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Telfair Academy
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Info & Amenities
The Telfair Academy is the oldest public art museum in the South and the first art museum in America founded by a woman. Formerly the Telfair family mansion, the museum opened its doors to the public in 1886. The Telfair Academy presents a celebrated collection of fine art, decorative art, and period rooms, displayed within the stunning architectural setting designed by European architects William Jay and Detlef Lienau. It is also home to the Bird Girl statue made famous by the book Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Pets
- Service Dog Friendly
Hours of Operation
- Tue. 10am-5pm
- Wed. 10am-5pm
- Thur. 10am-5pm
- Fri. 10am-5pm
- Sat. 10am-5pm
- Sun. 10am-5pm
The Telfair Academy, located on Telfair Square in the heart of the city’s famous historic district, has been Savannah’s wedding reception location of choice for decades. Tracing its history to 1883, the Telfair is the oldest public art museum in the South. Designed by English architect William Jay and completed c. 1820, the Telfair Academy is a National Historic Landmark building. This elegant building provides every event held there with a backdrop of world-class art and historic architecture. With its romantic, three-story Rotunda, classically beautiful Sculpture Gallery, remarkable period rooms, and intimate galleries featuring works from temporary traveling shows and from the museum’s own permanent collection, the Telfair Academy will make any size event truly memorable. The two largest rooms in the Telfair Academy are the Rotunda and the Sculpture Gallery. The Rotunda can accommodate as many as 100 for a sit-down dinner and 150 for a cocktail reception. The Sculpture Gallery can accommodate up to 100 for a sit-down dinner and 150 for cocktails.The facility provides ample room for musicians and dancing.
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Old meets new and past, present and future intersect at Telfair Museums, making it the perfect venue to say I do. Whether you prefer a National Historic Landmark steeped in history or a modern, state-of-the-art building, you’re sure to find the perfect venue for your special day at one of our sites. The Telfair Academy has been Savannah’s wedding reception location of choice for decades. Designed by English architect William Jay and completed c.1820, this elegant building provides every event held there with a backdrop of world-class art and historic architecture. With its romantic, three-story Rotunda, classically beautiful Sculpture Gallery, remarkable period rooms, and intimate galleries featuring works from temporary traveling shows and from the museum’s own permanent collection, the Telfair Academy will make any size event truly memorable.
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Facilities Overview
Meeting Rooms: 2
TripAdvisor® Reviews
TripAdvisor Traveler Rating
Lin X | May 27, 2026Bird Girl Statue
One of my favorite films remains Midnight In the Garden of Good & Evil. Seeing the 1936 Bird Girl statue by Sylvia Shaw Judson has been on my bucket list for some time. It was worth it to purchase ...
scott r | May 22, 2026Worth seeing, especially if you've done the Owen-Thomas as it is included in the ticket
This was my last item during a two day visit, and I'm glad I included it - it was a good break from all the house tours. Not a large museum (they tell you at the start '5 floors' and you wonder how ...
Gregory M | Apr 24, 2026Excellent Small Art Museum: And, Yes, It Has the Bird Girl
We have visited art museums, large and small, all over the world and thought that while this is a smaller museum, the setting and works make it an excellent attraction for anyone interested in art or ...
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