Ships of the Sea at William Scarbrough House

Why go

William Scarbrough was a principal owner of the SS Savannah, whose 1819 Atlantic crossing made steamship history. The museum's models turn that connection into a broader account of ocean travel, including vessels tied to Georgia's founding and the transatlantic slave trade. The house and gardens make the port's ambitions visible on land as well as at sea.

What to look for

• A model of the SS Savannah connects the house's owner with the 1819 ocean crossing.
• Other ship models include the Anne and the Wanderer, vessels with very different roles in Georgia history.
• The garden offers a quieter view of the mansion's setting.

The full story

William Scarbrough built this neoclassical house during an era when Savannah's fortunes depended heavily on ships and the port. He was a principal owner of the SS Savannah, which crossed the Atlantic in 1819 using both sails and steam power. Inside, ship models broaden the story beyond technological achievement. The Anne recalls the voyage that brought James Oglethorpe and Georgia's first colonists; the Wanderer points to the later illegal importation of enslaved Africans. Those vessels show how maritime history can carry settlement, commerce and exploitation at once. Its present museum use connects the ambitions of a shipowner with the wider traffic that shaped the city. A later extra floor was eventually removed, returning the house closer to its earlier outline.

Useful to know

• Look at the house exterior before entering the ship galleries so its owner's connection is clear.
• Check floor access before visiting if stairs are a concern; the garden and main floor differ from the upper rooms.

Your next visit

Estimated · Declared scenario and planning estimates; no live opening, weather, queue or booking service.