Two Must-See Savannah Museums: Telfair Museums

In the heart of Savannah, Georgia’s historic district, the Telfair Academy and Jepson Center offer two completely different, ways to experience Savannah’s art and culture. Together, these two museums showcase art and sculptures from the city’s historic roots to contemporary pieces.

If you’re an art lover, history enthusiast, or simply looking for an indoor activity on a hot day, a visit to the Telfair Museums is a fun way to spend some time beyond the city’s famous squares and cobblestone streets.

Explore Savannah’s Telfair Museums: Two Unique Art Experiences

When we visited the Owens-Thomas House our ticket included a visit to the Telfair Academy as well as the Jepson Center, the three sites are part of the Telfair Museums. You have one week from the time of your ticket purchase to visit all three sites.

Telfair Academy

Stepping into the Telfair Academy feels like traveling back to the elegance of 19th century Savannah. As a bonus you can explore one of the South’s most important art collections. Housed in a beautifully preserved neoclassical mansion overlooking Telfair Square, the Academy is one three Telfair Museums.

My main objective in going to the Telfair Academy was to view the popular Bird Girl Statue. This is the statue that made the cover of the book Midnight in Garden of Good and Evil. We visited the Bonaventure Cemetery earlier in the week where the statue was originally located.

The museum is a two-story historic mansion. As you enter the first room on your right is the original drawing room of the Telfair family. It is now the gift shop and where you show your ticket.

This art museum is the oldest of it’s kind in the South. It is a beautiful mansion opened as a public art museum in 1886. A visit blends fine art, architecture, and local history into one experience.

You can walk directly across from here to see the Octagon Room and the dining room, however we went to see the art galleries first.

In the entrance there is a large rotunda in the middle with stairs going down to the sculpture gallery on the lower level

Sculpture Gallery

The Sculpture Gallery has a half dozen plaster cast replicas as well as 19th century art.

Bird Girl Statue

When we visited The Bird Girl statue it was in the center of the sculpture gallery. It is usually in the upper galleries, but they were remodeling that room. Due to the statue’s popularity, The Bird Girl, statue was moved to the museum. It was created by Sylvia Shaw Judson in 1936.

Rotunda Gallery

After viewing the sculptures, we went back upstairs to see the Rotunda Gallery. Kind of cool knowing people more than hundred years ago walked through this mansion’s massive hallways to see the same art you’re viewing today.

La Parabola by Lauret was my favorite piece of art at the Telfair. I found it fascinating. All of the women are young on the left side and as they walk across the stairs they get older.

Dining Room

At the end of our self-guided tour we checked out the Telfair family’s 19th century dining room. The walls were complete with murals.

How Much Time is Needed?

The Telfair Academy is not large. The rooms house oversized pieces of art and sculptures, however you can visit the museum in as little as 30 minutes or spend up to 2 hours.

I could have spent more time at the Jepson Center than the Telfair Academy. I would allow at least 1-2 hours.

Jepson Center & Telfair Childrens Art Musuem

The Jepson Center wasn’t even on my list to visit and we almost didn’t. Since it was only one block from the Telfair Academy we went and I am so glad we did. Across from Telfair Square this contemporary museum is a striking contrast to Telfair Academy.

A soaring glass atrium welcomes you and sweeping staircase guides you to light-filled galleries. This was one of those unexpected activities that turned out to be such a great find.

There are three stories and an outdoor art sculpture gallery on the third floor. The Children’s museum is on the first and second floor.

Children’s Art Gallery

I loved the Children’s Museum and I’m not a kid. The Landscape Gallery, in the Children’s Art Museum, was my favorite area. What a cool way to introduce kids to impressionism.

After learning about Impressionism you’re guided to an immersive flower garden with sights and sounds included. It kind of reminded me of the immersive Monet exhibit we went to, but at a smaller level.

Art Galleries – 3rd Floor

The primary art galleries include: the Steward Gallery, Lewis Gallery, Varnedoe Gallery, Levitt Gallery, and Kane Gallery. All of these are located on the third floor. They have both permanent and rotating exhibits. I personally loved the Southern Art collection of metal art.

Sculpture Gallery

Outside on the third floor there are two sculpture galleries.

Which Telfair Museum Should You Visit?

I would recommend visiting both the Telfair Academy and the Jepson Center for two completely different experiences.

Tip

Both Museums are closed on Monday, so plan to visit another day of the week.

To find out the most current exhibits visit → Telfair Academy

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