I came here to see the Bird Girl statue and was not disappointed. The museum is free to visit on Sundays, which is fabulous! They have so much gorgeous art here, too, besides the iconic statue. read more

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The Telfair is a beautiful albeit small classical art museum housed in a historic mansion. A $30 ticket gets you into the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, the Telfair Academy, and the Jepsen Center. It's definitely worth it to stop in on the Telfair Academy to get your money's worth! There are several floors of artwork, but each floor is relatively small. The architecture of the building is stunning! I think I breezed through the museum in about one hour. The Telfair Academy is the location of the statue from the cover of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil! If you're a fan of the book/movie, make sure to stop in to see the statue and read more about the history of Bonaventure Cemetery! read more

Telfair Academy - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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Great experience to be able and go through and see so many marble sculptures and paintings dated back to 1800s. read more

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Very limited selection, but what they had was very good to see and check out. We got this museum as part of another package we bought. Definitely a nice spot to check out while walking around Savannah. read more

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This is part of a trio of museums/historical sites. There is the Telfair Academy, which is classical art. Jepson Center, which includes a children's section, and focuses on modern art, and then the Owen Thomas house, a historical home with "slave quarters." You can purchase entry to one for 30 dollars and it covers your entry for the other two. So three sites for 30 bucks? That's a steal. Telfair academy is a historic mansion (read: rich people) that became an art museum in 1886, making it one of the first 10 art museums in America and the oldest public museum in South. And the first founded by a woman. The art is mainly 19 and 20th century American and European art. The bird girl from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil is housed here. They have some cool folk art I enjoyed (folk art is one of my faves). The architecture is the main star here. I loved the sweeping vistas and giant portraits, making beautiful vignettes. The gift shop has some classy, elegant things at a pretty good price. read more

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I took two tours with Old Savannah Tours and one was a ghost tour. The ghost tour happened to grant you access to the first floor of the Telfair. Go figure! Apparently the Telfair belonged to a woman who hated men and this woman to this day happens to haunt the museum. Personally I can't say anything weird happened at the museum, but the guide had said she had had weird things happen to her in the past. At any rate, the art collection is lovely and it made me wish I had had time to go back and visit the other floors or the Telfair. Definitely something on my list for my next visit to Savannah. read more

Telfair Academy - Exterior. - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Cute little museum thats part of a trio of museums. It's fairly small but still has some great art work on display. read more

Telfair Academy - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Fairly standard smallish art museum situated in a nice historic house. Part of the 3-for package with the Owens-Thomas house and the Jeppson Art museum. Expect to spend about an hour here. The highlight is the famous black marble statue of the girl from the novel "Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil." All said, this art museum does fit well with the general tourist theme that is Savannah. The art here is more of the standard old paintings and sculptures of the 18th century. The Jeppson art museum houses more contemporary art pieces. read more

This is a nice thing to do if you've been to Savannah a million times, or staying for a long time, or just want to see the bird girl because you're a fan of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil AKA THE BOOK! The architecture and the history is cool. When you buy a ticket, you get 3 locations for $20, which is awesome. You get the Telfair Academy, Jepson Center and the Owens House and Slave Quarters. The do give a military discount. There is street parking around the square. read more

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It's not bad. Not great either. Worth a visit though! I thought about a quarter of the art on display was really interesting. The gift shop, like every gift shop in Savannah is totally worthless. read more

Telfair Academy - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Small and charming art museum in a converted historic house. An elevator makes disabled access easy to all 5 floors. The famous Bird Girl from Bonaventure Cemetery is here for safekeeping. Figure about an hour to see everything. One admission allows you to also see the Jepson Center as well as the Owens Thomas House. A good value for all 3 places and the admission ticket is valid for a week, so you don't need to rush to see everything in one day (unless that's your jam). Recommended! read more

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I didn't spend as much time as I would have liked to during my visit because I had an appointment to get to, but I did get enough of a glimpse to say the art and sculptures are worth the trip. The tour is self guided and again, with usage of an audio guide accessed from your smartphone. Here is additional info to describe the museum found on Wikipedia -- "The Telfair Academy is a historic mansion at 121 Barnard Street in Savannah, Georgia. It was designed by William Jay and built in 1818, and is one of a small number of Jay's surviving works. It is one of three sites owned by Telfair Museums. Originally a family townhouse belonging to the Telfair family, it became a free art museum in 1886, and thus one of the first 10 art museums in America, and the oldest public art museum in the South. Its first director, elected in 1883, was artist Carl Ludwig Brandt, who spent winters in Savannah. It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1976." read more

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We visited this museum on a Saturday morning when they opened (at 9 a.m.). You were still required to wear a mask while inside (likely due to local government mandates). The ticket you buy entitles you to visit 3 museums: the Telfair Academy, the Jepsom Gallery, and a 3rd location (some sort of slave quarters?). We were only available to visit museums for the same day, and they noted when we bought our ticket that the slave quarters required advance reservations and / or an up to 1-hour wait... We first visited the Academy. It is spread over 3 floors, with interesting architecture and period furniture. We spent over an hour here looking at the art. They mostly have paintings from the 1800s and early 1900s. There is also some sculpture. The architecture of the old mansion is interesting too. They also have the famous 'bird girl' statue on display. This is a worthwhile place to visit for its art. We took a lunch break and then visited the Jepsom Gallery. This was much more oriented to modern art and was not as interesting, IMO. We did cover this museum on all floors, but it was not as interesting as the first one. We did not have time to visit their 3rd location. If you have time, I think the Telfair Academy building is worth checkign out. read more

Telfair Academy - Bird Girl - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Savannah...you don't come here for the art, or at least very few people do. However, it was raining like crazy all afternoon, and we just wanted to be somewhere indoors, with AIR CONDITIONING! Added Bonus: the art was pretty good too! I'm no art history major or a self taught hippy painter, but appreciate a good painting, elegant sculpture, or the weird modern pieces that old conservatives can't stand. $20 per an adult, but that also gets you into a couple other attractions too, such as the historical Owens House. read more

Not a fan. Big admission price to see the bird girl statue that used to be public. Not a fan at all. Skip it. read more

Telfair Academy - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

Visiting Savannah for the first time, we checked out both the Jepson Center and the Telfair Academy. We enjoyed our time at the two-story, 200-year old mansion that sits in the historic district of Savannah. Inside the 19th century-period rooms are a wealth of American and European art, all of which makes for a well-worth visit if you're into historical buildings and art museums. Currently, the oldest public art museum in the South and the first in the U.S. founded by a woman, the Telfair will take you in with its architectural design and vast works of art that Mary Telfair accumulated throughout her life. The mansion itself includes several rooms with a very regal but European sophistication. read more

This was the last of the 3 Telfair properties we visited, and full disclosure, we were on a time crunch. We had about 30 minutes and got through it pretty quickly. First off, they have reserved parking, which is awesome. You just park in one of the designated spots and then go inside to get a pass to put on your dash. Like the Owens house, they have an audio tour that is included. You go to the numbers and press play on your phone. The overviews are brief, which I liked and they gave you just enough info that if you are really interested, you can research later or at the physical exhibit in front of you. The highlight of the house for me was the rotunda with the large art. A large portion of the third floor was under construction, so wasn't open. read more

This was a unique chance to visit downtown Savannah and check out the Telfair Museum. This was actually part of a stop on a ghost tour I was on which was an added perk. The museum is interesting to see, but my group was limited to the area to visit. If you'd like to see the full location, I would suggest you book a tour of the museum directly. read more

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This museum was so cool. It has 5 floors of art and rooms filled with original furniture pieces and art that some dated to the 17th century. It took us about an hour to get through it all, but it was well worth it. I will go back again. read more

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Literally so confused how this beautiful museum has anything less than 5 stars...? Its a lovely mix of curated 1800s-1900s art and you get a peak at the architecture and living quarters at that time. It's a mix of so many beautiful modalities. It has 3 floors and gorgeous furniture to sit and gaze at some awe inspiring pieces. To be fair, we came on the Savannah Locals day so our tickets were free but I would go and gladly pay the 20+$ to spend an hour or two. read more

Telfair Academy - One of the original sitting rooms for the Telfair family, lovingly restored - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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I very much enjoyed this museum. All the paintings were old and historic - nothing new. After walking around in the Georgia summer, it was nice to go inside and cool off. There is ample seating and open space to view everything without getting in someone else's way. My favorite part was the dining room setup. read more

I eagerly anticipated my visit here because every time I've been in Savannah over the years, my timing never worked out. I made it a point, this time, to come to Savannah just to come here. Maybe my expectations were too high but the Telfair is only fair. Sure, it's a great old building with a long history. The Rotunda Gallery is an expansive and impressive room to lounge about looking at the paintings on the wall. The upstairs galleries are tiny, though, and bumping into other visitors can't be helped. Currently, the 'Bird Girl' sculpture made famous from being on the cover of the novel 'Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil' is the reason many folks visit Telfair at all. Honestly, the girl looks out of place here and I wish she were back at Bonaventure Cemetery. If you're looking for the bulk of the better paintings and sculpture, take the stairs down to the basement. Basement is the applicable term here because the large room looks more suited to bake sales and PTA meetings than a place for art. Get past, though, and there are some very good works from the 19th and 20th centuries. My favorite is the giant sculpture, 'Laocoön and His Sons.' When the United States was younger, acquiring art meant obtaining plaster copies of iconic European originals. It was common practice. The marble original of this one, dating from the early first century, resides at The Vatican in Rome. This plaster cast copy dates to around 1893 and it looks a bit lost down here. It deserves a more dramatic space. read more

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This museum, which was included in the ticket price for the Owens-Thomas House and Slave Quarters, provided a diversion while we waited for our tour time. We had just over and hour and were told that was sufficient to view the Telfair, which was about a 10-minute walk away. It was a rushed visit but we did get to see everything in this small museum. That included a hodgepodge of paintings, statues, and furniture. It was a satisfactory diversion but not one I'd recommend unless you have an art interest. There wasn't much in each format or style, so the Telfair was more a sampler of artists you've likely not heard of. There were no Monets, Mattises, Rembrandts, Da Vincis, or Remingtons for example. Tours are self guided. read more

What a wonderful little art museum in the heart of Savannah. Yes it is small. No it is not the Louvre. But it was a very classy mansion about 150 years ago. And now it is home to many pieces of great artwork. My favorite part is the main gallery because it houses some of the oldest paintings on display but also there is a comfy couch that offers 360 degree views of the art while classical music plays over the speakers, transporting you to Savannah of the 1800s. Definitely worth a visit! read more

The two ladies sitting at the desk were extremely rude. First, they didn't speak when we entered. My husband and I were looking for one of a kind trinkets and felt like this would offer a unique experience. While we were looking at the items, in the shop, one lady yelled at us asking if we already purchased tickets for the museum. Who knew you had to purchase tickets to go into a souvenir shop--not the actual museum. From the little bit we did see, it was underwhelming and I wouldn't dare waste a penny on anything in there--including walking through it. Poor customer service. Overpriced. Unnecessary read more

I was very glad to have gone to a museum before leaving Savannah. When you purchase a ticket at the Telfair Academy, you gain access to two other museums. I did not imagine how beautiful it was inside the museum. The art collection and exhibits were also very good. If you haven't come here, I would suggest checking it out! It's a good way to spend a few hours in your morning/afternoon. read more

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The correct name for this collection is the Telfair Academy of Arts & Sciences. And if that isn't impressive enough, consider that this is the oldest public art museum in the South and the first art museum in America founded by a woman, Mary Telfair. By the way, Miss Mary is said to haunt the building, shaking paintings on the walls from time to time. I noticed several one and two star reviews of this institution. Well, no accounting for taste! If you're expecting huge, rambling exhibitions that boggle the mind, then perhaps those lesser reviews may be accurate, at least in the eyes of the reviewers. But if you're looking for a truly eclectic collection of not only fine art but photographs, furniture, porcelain, personal memorabilia and statuary, to say nothing of the magnificent architecture, then the five stars I awarded are more than justified. There are three floors (including the basement) of galleries, all worthy of your perusal. On the second floor, the family's bed rooms have been converted to display many of the objects of the permanent collection plus small, temporary visits. Many of the family's memorabilia are in these galleries. Four galleries compose the ground floor: the Octagon Room, the Dining Room, the Drawing Room and the Rotunda Gallery. The Octagon Room was used for receiving guests in the earlier years of the house and as a sitting room in later years. Like the Dining and Drawing Rooms, it contains much of the home's original furniture, all of which is beautifully preserved. The Rotunda Gallery dominates the ground floor. With the exception of two pianos and a round cushioned seating area, the room is devoted to oil paintings, including one of Miss Mary Telfair. One look and you know she was not one to be trifled with; she, indeed, looks as if she would be perfectly capable of haunting the house! The basement area consists of the kitchen and the Sculpture Gallery. The kitchen is an excellent representation of the era in which it operated. Even the soot in the fireplace is original! After viewing all the implements needed to cook a meal for the Telfairs, anyone who appreciates the culinary arts will be thankful they live in this day and age! The Sculpture Gallery is a wonderful collection of copies of both Greek and Roman works. Of particular interest are "Laocoon and HIs Sons" and "The Dying Gaul." Don't let the negative reviews keep you from visiting the Telfair Academy; just enter with an open mind and be prepared to be rewarded by this unique collection. I believe you'll consider your visit time very well spent. read more

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Telfair is must if you're an art lover visiting Savannah. This museum is has a variety of classic art from around the 1800s-1900s. This museum is a nice choice if you're not into modern art. Telfair is one of the most beautiful museums I've visited. From the art to the furniture, everything is impeccable. I could sit in here all day just admiring the beauty of the building. There are three floors in total showcasing different art styles. I highly recommend visiting Telfair if you're looking for something to do and want to see some spectacular art and architecture. read more

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Beautiful/massive exhibit+ entry at this exhibit gets you access to two other museums so well worth the price. Feels very special to be in the presence with some of the pieces and quite historic being the first southern art museum! read more

I can't say that the collection is all that impressive, especially because the impressionist works aren't on display right now. We enjoyed our visit, though, mainly because of our engaging tour guide, Jackie. She told the story of Mary Telfair in a way that made the founder of the museum come alive. She also did a great job of explaining how the Telfair home had been transformed into the museum. read more

Telfair Academy - Interior grand salon - Museums Near Me - Savannah, Georgia

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The museum was beautiful. You can get through it in 30 mins. The pictures invoked emotions. I recommend going. However, the girl at the front desk was awful. My friend asked her to repeat herself because she couldn't hear through her mask and the plexiglass. The girl then preceded to yell at us. Every question she asked or answered she yelled and spoke slowly as if we were def and dumb. I would never want her as the face of any type of business. It happened as we were checking out and buying stuff. And continued for several mins. Had it happened in the beginning, we wouldn't have gone in. Not an example of southern hospitality. More like a spoiled brat. read more

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I'll be honest, we only came to see the bird girl statue which we did. We were in a rush so didn't take the time to see anything else. The room we did see had interesting information about the cemetery here which we had visited two of the four mentioned. read more

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Fantastic museum with a couple of very large-format paintings. Excellent small collection, and you get a second museum and parking for free!

A great place to see beautiful art works. In the 3rd floor they have a great big room with huge paintings and some music in ot..its my fav place to go to when ever i dont feel right or sad read more

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Came here with the Ghost tours... it was just "meh"... the security said they've never seen any ghost or anything that seemed creepy. So not impressed. Though the painting of the circle of life was pretty neat. I wouldn't have paid $20 to come here... way overpriced. read more

It's true that Telfair is rather small and that certain folks would probably consider it a stretch to describe it as an art gallery/museum, but it still houses a fairly nice collection of artwork by some both famous and lesser-known artists, as well as some local names familiar to the Savannah art scene. Clearly, no one would confuse it with MOMA, but its intimacy and quirkiness in no way should be considered a detraction from what it is- a great little "must see" stop on anyone's list who is coming to Savannah for the first time, as well as a "local flavor" highlight for long-time denizens of this beautiful, historic city. I think Telfair is a "bucket list" kind of place, somewhere you should visit at least once and check off the "list" even though it's not the Eiffel Tower or Buckingham Palace. Admission is by no means free and the price has risen a bit over the years, but I don't think that the cost is so exorbitant to complain about in the way that some people do. Look at how much money people throw away on things like cigarettes and lotto tickets. There are far more expensive luxuries in life than admission to Telfair. Hit up one of the huge museums in NYC, Boston or Chicago and then see what I mean. The first time that I saw the famous "Bird Girl Statue" (popularized by the publication of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil") of Savannah was right here in the Telfair. I loved it. read more

This museum is one of three that are run "together" your ticket includes admission to all of them. The Jepsen Art Museum and the Owens Thomas house museum. Overall each museum is smallish but interesting. This one has the least amount to see of the three. Staff at all museums were very friendly and nice, it's a fun way to spend some time on a hot day but if you have limited time I wouldn't select this as a must see. read more

Beautiful exhibits in a smaller venue. Worth the admission price as you get to visit three sites.

If you like small house museums, this is the place for you. Are there Monet and Degas? Nope. BUT it's a lovely house and they have a delightful collection of local art (especially American impressionists, probably about 30 works). They also have some small historical exhibits and period rooms. The nearby affiliated Jepson Center has a nice rotating collection of modern work. Is this museum by itself worth the price admission? Probably not. But it also gets you into two other museums (the Jepson, which does modern art, and the Owens-Thomas House, a period museum which does tours). I didn't do Owens-Thomas, but I felt like the combined value of the Jepson and the Academy close enough. read more

Get the combo ticket and go to Telfair for older art, Jepson for modern art, and Owens for a restored historic house. None is spectacular in itself. Remember, this is Savannah, not a huge city like Washington or NYC with awesome museums. But there are some gems to be seen and, if you're lucky, an interesting special exhibition might be up when you visit. read more

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