannahchatham county historic site on. The telfair museums owensthomas house is the mostvisited house museum in savannah. Classic southern food done upscale in one of savannahs most consistently great restaurants. The owensthomas house, considered the masterpiece of architect william jay, is one of savannahs most popular historic houses. If you book with tripadvisor, you can cancel at least 24 hours before the start date of your tour for a full refund. The owensthomas house was designated a national historic landmark in 1976, as one of the nations finest examples of english regency architecture. Material was acquired from the owensthomas house museum, which was bequeathed to the telfair academy of arts and sciences by margaret gray thomas, the last surviving member of the owens thomas family. The history of the owensthomas house telfair museums. Swatches of haint blue paint meant to keep away evil spirits are still visible on the exposed beams, the largest example of the ancestral african practice in north america.
This small book is beautifully informative about one of more important historical houses in the history rich town of savannah, georgia. These museums offer a diverse array of contemporary art, fine and decorative art, and authentic savannah history. Carnegie survey of the architecture of the south, library of congress, prints and photographs. The house is believed to have had such a garden on a residential lot across state street to the north. Stay connected with us by exploring our digital resources by visiting telfair today. It would remain in the family for the next 120 years until 1951 when margaret thomas, the granddaughter of george owens, bestowed the home to the telfair museum of the arts and it has sat as a housemuseum since that time. The stunning english regencystyle house is one of three telfair museums sites and features a collection of decorative arts dating to the mid18th century. Slavery, the fire of 1820, the civil war, and yellow fever are just some of the tragedies that have been witnessed. The owensthomas house could offer a rich experience, but the staff needs to get its act together. Telfair museums, in the historic district of savannah, georgia, was the first public art museum in the southern united states. Owensthomas house, completed in 1819 in savannah, georgia.
The precise genesis of dreams of the immortal city savannah, now scheduled for publication by in spring of 2019, is an actual dream and its eventual realization as described in the title story. Savannah has a pretty fascinating history and touring these preserved old mansions gives a more tangible sensation than just reading history books. Because your ticket is valid for one week of the date of your purchase, you have the freedom to choose when you. In the heart of savannahs celebrated historic district, on the northeast quadrant of oglethorpe square, stands a grand old mansion, known.
The owensthomas house is considered by many architecture historians to be one of the finest examples of english regency architecture in america. It is also, notably, the site of its only surviving slave quarters, with tours focusing on the houses owners and architecture and the enslaved people who worked there. The owensthomas house at 124 abercorn street, on oglethorpe square, has a story that goes all the way back to the year of 1816, the year its ground was broken. A few years ago, people touring the owensthomas house and slave quarters in savannah, ga. Explore 19th century savannah at the owensthomas house. The owens thomas house is a must for those touring the city and this book provide exellent in depth information that will make the visit more rich. The top 8 haunted houses in savannah savannahs most. Owens thomas house tour savannah old savannah tours. Savannah is sprawling with beautiful houses with history just begging to be explored. The sorrelweed house, or the francis sorrel house, is a historic landmark and savannah museum located in savannah, georgia. Book focuses on urban slavery as it existed in savannah news. Currently under operation by the telfair museum of art, and the owensthomas house is more than.
You know a city as unique and pretty as savannah is bound to be the backdrop for a lot of interesting stories. The original work yard was redesigned as a parterre garden in the regency manner 1820 a. Slavery and freedom in savannah puts african americans and slavery at the center of the history of a popular tourist destination. It is located at 124 abercorn street, on the northeast corner of oglethorpe square. National history day natives of savannah georgia natives of savannahgeorgia new art by aberjhani new books by aberjhani new world writing nobel laureate nobel laureate albert camus owens thomas house savannah georgia owensthomas house savannahgeorgia owensthomas house video paris france parisfrance poet rene char poster art public behavior. The owensthomas house boasts a storied past with political triumphs and personal tragedies, offering visitors unique insight into a young american world as it evolved in the early nineteenth century. A history of her people since 1733 offers a chronological view of savannah history, including period photogrpahs and sketches.
As part of telfair museums slavery and freedom in savannah project, the home reveals its new interpretive exhibitions on nov. Its conceivable that these events are what make savannah one of the most haunted cities in the american south. Dine in the slender digs upstairs, or go underground to the fabulous tavern where the piano player. It represents one of the finest examples of greek revival and regency architecture in savannah and was one of the first two homes in the state of georgia to be made a state landmark in 1954.
Preferred citation item identification, owens and thomas family papers, ms 602, georgia historical society, savannah, georgia. The owensthomas house has been investing in its history of slavery and the staff was thinking about the next stage of work they wanted to do. A national historic landmark, the stately former residence is now a historic house museum. Gallivanter offers the widest variety of highlyrated tours in savannah. Owensthomas house, 1819, savannah vanishing coastal. Owens thomas house historic savannah georgia house tours. Built as a beautiful regency style mansion in 1819, the owensthomas house, along with its adjacent gardens, carriage house, and slave quarters, allows visitors to explore the complicated relationships between the most and least powerful people in the city of savannah in the early 19th century.
Of its style and period it is savannah s finest and among the nations best. If you tour only one historic home in savannah be sure its this one. We worked with the museum staff to bring together the latest historical research on the role of african americans in savannah. Ghost of the owensthomas house haunted savannah tours. This small book is beautifully informative about one of more important historical houses in the historyrich town of savannah, georgia. If you are new to savannah or need to learn more about the. Telfair academy and telfair museums admission savannah. George weishman owens, the mayor of savannah, purchased the house in 1830. Also visit the owensthomas house, built in 1819 and purchased in 1830 by the thenmayor of savannah, george welshman owens.
The owensthomas house and slave quarters is one of the most historic homes in savannah, but much of its history has gone untold. The houses rare twostory urban slave quarters alone make it a mustsee stop on any tour of historic downtown savannah. At 16,000 square feet, it is also one of the largest houses in the city. Stick with me, friends, because this is going to be a long list. While researching my own book about savannah, i read a lot of nonfiction books about the area.
520 565 908 392 388 274 8 1361 1345 1092 487 436 308 161 1034 1102 937 352 769 969 825 769 621 337 640 1031 211 1275 73 957 226 1048 413 743 1032 1041 133 317 1297 20 536 245 517