Ready to uncover a treasure trove of art and history? We are standing before the Telfair Museums. It is not just one building. It is a complex of three unique structures. Each represents an innovative expression of its time.
The Telfair Museums is the oldest public art museum in the South. Its story begins with Mary Telfair. She was a visionary Savannahian. In 1883, Mary bequeathed her home to the Georgia Historical Society. She wanted it opened as a museum.
Today, the Telfair Museums includes the Telfair Academy. It also includes the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters. Both are National Historic Landmarks. They were built in the early 19th century. Finally, there is the contemporary Jepson Center for the Arts.
Each building houses a collection. It corresponds to the era in which it was built. Together, they bridge centuries of art and architecture. They illustrate Savannah’s continuum of art and history.
The Telfair Academy was once a family mansion. English architect William Jay designed it. In the 1880s, it was adapted into an art gallery. It houses 19th and 20th-century American and European art. You will find paintings, sculptures, and decorative arts.
The Owens-Thomas House is another William Jay design. It is considered one of the finest examples of English Regency architecture. It showcases decorative art from the late 18th to the early 19th century. The site includes rare, intact urban slave quarters. There is also an elegant parterre garden. This offers a glimpse into the lives of both the wealthy residents and the enslaved people.
The Jepson Center for the Arts is a modern contrast. Moshe Safdie, an internationally acclaimed architect, designed it. It is devoted to art of today.
Mary Telfair was born in 1791 and died in 1875. She laid the groundwork for the first public art museum in the South. She became the first woman to found a museum in the United States. The Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences opened to the public in 1886.
The Telfair Museums offers diverse and original programming. It has done so for more than 130 years. It presents over 250 free programs each year. These include free family weekends. There are also free tours and workshops for students and seniors. Therapeutic patients and veterans are welcome.
The Telfair Museums’ mission is to provide art for all. It aims to engage everyone in the community. This is regardless of background, income, or need. The goal is to change lives through art.
So, step inside. Explore the Telfair Academy, the Owens-Thomas House, and the Jepson Center. Experience the art, history, and architecture that make this museum complex so unique. One ticket grants entrance to all three sites. It allows a full week to visit them all. Prepare to be inspired by the legacy of Mary Telfair.