Savannah Plantation Tours Showcase the Best of Southern Architecture

Every year, more than 14 million people travel to Savannah, Georgia. Those considering a day trip or weekend excursion should set aside time to explore one of the area’s many gorgeous plantations and mansions. Savannah plantation tours offer a powerful, up-close introduction to the South’s history and architecture.

Below are a few of our recommended stops.

Owens-Thomas House

The Owens-Thomas House, built in 1819, is a National Historic Landmark. The home is perhaps best known for its stunning English Regency architecture, as well as its indoor plumbing system, which was considered very innovative at the time when the house was built.

During your tour of the house and grounds, you’ll have a chance to take in the English-inspired formal garden, as well as the original carriage house.

This structure is one of the South’s earliest intact slave quarters.

Rose Hill Mansion

Located about 30 miles north of Savannah, in Bluffton, South Carolina, a visit to Rose Hill Mansion is definitely worth including in your travel schedule. Construction on this mansion was completed in 1860, and it is a great example of the antebellum Gothic Revival style of architecture.

While you’re here, you can also explore the vast grounds of the mansion. The grounds include a wide expanse of lawn, beautiful shade trees, and even a lagoon.

Wormsloe Plantation

Wormsloe Plantation is the closest plantation to the city of Savannah that’s also open to the public. Formally known as Wormsloe Historic Site, this plantation is part of the state’s park system and dates back to the mid-18th century.

The estate is largely in ruins at this point, but it’s still worth including on your list of places to visit. It’s open for self-guided tours, so you can take your time and explore everything the site has to offer.

Sorrel-Weed House

If you want your Savannah tour to get a little spooky, consider visiting the Sorrel-Weed House (also known as the Francis Sorrel House). It’s a historic landmark and museum that represents a great example of Regency and Greek Revival architecture.

This was one of the first homes made into a state landmark in Georgia. Visit in the evening to take part in one of the house’s legendary ghost tours!

Green-Meldrim House

Found in the heart of Savannah on Madison Square, Green-Meldrim House is a must-visit if you want to take in a stunning mansion that features beautiful Gothic Revival architecture.

This house served as General Sherman’s headquarters in 1864 during Savannah’s federal occupation. Since 1943, it’s also served as the active parish house for St. John’s Episcopal Church.

The Green-Meldrim House was occupied by General Sherman late in the Civil War and is the location where the famed “40 Acres and a Mule” doctrine originated.

Discover Savannah’s Historic Architecture

Visitors don’t have to leave Savannah to take in historic Southern beauty. The charm of Savannah dates back to when it was the world’s largest cotton port. When cotton was king, the city controlled the prices of the world cotton market.

The Civil War destroyed a large portion of Georgia, but Savannah was spared. Numerous buildings around the tree-shaded squares are hundreds of years old. It provided the perfect setting for the popular novel “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.”