Zach, the tour guide, was probably the best tour guide I've had. He said he's an antique collector himself, so he's definitely in the right line of business. The tour itself was quick and you only walk through the first floor (and can't take any pictures) but because of Zach's knowledge and expertise in everything that is in the Mercer Williams House, he made it very interesting. I didn't know anything about the lore of the murder and what is in the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, so he was very good at tying that into the tour for those who don't know the connection. Worth the tour if you're looking for tours in Savannah. read more

I came to Savannah for this, and it was an overwhelming experience to finally see it. I have been rereading Berendt's book every decade or so since it came out and I've been teaching it to students as part of a "nonfiction novel" class I've been teaching for about ten years. I was disappointed that so many of the people on my tour didn't know or care about Jim Williams. One group was whispering the whole time about where they were going for their next cocktail. (This was the noon tour--but no shade; Jim would approve!) Our tour guide was a fellow named L (just the letter), who was sort of rude and very persnickety. There were only certain times we could ask questions and he was pretty sarcastic and kind of mean. I actually sort of liked this as it matched with the vibes of the place, but I'm not sure everyone did. My main issue, as a scholar and professor, was that the tour completely straight-washed the story of Jim Williams. It was not mentioned one single time that Williams killed his hustler boyfriend Danny, and it was mentioned only once that a murder had occurred there at all. In short: This tour is light on queer social history and heavy on obscure architectural history. I think this was strategic on the tour guide's part, as lots of tours were filled with straight couples, including dudes who really wanted to know about wood refinishing. My recommendation would be to host one or two tours per week that are designed specifically for queer people. It's insane to me that the word "gay" wasn't uttered even once and it would have been nice to hear some background on how Williams' gay identity impacted him in late-80s Savannah. read more

Mercer Williams House - I LOVE this graffiti outside the house. - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Very interesting tour. The owner was an antique dealer and there are some great ones in this house. The house is beautifully decorated and also has a pretty interesting story behind it. read more

First, you can't take photos! This is still a private residence, where Jim Williams's niece lives on the second floor. You only tour the first floor. My ticket was 13.50. Tours run every 20-40 minutes and last about 45 minutes. My guide was Zach, and he was great! And I am very sorry I wasn't carrying cash, because he definitely deserved a tip for his fun, animated, engaging way of educating us about the house and the Williams legacy. This tour focuses more on the history of the home and the architecture. It is a nice home tour, though nothing especially amazing. Though I will say I love the deep colors each room is painted. What makes this stop interesting is seeing all the authentic photos of Jim Williams at his fancy parties and seeing how much Kevin Spacey actually looked like Jim Williams. One of the anecdotes Zach told us is how his niece felt like she had seen a ghost when Kevin Spacey walked out of wardrobe. They do talk about Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil some, but they don't get into the scandal or how true the rumors were about Jim's relationship with his "apprentice." And that's okay! You have the internet for that! Jim's niece also still runs an antique business out of the carriage house and they have a cool gift shop there too (reviewed separately). read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Anyone who is a fan of the "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" book needs to do the tour available of the Mercer House. It's so intriguing so get to walk the halls and see the walls of the home that hosted all those famous parties in the 1980's. This home has been around since it was built in the 1860's, and the history and architecture is stunning. Obviously most famous for Jim Williams renovation and murder, and seeing pieces from Jim's collection was so neat. A piece of history! Tour guide was great and I recommend learning more about this home to anyone, whether you've read the book or not. read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

If you've either read the book "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil" or seen the movie, going on the tour of the Mercer Williams House is a must stop on a trip to Savannah. First off, the architecture of the house is amazing. As we learned from the tour, the house was completely run down before Mr. Williams restored it. His eclectic artwork is all over as the house is still decorated exactly as he left it. The last stop on the tour is his study where the killing occurred. The combination of hearing the history of the house, as well as Savannah itself, along with details of the book, make this a very interesting tour and well worth the $14 admission. read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

If you have read or watched Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, you must take the tour of the house! You buy your tour ticket in the gift shop in the Carriage House off of Whitaker St behind the house. Tickets are reasonably priced - the total came to around $14. While waiting for your tour to start, definitely browse the two-story gift shop. There is a ton of interesting souvenirs, clothing, and decor that is curated by Jim Williams's niece who still lives in the home! You can't take pictures inside the gardens or the house, which is a bit of a bummer but understandable because someone still lives in the home. You tour the first floor of the home only. It's very cool to see the eclectic collection of decor that Jim Williams had in his home, as the home is still decorated as he left it when he died. The tour doesn't go in depth into the dramatic story of Jim Williams, so you need to read the book or watch the movie to get all the secrets! The tour guide was great! He could answer any question thrown his way. read more

Very interesting. Knowledgeable guide. Good Furniture and paintings. The house itself is very cool. 15' ceilings.

The Mercer Williams House tour is an absolute must when visiting Savannah. Our guide, Zach, was phenomenal -- an engaging master storyteller who brought the history of the house vividly to life. He kept us captivated throughout the entire tour with fascinating details, context, and passion for the story behind the home. You can tell he truly loves what he does, and it makes all the difference. If you're in Savannah, don't miss this tour, especially if you're lucky enough to have Zach as your guide. read more

This was one of the best tours that we took in Savannah. It's where the movie and book, "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" takes place. I have't seen the movie yet or read the book but I have heard a lot about it and it really brings it to life. Our tour guide was excellent and very knowledgeable. Inside was bigger than you would think. They don't allow pictures but we didn't mind. Also, you can't book tickets in advance but we got there in the morning and were able to go to the next tour. Definitely a must visit for movie buffs and book lovers and anyone interested in history! read more

I cannot say enough about this magnificent tour. $14 per person, around ~40 min, and my favorite tour I took in Savannah. My friend and I lucked out being the only guests on the final tour of the day, so we were able to ask many questions. Our guide, Daniel, was simply amazing. A master storyteller, he really engaged with us as he toured us through Jim Williams' wondrous collections and home. A must visit in Savannah! read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

This is a preservation gem thanks to the foresight and work of James "Jim" Williams in the late 1960s and 1970s. Started before the Civil War and finished afterwards in 1868, the house itself tells the 100-year story of Savannah starting with the Reconstruction period. For us, our interest in the house came from reading "In the Garden of Good and Evil" and seeing the movie. Definitely take the guided tour ($13.50 pp) of the grounds and 1st floor. The house is decorated with pieces from Jim Williams' private collection of antiques and artwork. He lived, worked and entertained here. His niece still lives in the house. Our guide did an excellent job of explaining the 19th century architecture and features of the house, 20th century changes, and Williams' preservation and furnishing. Definitely a highlight of visiting Savannah! read more

Mercer Williams House - Exterior -- Bull Street facing - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

I've been wanting to tour this home for years and finally got the chance today. The house is stunning and the art and decor are so lovely. Each room has been maintained perfectly and the holiday decor was magical. Zach, our tour guide was knowledgeable and talked us through each room during the tour. The framed photos of Jim and his family were so neat to see as well as production photos from the film. The Carriage House is a wonderful shop with carefully selected merchandise. Perfect blend of vintage items, antiques and artisan goods. This was a great experience and I appreciate the staff who were so helpful and kind. read more

After reading the book Midnight in Garden of Good and Evil we took a great tour by Mike. It's a quick 35 minute tour, but well worth the price of admission. It was great to see where the book was based off of. Be ware no photos are allowed to be taken during the tour. Hopefully you can get Mike as your tour guide. read more

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Great home with a great story for the "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" fans! The tour guide was great and very informative. This tour will be difficult for those with limited mobility. read more

Mercer Williams House - Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Beautiful historical home! Love stopping in when I pass through Savannah :) Also, go eat at the Olde Pink House!

It's been at least 15 years since I visited the Mercer Williams House before, so we visited again. Unfortunately, you only get to visit the first floor of the beautiful house because the upstairs is still living quarters for the family when they're in town. Weird. Thankfully, the tour is very inexpensive, so what you do get to see is worth the price of admission. What made this recent tour so great was our tour guide, and I'm sorry that I forgot his name. He said he was originally from New York City, though. He was so incredibly knowledgeable and detailed with his explanation of each room in the house we visited. His delivery of the tour highlights was impeccable. I almost felt like it was his house and he was giving us a tour of his own home and the artifacts inside. We were truly impressed. read more

Mercer Williams House - Exterior (no photos are allowed inside) - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

This tour is amazing!! If you loved the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, then this tour is for you! The priceless works of art are fantastic!! I had a wonderful time here! read more

I had not heard of the book or the movie "Midnights in the Garden of Good and Evil" when I took the tour of this historic mansion that has been so beautifully restored and maintained, it wasn't disappointing that I didn't have a previous awareness of the book/movie. The tour guide is warm and knowledgeable. The tour took 35 minutes and questions were encouraged and aptly answered. It's unfortunate that you are not taken upstairs on the tour but Jim William's niece has inherited the home and resides on the premises. It is also unfortunate that photos are not allowed. I assume that is to discourage people from ogling photos on yelp reviews in place of taking that actual tour. Overall it was a great addition to our girls trip to Savannah and we had our best souvenir purchases in the gift shop in the carriage house (so even if you don't have time to take the tour, stop in for the shop). read more

This was a very cool tour and our tour guide had worked for several members of the family. He was passionate about this house and it showed. The owner of the house dealt in antiques and the house was exquisitely decorated in furniture some of which even pre-dated the house. You can only tour the first floor as the family still uses the second floor as a home. The chandeliers, paintings and furniture are really neat to see, given the age. The house was used in several movies, one of which is the retelling of the story of the house owner who shot and killed someone: "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." It was really great to see where such an interesting event took place. read more

Always a great stop! Its like each time we visit, we always walk out with knowing more. The home is very well kept up and the folks are all too nice!! This past weekend we toured with a group of friends, many are all younger and they all valued the time there while not even knowing about "the book"... read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

A fun tour with a good storyteller. Too bad you can't go upstairs. The furnishings were remarkable. I would have liked to see the kitchen and heard more about how they did water before indoor plumbing. read more

Savannah is filled with history and ghost stories and more modern drama. This house is a worthwhile stop because the man shot was the basis of the book and movie "Midnight of the Garden of Good and Evil". You pay for an admission ticket in a snug gift shop. After a short wait we had a rather enthusiastic tour guide who showed us the gardens and first floor (by fire code No tours upstairs). The fact the home is quite old plus the eclectic decorating makes this an interesting stop aside from photos and stories about Clint Eastwood who produced the film and the actor Kevin Spacey who played the lead character. If you did walking or a tour trolley, take the time to stop in and experience something very unique. read more

Mercer Williams House - That is the house. Entrance for tours on side street, then turn left to gift shop/ticket sales. - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

The tour itself was not really about the murder, but more so about the artwork in the collections of Jim Williams, the previous owner. However, most people want to go there to see the room in the desk where the murder of Danny Hansfield took place. I will recommend it just more for historic purposes, and if you'd like to look at art and tapestry and rugs, but not necessarily for a tour of the murder. read more

First off, one star off because the older woman working the register in the carriage house was extremely snarky. We arrived around ten minutes early for our reserved tour time to pay for tickets and ended up in a lengthy line (this was last Saturday). However, we still reached the front of the line before our scheduled tour was set to begin. We let her know that we had reserved our tour time and she openly scoffed at us, asked why we didn't bother to show up early, and told us she had given our spots away. I am fine with being let down, but we had actually arrived early as instructed and just happened to end up in a line of ten people. I noticed while we were waiting that she was also being curt with other patrons. That being said, we were fortunate in being placed in the next tour group around 20 minutes later because we thought our guide was wonderful. No photos are allowed in the house or gardens and only the downstairs rooms are open, but they are sumptuous. It was clear that our guide really admired Jim Williams, who accomplished so much with his restoration of some of the grand houses of Savannah. Overall, although I was prepared for our experience to be unpleasant after dealing with the carriage house cashier, I really enjoyed our tour and we preferred this house to the Owens-Thomas house (if we had to pick!). read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

One of Savannah's most notable historic homes, the Mercer-Williams House is best known for the central role it played in John Berendt's 1994 true crime masterpiece, 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' -- or THE BOOK, as it's known by locals. It's where the late antiques dealer Jim Williams, who restored Mercer House in the early 1970s, allegedly shot and killed his male lover, Danny Hansford (Williams was eventually acquitted), and later died himself. The study where the shooting occurred is the last stop on the tour, which guides visitors through the home's spacious ground floor and outdoor garden. If you're a fan of THE BOOK, the Mercer-Williams House is a required visit. But even if you're not, this is an outstanding way to absorb Savannah history while seeing some amazing antiques from Jim Williams' personal collection. The tour takes about an hour, and covers the history of the home and Williams' restoration. Our guide tiptoed CAREFULLY around the Hansford shooting and the ensuing trial, but provided enough details to keep the tour interesting. Definitely worth a stop if you're visiting historic Savannah. read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Interesting tour and the home where a murder took place subject of the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Interesting story and piece of history. read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Hands down best tour ever. Short, sweet, full of fun and surprising facts even though I read the book (twice). Thanks Grady for a great one! read more

Mercer Williams House - Front of the house - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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I was in the midst of listening to the audiobook of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil when I visited this house and went on the guided tour which helped make the book come to life but its fascinating and beautiful whether you're familiar with the book, movie or the true events that inspired them. The home was beautifully restored and decorated. The tour guide had great information. The gift shop, like every gift shop in Savannah only has garbage for sale that nobody should ever take home with them. read more

I had heard about this house from previous tours around Savannah. Knowing this was not the home Johnny Mercer was born and raised, but the civil war-built house that Jim Williams made his own and allegedly shot someone in 1981 but was acquitted four times in court. Clint Eastwood shot A Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil here that was based on the non-fiction novel of the same night based on Jim Williams and his case. Therefore, visiting here made sense for a variety of reasons. We entered through the carriage house where the tour began. We visited the garden and the first floor of the house, seeing the dining room, the study where the shooting happened, a gorgeous looking bathroom, a living room and a parlor. The guide did a good job of explaining the history of the house, Jim Williams, and more. Hard to believe that this house was once considered ugly. Definitely didn't feel that way when we toured it. A good landmark to visit if you have never been to Savannah. read more

Blair was our tour guide and he was wonderful! Very knowledgeable about the history of the house, the inhabitants, antiques and the architecture. My husband, who had no prior knowledge of the house or 'The Book,' said this was the best tour he's ever been on. High praise indeed! Thanks for the great tour, Blair! read more

Mercer Williams House - Mercer House from the street - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Had to stop by here because of Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil (book and film)! Short tour, took about 45 minutes, but so interesting! The tour guide we had was excellent - he knew so much, and definitely had a way of describing the rooms and history of the house in a way that was informative and entertaining. Gift shop was super cute too! Definitely recommend stopping by here, especially if you've read the book or watched the Clint Eastwood movie. read more

This is one of the landmarks in Savannah I was most interested in visiting on a recent trip. The house is most famous for being the scene of a murder in the book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Before that happened though, the Mercer Williams house had a quite history long before Jim Williams moved in. Located in the southwest corner of Monterey Square, the house was designed by architect John S. Norris and built for Confederate General Hugh Weedon Mercer, the great-grandfather of Savannah's favorite son, songwriter Johnny Mercer. Construction was halted by the Civil War and Mr. Mercer never got a chance to live in the house. It was finally finished in 1868 by new owner John Wilder. The first tragedy that occurred at the house took place in 1969 during a time when the house was abandoned. Little 11 year old Tommy Downs was believed to have been pigeon hunting from either the roof or second floor balcony when he fell and his head became impaled on the spike of a fence post. it would not be the last terrible thing to happen at the Mercer-Williams House. The house is most famous for being the location of a crime in the 1980's. At the time it was the private residence of Savannah legend Jim Williams who spearheaded the preservation of Savannah's historic district with his his over 50 house restorations. In 1955 at the age of 24, Jim began purchasing and restoring houses. He purchased the Mercer Williams and spent two years fixing it up before making it is permanent residence in 1970 and using the carriage house at back for his antiques business. He was famous for his lavish parties. Things took a sad turn in 1981 when Jim Williams shot and killed his assistant and lover, 21 year old former prostitute Danny Hansford in his study. Williams claimed self defense and was tried four times for the crime, a record for the state of Georgia. He passed away at the age of 59 of heart failure from pneumonia on January 14, 1990, in the same study 8 months after finally being acquitted of murder. Rumors persist that the house is haunted by the ghosts of Jim Williams, Danny Hansford, and Tommy Downs. Today the house is owned by Jim Williams sister, Dorothy Kingery who lived there for 14 years with her daughter Susan. The Mercer-Williams house now operates as a museum open every day except Wednesday. It is open between 10:30 and 4 Monday through Saturday and on Sunday they open at 12. Adult tickets are 12.50 and tours run every 40 minutes. Since Dorothy Kingery still considers it a family home only the first floor and garden are open during the tour and no photos are allowed. Still if you are a fan of the most famous book about Savannah, you will want to include the Mercer-Williams house in your vacation plans. read more

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This house was the residence of John Williams from the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The tours are very often, you can get tickets in the back of the house in a gift shop. The tour is just the downstairs floor but is very informative. It's a cool house. Tour lasts about 20 minutes. read more

If you have seen the movie or read the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", then you have to come here. A true crime murder took place in the house. The tour was juicywith gossip and scandal. Love it ! It's also a beautiful historic house, bonus. read more

The tour was interesting and informative. The house was beautiful as well as all the furnishings and paintings etc. Worth it. read more

Great tour of this Historic Savannah hone still in the Family hands today. It is open for your visit whenever the family is not in town. Usually only closed at Holiday times when the family gatherings occur. The home is filled with heirlooms and antiques that are their just as they are when the family is in residence. Do make sure you see this Savannah treasure! read more

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We must have had Alex as our tour guide too, because he was very informative, and was happy to answer any questions we had about the house, Jim Williams, the murder, etc. You start the tour from the carriage house in the back of the lot. (The house takes up one full city block.) The carriage house is now a gift shop where you purchase your tickets and can shop/walk around waiting for the tour to start. When the tour starts you go outside the carriage house and are in the sunken garden of the back of the house. The garden was really tranquil and cute. Inside the house we learned its history. It was designed by New York architect John S. Norris for General Hugh W. Mercer. Construction of the house began in 1860, was interrupted by the Civil War and was later completed around 1868. Jim Williams bought the house in 1969 and restored it. He lived there until he died in the late eighties (I believe). I definitely wished I had watched the movie or read the book "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" before our trip to Savannah, but I feel that in touring the house I got a very good feel of the life of Jim Williams, and the murder that he was eventually acquitted for. Jim Williams loved to collect art, and had some really random pieces through out the house. Since there is a family living in the house (Jim William's sister), you only get to tour the main floor. Our tour guide did tell us that because there was only one staircase going upstairs that we couldn't tour the upstairs. We'd be in violation of Georgia fire code. In not really knowing the history of the house, it was still a good tour, and enjoyable. read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Stopped in to see some Savannah history during our vacation. A very cool and interesting mansion with a lot of history. Our tour guide was outstanding! He knew everything about the mansion and knew the answer to very obscure question. Loved the visit and the tour. A must see when in Savannah. Only about 30 minutes. read more

Mercer Williams House - Tours Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Great place, neat, unique and a must visit! This place is a must stop...elegant and awesome.