Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters - Savannah, Georgia

Constructed in 1819 for slave trader Richard Richardson, the Owens-Thomas House was innovative for its time, and is a marvel to examine today. A knowledgeable tour guide conducts you through the house's many rooms and crannies, and explains the fascinating background of the owners who had slaves living both in the main house and in the adjoining slave's quarters, which you also tour. You get an up-close examination not only of the bedrooms, drawing room, kitchen, dining room and other standard parts of a wealthy property owner's home, but also a look at the house's backstage workings, seeing a cross section of the thick walls and the interior of a cistern, as well as what remains of the unrestored bathing quarters. The house was quite unusual by having indoor plumbing, and some traces of that still remain. Another creative feature of the house is an arched bridge between staircases, connecting one part of the house with the other. A tour that all ages should find interesting and informative.

If you go:
Open by guided tour only, Tuesday through Saturday 10 to 5 and on Sunday and Monday from 12 to 5. Last tour begins at 4:20. The tours start every 20 minutes and last about 45 minutes. The Owens-Thomas House is one of the Telfair Museums, along with Jepson Center and Telfair Academy.

Phone Numbers:

Telfair Museums
+1 (912) 790-8800