SHIPS OF THE SEA MARITIME MUSEUM
LOCATED IN THE HISTORIC WILLIAM SCARBROUGH HOUSE AND GARDENS
GROUP TOURS & EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS
Welcome to Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum!
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum offers immersive educational experiences for students and adults inside the 200+ year-old William Scarbrough House — a landmark of early 19th-century architecture and one of Savannah’s most significant historic homes.
Built in 1819–1820 for shipping merchant William Scarbrough and later home to the West Broad Street School, the property reflects Savannah’s layered history of innovation, education, and preservation.
Surrounded by the largest private gardens in Savannah’s Historic District, our 1.5-acre campus provides a dynamic setting for exploration. Inside and out, visitors discover Savannah’s maritime story — from the steamship Savannah and global trade to naval conflict, shipbuilding, and coastal life.
From curriculum-aligned K–12 field trips to thematic adult tours, each experience is designed to educate, inspire, and bring maritime history to life.
Children/Student Programs
We offer curriculum-based programs that focus on key moments in maritime and American history, supported by artifacts, models, and storytelling. All programs can include guided tours and hands-on activities.
Our Nation's Heritage
$11 per student
2 hour experience
Discover the early story of America through ships, symbols, and exploration. Students explore how people traveled across the ocean, what life was like in the early days of our nation, and design their own sailing vessels in a hands-on STEAM activity inspired by historic maritime innovation.
1st Grade
Our Georgia
$11 per student
2 hour experience
Journey back to Georgia’s colonial beginnings as students learn about the voyage of the Anne, the arrival of James Oglethorpe, and Savannah’s earliest settlers. Through guided exploration and a creative signal flag STEAM project, students uncover how communication and maritime trade shaped the colony.
2nd Grade
British Colonialism
$11 per student
2 hour experience
Examine how shipbuilding, trade, and skilled labor fueled the economic growth of the American colonies. Students explore Savannah’s maritime roots before designing and testing their own pond yachts, applying key scientific concepts like buoyancy, force, and stability.
3rd Grade
Civil War at Sea
$11 per student
2 hour experience
Dive into naval strategy during the Civil War and discover how ironclad ships, blockades, and the Anaconda Plan reshaped the conflict. Students bring history to life by constructing their own ironclad vessels and testing them for strength and stability.
4th Grade
Liberty Ships of WWII
$11 per student
2 hour experience
Explore Savannah’s vital role in World War II shipbuilding and the construction of Liberty Ships that powered the Allied victory. Students investigate the impact of industrial production and design cargo ships capable of carrying maximum weight in a dynamic STEAM challenge.
5th Grade
Art Classes
1st - 5th Grade
Customizable arts-integrated experience
$11 per student
Connect maritime history with creativity through hands-on art experiences inspired by historic ship models, coastal themes, and our gardens. Programs may include shell mosaics, observational sketching, and exhibition-based projects tied to current museum shows.
Photo Gallery of 2024-2025 Student Tours
Adult/Group Tours
Our guided tours offer a closer look at the captivating stories behind Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. From architectural treasures and maritime warfare to tragic shipwrecks and hidden gardens, each experience reveals layers of history often left untold. With rich storytelling and meaningful insight, these tours bring the past to life in unexpected and memorable ways.
With Tania Sammons
With Molly Carrott Taylor
Echoes Through Time:
The Scarbrough House
$21 per person
Uncover the rich history of this 1819 mansion—built for a shipping magnate, used as a school for Black children after the Civil War, later abandoned, and now beautifully restored as a maritime museum. This tour tells the story of a home shaped by Savannah’s shifting tides of progress, hardship, and preservation.
Cannon, Courage, and Conflict: Maritime Warfare
$21 per person
Explore the evolution of maritime warfare from the Revolutionary War to WWII, as this tour reveals Savannah’s naval legacy through ship models, heroic stories like aviator Edward J. True’s rescue, and the ships that changed the face of battle at sea.
Titanic and Beyond: Maritime Disasters
$21 per person
Explore the tragic stories behind maritime disasters, from the Titanic to Savannah’s SS Pulaski, the 'Titanic of the South.' This tour reveals the human and technological factors behind shipwrecks, including the sinking of the HMS Cressy in WWI, and highlights the heroes, mistakes, and lessons that shaped maritime history.
Savannah's Secret Garden:
Nature & Nostalgia
$21 per person
Escape the city and explore Savannah’s largest private garden in the Historic District. Stroll through live oaks, magnolias, and azaleas while learning about 19th-century garden traditions and how plants influenced everyday life, medicine, and folklore. A peaceful blend of history, nature, and nostalgia.
Curator-Led Tour
$21 per person
Join Curator Tania Sammons for a personalized tour of the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Tania will share unique insights into the museum’s collections, offering a deeper look at the stories and history behind the exhibits. Whether you're a first-time visitor or a local, this tour provides a fresh perspective on Savannah’s maritime heritage.
With Tania Sammons
Director-Led Tour
$50 per person
Join Executive Director Molly Carrott Taylor for the premier tour of Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. With her deep knowledge of the museum’s collections and vision for its future, Molly offers an exclusive, in-depth look at the exhibits and the museum’s exciting path forward.
With Molly Carrott Taylor
Thanks to our Education Sponsors!
