Telfair Museums facts for kids
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Telfair Academy in 2015
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| Location | Savannah, Georgia United States |
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| Type | Art museum |
| Public transit access | Chatham Area Transit |
Telfair Museums is a special place in Savannah, Georgia. It was the very first public art museum in the Southern United States. A kind local citizen named Mary Telfair (1791–1875) helped start it. The museum first opened its doors in 1886. It was in the Telfair family's old home, which is now called the Telfair Academy.
Today, the museum has more than 4,500 amazing artworks. These include paintings, sculptures, and drawings from America and Europe. These artworks are displayed in three different buildings. These buildings are the Telfair Academy (built in 1818), the Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters (built in 1816), and the modern Jepson Center for the Arts (finished in 2006).
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Exploring the Museum Buildings
Each of the three buildings at Telfair Museums shows art from different times. This helps visitors understand the history of art and the buildings themselves.
The Telfair Academy
The Telfair Academy was once the Telfair family's home. Now, it has rooms that look just like they did in the 1800s. This building shows American and European art from the 1800s and 1900s. You can see paintings, drawings, sculptures, and beautiful decorative items here. The famous Bird Girl statue is also on display in this building. It is part of a special exhibit about Bonaventure Cemetery and the statue.
The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters
The Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters is another historic building. It has a collection of decorative items that belonged to the Owens family. These items, from 1750 to 1830, show how people lived long ago. The site also includes original buildings where enslaved people lived and worked. There is also a beautiful garden with a special design called a parterre.
The Jepson Center for the Arts
The Jepson Center for the Arts is a very modern building. It has galleries that show contemporary art. This includes art from the American South and African American art. You can also see photography and works on paper. The Jepson Center has two large galleries for traveling exhibits. There is also a gallery for community art and a special gallery just for children. Plus, it has two outdoor areas with sculptures.
