Savannah TourPass
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Built as a beautiful Regency style mansion in 1819, the Owens-Thomas House, along with its adjacent gardens, carriage house, and slave quarters, allows visitors to explore the complicated relationships between the most and least powerful people in the city of Savannah in the early 19th century.
History of the Richardson-Owens-Thomas House
In November 1816, work began on the new home of banker, shipping merchant, and slave trader Richard Richardson and his wife, Frances. The home was designed by English architect (and relative to Richardson by marriage) William Jay, but was constructed by builder John Retan and the team of free and enslaved men in his charge. The site also included a two-sided privy and a building located on the east end of the lot, which was divided into a carriage house and slave quarters.
The Richardsons moved into the home with their six children and nine enslaved men, women, and children in January 1819. Unfortunately for the Richardsons, the next three years saw steady decreases in their prosperity, including the financial Panic of 1819, a yellow fever epidemic, a fire that destroyed half the city, and the death of Frances and two of the children. By 1822, Richardson decided to sell the house and move to Louisiana, where he had family and business interests. He had been shipping enslaved people, mostly children, from Savannah to New Orleans for years.
By 1824, the Bank of the United States owned the house, which they leased to Mary Maxwell as a boarding house. The Marquis de Lafayette was a guest of Mrs. Maxwell when he visited Savannah in March 1825 as part of his whirlwind tour of the United States for the 50th anniversary of the American Revolution.
In 1830, George Welshman Owens, then mayor of Savannah, purchased the property at auction for $10,000. Owens, who was also a lawyer, planter, and politician, moved in with his wife, Sarah, and their six children in 1833. Over the years, Owens kept nine to 15 enslaved people on the property and held almost 400 men, women, and children in bondage on his plantations.
The last Owens descendant to live in the home was George Owens’ granddaughter, Margaret Gray Thomas. When Thomas passed away in 1951 with no direct heirs, she willed the house to the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences to be run as a house museum in honor of her grandfather, George Owens, and her father, Dr. James Gray Thomas. The site opened to the public in 1954.
Carriage House
Orientation Gallery
The south half of this building originally housed horses and carriages on the first floor with a hay loft on the floor above. Beginning in;November 2018, the first level of this building will house our Orientation Gallery. Exhibits in this space help put the story of the site into the larger context of local, regional, and national history. The site of the original hay loft now houses The Loft, a workspace for Telfair’s historical interpreters to study primary documents, examine archaeological artifacts, and research our sites’ history.
Slave Quarters
The north half of the building contains the original slave quarters for the site. This two-story structure was composed of three rooms on each level. Nine to 15 enslaved people, about half of whom were children, lived and worked on the site at any given time between 1819 and the end of the Civil War. Once the war ended, the space became servants’ quarters, housing many of the same people.
Now these these wonderfully preserved spaces offer new interactive exhibits to help visitors understand the day-to-day lives of the enslaved people who lived and worked in the space, as well as the most unique architectural feature of the house, the indoor plumbing.
Holiday Closures:
Nearest Parking Garage: 100 East State Street, Savannah GA.
Hop On/Off Trolley: Stop #8 via Old Savannah Tours
See map below for address
We got the 4 day pass and spent 1 full week in Charelston. We scheduled 4 featured tours for each night/day and filled in the rest of the time with the amazing standard tours. It made our stay a great time. I recommend this pass.
We live in Jacksonville and regularly in St. Augustine for day trips or long weekends. Tour Pass was fantastic to use during a recent long weekend visit. We booked the two-day pass to take advantage of our favorite attractions with the added benefit of trying some new things we had not visited in the MANY trips to the Old City. Unfortunately, a hurricane forced the closure of many attractions in the middle of the day on Day 2 but an email to Tour Pass was quickly responded to and offered a great solution. We loved the opportunity to revisit some attractions we had seen before and were excited to experience some for the first time. We could squeeze in quite a few in the one and a half days . We were looking forward to using Tour Pass on our next visit to Savannah!
The tour pass was awesome! We had so much to do and it was very easy and convenient to use. Definitely worth purchasing. You really end up saving money. I wish they would have more than three days max. I would definitely purchase more days. It was a wonderful trip!
Tour guide was very knowledgeable! Pass was a great savings and allowed us to do a lot more things.
Tour Pass was very convenient. Places had my name when I arrived. Didn't have to buy tickets
Just showed my passed and I was in. Got alot for the money. I bought 3 day pass. Used it those 3 days in Charleston.
Me and my besties took advantage of the one day pass! Wow did we get our money’s worth! We didn’t get to do everything, but out of the stops we did visit, really worth the price!! I def recommend! Probs would do it again too!! Ha! Loved it, and such a great time visiting St. Auggie! ;)
While my spouse was attending a 2 Day conference in Savannah, I was able to explore this beautiful city on my own and it started with Tour Pass! For my first day in Savannah, I chose to purchase a Hop On/Hop Off 1 Day pass and that allowed me a way to familiarize myself with the city so that I could find my way on foot the following day with ease. I couldn't recommend Tour Pass more! From the very first stop, every person I interacted with that worked for the Trolley tour, I felt comfortable and was thoroughly entertained by all of the stories and sights. Southern hospitality is very real and genuine in Savannah, and I was welcomed to the city, given a narrated historical tour throughout the time I spent on the trolley and felt that I could easily navigate this tour on my own when I got off at each stop. There were three people I'd like to mention that were superior in their customer service and they were Bunny (Trolley Stand Customer Service), Tony ( a Trolley Driver) and Cat (Ticket collector). Thank you for helping a tourist felt welcomed and safe, too!
My family recently visited Charleston and the Tour Pass was the way to go! We chose the Carriage Ride, an absolute must! The Walking Ghost Tour was creepy for sure, but very entertaining and Fort Sumter was pretty cool also. We loved taking advantage of the Standard Features as well, enjoying free donuts and dole whip and the Fun Park was a highlight of the trip as well. The merchants were very friendly and happy to honor our pass. I wouldn’t go to Charleston again without taking advantage of the TourPass. 10 out 10!
Purchased the TourPass online in advance of our trip. We selected a two day pass which included 3 premium selections and as many standard selections we could fit in.
Slick, slick, slick! The premium tours tell you how many spots are available which made it easy to know if you have time to choose or pick right away. Once selected you just go at the appointed time and tell the provider you are using tourpass. Your name is on their list! Worked flawlessly!
The Standard tours is just as simple. You go, tell them you have tourpass, you click a button, the provider gives you a code which you type in and click submitt. That's it! Enjoy!
This system works great and is a savings. Makes scheduling your vist EZPZ!
If you're on the fence, buy it!
We toured Savannah February 24-March 2 and the Tour Pass was a worthwhile expenditure! We saved a bundle and visited many sites and venues that we probably wouldn’t have with the pass.
We really enjoyed using tour pass! We did the carriage ride through Charleston and then the Harbor Cruise. So fun and great value too!
Our favorite driver was Richard. He was very personable and able to make the group chuckle at his jokes. He answered questions and maneuvered the streets like a true pro.
The tour pass made it exceptionally easy to book and attend the many tours Savannah has to offer
2 Day Tour Pass is the best option for you to see everything and the Museums.
I would suggest you read about how to use the App and call the 800 # number for help. I called the 800 # for help and they are very helpful with all the information I needed.
We rode the Old Town Trolley for 2 days and BYOB Boat Ride from Vilano Beach and several museums.
I will be using Tour Pass again.
I visit St Augustine every year.
Thanks to Tour Pass I had a great time.
While Tourpass couldn't control the weather in Savannah Memorial weekend we managed to do just a few things and your app was super easy and user friendly! Will highly recommend to everyone!
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Pass purchases can be refunded (minus 3% credit card processing fees) if requested within thirty-days of purchase date (for unused passes). Optional Trip Insurance can be purchased for a nominal fee at checkout which extends the refund period up to one-year from purchase date. Conditions apply. View full refund policy by clicking button below.
