Forever Docked in History: Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum

Savannah's history has always been tied to the sea.

From the 200-ton ship Anne, which brought founder General Oglethorpe and the first 114 colonists in 1733, to William Scarborough's SS Savannah steamship, which sailed for England in 1819, our oceanic connection runs deep. Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum has held fast to preserving that legacy.

Greek Revival architecture at its finest, the museum occupies the former home of William Scarborough, a shipping merchant and Savannah Steamship Company president. While the home has undergone several transformations, Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum made its mark in 1995. This self-guided museum features nine indoor galleries displaying 18th- and 19th-century ship models (including the Anne and SS Savannah), maritime paintings, antiques, artifacts, and Civil War history, along with two acres of beautifully lush historic gardens.

Maritime events bring together artists, authors and historians. Educational experiences for students and adults also nod to the building's former role as the West Broad Street School for African American children, which operated from 1878 to 1962 and lasted more than 80 years.

Its historic gardens host cocktail hours, weddings and corporate events and serve as a venue for the annual Savannah Music Festival. This National Historic Landmark's roots stretch beyond its brick and mortar, woven into a city that prides itself on preserving the past. From our cotton and trade capital history and construction and defense efforts in WWII to the present-day Georgia Ports Authority, one of the largest ports in the country, the ocean is what connects us. And at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, that history remains firmly anchored for generations to come.