Owens-Thomas House & Slave Quarters

At the corner of Oglethorpe Square, the Owens-Thomas House asks visitors to read Savannah from both sides of the same doorway. The English Regency house was built for merchant and enslaver Richard Richardson; the visit also includes the quarters where enslaved people lived and sustained the household’s wealth. Telfair Museums guides the tour through architecture, daily life and inequality, so the elegant furnishings are not separated from the people who cleaned, cooked and served there.

Visitors often value the building’s preservation and the way guides explain both the owning family and the enslaved people. The listing checked showed 4.5/5 from 2,568 opinions; comments highlight knowledgeable staff and the importance of addressing the history in context. A guided visit usually lasts 45 minutes to an hour. The experience depends on listening and looking rather than moving quickly through many rooms, so allow time for the tour offered on arrival.

The house is at 124 Abercorn Street, beside Oglethorpe Square. Guided tours run from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by a self-guided audio tour from 3:30 to 4 p.m.; the last admission can change with the calendar or events. General admission to Telfair Museums covers all three sites for seven days. The house retains its original staircases and has no lift, an important limitation for some visitors with reduced mobility. Allow at least an hour and check the official schedule on the day.