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 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. Visitors discover Savannah’s maritime story — from the steamship Savannah and global trade to naval conflict, shipbuilding, and coastal life — through curriculum-aligned field trips and guided tours.
Photography: Cameron Wilder
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.
Click on a program below to learn more about the experience, curriculum connections, and booking details.
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.
Guided Group Tours
Our Guided Group Tours offer a deeper look into the stories behind Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum. Led by knowledgeable interpreters, each tour explores a unique aspect of maritime history, architecture, and Savannah’s connection to the sea.
Groups may also ask about our General Overview Tour, which highlights the museum’s most significant spaces, artifacts, and stories.
Echoes Through Time:
The Scarbrough House
$21 per person
1-hour experience
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
1-hour experience
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
1-hour experience
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
1-hour experience
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.
Director-Led Tour
$50 per person
1-hour experience
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
Photography: Cameron Wilder
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a field trip last?
Most school programs last approximately 90 minutes and include a guided exploration of the museum as well as a hands-on activity connected to the program’s theme.
How many students can attend?
Our programs work best with groups of up to 25 students. Larger groups may be accommodated by dividing students into smaller rotating groups. Please contact us to discuss options for larger classes or multiple classes visiting together.
What are the chaperone requirements?
We recommend at least one adult chaperone for every 10 students. Teachers and chaperones help ensure that students remain engaged and that the museum environment is respected by all visitors.
To help us properly prepare for your visit, the final number of students and chaperones must be confirmed at least one week before your trip. This allows us to schedule staff appropriately and prepare your group’s invoice.
Additional chaperones beyond the confirmed headcount may not be able to be accommodated on the day of the visit.
How far in advance should we book?
We recommend booking at least two weeks in advance to ensure your preferred program and time are available. Spring is our busiest season for school visits.
What is the payment policy?
Final group numbers must be confirmed at least one week prior to your scheduled visit so that we can properly staff your program and prepare your invoice.
An invoice will be issued based on the confirmed number of students and chaperones. Payment must be completed prior to your scheduled visit.
Payment may be made by credit card or check, payable to Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum.
Is the museum accessible?
The first floor of the museum and the gardens are accessible. A wheelchair lift provides access to the main floor galleries. If you have accessibility needs, please let us know when booking so we can ensure a comfortable visit for all students.
What if our group arrives late?
School groups are asked to arrive on time so that programs can begin as scheduled. If your group is delayed, please contact us as soon as possible so we can do our best to accommodate the change. Late arrivals may result in a shortened program in order to accommodate other scheduled groups.
Where should buses and school groups park?
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum offers free parking for our guests in the museum’s designated parking lot.
School buses may drop off students in front of the Scarbrough House on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, where two bus parking spaces are available. Additional parking for chaperones and school staff is available in the museum’s parking lot.
Detailed arrival instructions will be provided when your visit is confirmed.
Can students eat lunch at the museum?
Groups are welcome to enjoy lunch in the museum gardens if weather permits. Please note that indoor lunch space is limited. Let us know in advance if your group plans to eat on site.
Ready to schedule your visit?
Contact us to reserve your program or ask additional questions!
