Andrew Low House Museum

Description

The Andrew Low House Museum stands on Lafayette Square in Savannah’s Historic District, and it delivers exactly the kind of rich, layered story most travelers hope to find in an elegant Savannah mansion. Built in 1848–1849 by architect John Norris for Andrew Low II—a young Scottish immigrant who rose to prominence as a cotton factor—the brick home blends Greek Revival symmetry with Italianate flourishes, including a celebrated wrought-iron balcony and a shuttered piazza that feels tailor-made for the coastal climate. Inside, visitors step across original floors into high-ceilinged rooms lined with period furnishings, fine silver, paintings, and decorative arts that collectively sketch life in a prosperous 19th-century home.

But it’s the people connected to the Andrew Low House who tend to steal the show. Juliette Gordon Low—Juliette to friends, Daisy to nearly everyone—lived here after marrying Andrew’s son, William Mackay Low. Her later vision became Girl Scouts USA, and the museum helps visitors connect the dots: a creative, determined woman shaped by Savannah’s charms and complexities, and a carriage house where early Girl Guides gathered. Literary and historical figures make cameos, too. William Makepeace Thackeray visited and wrote glowingly about his stay. Robert E. Lee slept here during a postwar visit, long after Andrew Low had been briefly imprisoned during the Civil War. The house holds these stories carefully, almost like a family album you’re invited to leaf through.

The guided tour format suits the house. Well-informed docents guide small groups through the rooms and gardens, focusing on the Low family, the architectural details, and Savannah’s role in international trade. Visitors who come for Juliette Gordon Low’s legacy usually leave with a deeper appreciation for how home, city, and ambition intersect. Those who come for architecture walk out fixated on the plasterwork and carved wood moldings. And travelers drawn by whispers of hauntings—yes, this museum has its share of ghostly lore—sometimes swear they felt a chill in the otherwise balmy Georgia air. Staff anecdotes about a watchful butler or a mysteriously rocking chair have made their way into local legend. Whether one believes or not, the stories rarely feel cheesy; they’re woven into the fabric of a house that has seen a great deal of life.

Most guests describe the experience as immersive and well-paced. A few find peak times a bit crowded or the tours a tad brisk, so it’s smart to choose a quieter slot. Photography policies often limit indoor shooting, which can disappoint avid Instagrammers. Yet, the upside is real: attention stays on the rooms and the stories, not on screens. The garden, by the way, retains its formal layout—hourglass-shaped beds and all—and is among the rare antebellum gardens open to the public in Savannah. After the tour, the small museum shop tends to surprise people with thoughtful items tied to local history, Girl Scouts, and Savannah-made goods.

Since 1928, stewardship has been in the hands of the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in the State of Georgia, a preservation-minded group that restored and opened the home to the public decades before historic houses were common tourist stops. Their role matters. It explains the careful interpretation of both grandeur and grit—of family life upstairs and labor, enslaved and free, that made such households function downstairs and in the yards. Travelers interested in historic preservation will appreciate that the museum isn’t a stage set; it’s a collection of lived-in spaces that explain Savannah’s 19th-century economy, style, and social dynamics with clarity and heart.

If an elegant Savannah mansion with fascinating stories sounds like your kind of morning or afternoon, the Andrew Low House Museum checks a lot of boxes: an important historic house museum, a nationally known 1840s historic home and garden open to the public, and a place where travelers walk away with the feeling they’ve actually met the city—as it was and as it hopes to be remembered.

Key Features

• Architectural pedigree: Designed by architect John Norris in 1848–1849, the house blends Greek Revival form with Italianate details and notable ironwork.
• Juliette Gordon Low connection: The founder of the Girl Scouts lived here; the site spotlights her creativity, leadership, and the early Girl Guides’ activities in the carriage house.
• Guided tours only: Docent-led tours provide context on the Low family, Savannah’s cotton trade, and day-to-day life in a 19th-century home.
• Authentic interiors: Period furnishings, fine silver, and artwork create an evocative snapshot of mid-19th-century living in Savannah.
• Historic garden: One of the few antebellum gardens open to the public in Savannah, with hourglass-shaped flowerbeds and a brick-walled courtyard.
• Ghost lore: Longstanding tales of a watchful butler, a mysteriously rocking chair, and other whispers add intrigue for fans of haunted history.
• Family-friendly: Engaging for history-minded kids; docents tailor stories to mixed-age groups when possible.
• Gift shop: A curated selection of books, gifts, and Savannah-forward items with a nod to Girl Scouts USA and local makers.
• Military discount: Active military visitors can ask about discounted admission at the ticket desk.
• Advance tickets recommended: Popular times can sell out; planning ahead helps secure preferred tour slots.

Best Time to Visit

The museum runs tours throughout the week, and timing can shape the mood. In Savannah, mornings tend to be cooler and calmer—especially welcome from late spring through early fall when humidity can sneak up on even seasoned Southerners. If you’re the type who prefers to linger in each room and ask a dozen questions, try a weekday morning. Late afternoons are lovely for garden photos; shadows on the brick and ironwork look downright cinematic.

Spring and fall are, unsurprisingly, prime. Azaleas stage their famous show in spring, and the square outside the home feels like a postcard come to life. Fall brings crisp air and, if you enjoy the city’s spectral side, a slightly charged atmosphere that pairs well with the house’s whispered stories. Winter is underrated here. Savannah’s coast has a mild winter, so you can enjoy historic homes without the crowds of peak season, and you won’t need a heavy coat most days. Summer? Sure—just budget a little extra time to cool off and hydrate. The museum interior is comfortably temperate, so the real heat battle happens in the squares as you walk between sites.

If events or parades are rolling through the Historic District, expect more foot traffic. The flip side: the city buzz makes a beautiful prelude or epilogue to your visit. If you’ve heard of the Forrest Gump bench at Chippewa Square and plan to swing by, know this: the film prop has long since moved indoors to another museum. The square, though, is close by and makes a pleasant stop on any self-guided walking loop connecting historic sites.

How to Get There

The Andrew Low House Museum sits directly on Lafayette Square, one of Savannah’s most photogenic civic spaces. The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist rises just across the square, making the museum easy to find on foot—simply follow the spires and the line of visitors with cameras. From River Street or City Market, it’s a comfortable walk through oak-draped squares. The city’s hop-on, hop-off trolleys include nearby stops, and the local free shuttle service places you within a short stroll. Rideshares and taxis know the square well; drivers pull up along the perimeter to drop visitors.

Parking in the Historic District is part strategy, part luck. On-street metered parking lines nearby blocks and works well for a quick tour. During peak hours, plan a few extra minutes to circle, and bring a card or coins for meters depending on the machine. If you’re pairing the museum with a self-guided square-hopping morning—Bulls, Madison, Lafayette—walking or using a trolley/shuttle simply saves time and stress. Entry to the museum is through the rear courtyard; look for signage along the side streets guiding you to the garden gate.

Tips for Visiting

Plan ahead to get the most out of a visit to the Andrew Low House Museum. The experience is short enough to fit before lunch yet rich enough to anchor a morning of historic house exploration, especially if you’re headed to another museum or the cathedral afterward. The following practical pointers reflect common traveler questions and what frequent visitors tell friends:

• Book in advance: Guided tours can fill, particularly on weekends and during spring and fall. If your itinerary is tight, reserve ahead to lock in your ideal time.
• Arrive a few minutes early: Getting to the rear courtyard entrance can take a beat if you’re unfamiliar with the side streets. Being early keeps things relaxed.
• Check photography rules: Interior photography is often restricted. If you’re hoping to shoot the iron balcony or garden, you’ll have great outdoor angles before or after the tour.
• Mind the steps: The house has thresholds and staircases typical of a 19th-century home. Visitors with mobility considerations should call ahead to discuss options; accessibility is limited and there is no wheelchair-accessible entrance or restroom.
• Hydrate and dress for weather: Savannah’s heat and humidity can surprise even seasoned travelers. Light layers, a hat, and water go a long way for the walks between squares.
• Pair with nearby highlights: The Cathedral Basilica across the square, the Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home close by, and other historic sites round out a great half-day. If the goal is the perfect Savannah sampler, this cluster delivers.
• Look for military discounts: Active military guests should ask about reduced admission at check-in.
• Bring curious kids: The tour is family-friendly, and older kids who love stories will latch onto the Girl Scout connection, the international trade angle, or, frankly, the ghost rumors.
• Respect the spaces: Much of what you’ll see is original or period-correct and delicate. Docents’ reminders about where to stand or how close to lean are in service of keeping the museum open to generations yet.
• Shop with purpose: The museum shop showcases local authors and goods, plus items tied to Juliette Gordon Low and Girl Scouts. It’s an easy place to pick up a meaningful souvenir that isn’t generic.

Context helps here, too. The Andrew Low House Museum doesn’t treat wealth as the whole story. Interpreters explain the home’s workforce—enslaved and free—and the city’s role within a broader Atlantic world of cotton, capital, and culture. That balance is one reason many travelers rank it among Savannah’s most treasured places to learn. It’s also why tours are guided: the staff is there to fill in gaps, answer tough questions, and keep the pace moving while letting the house speak for itself.

Those interested in the Girl Scouts’ story often build a day around both Juliette Gordon Low’s legacy and the sites that echo it, including the nearby first Girl Scout headquarters in the carriage house associated with her life. The museum’s proximity to squares and other historic places makes that easy. And if the paranormal rumors sparked your curiosity, evening ghost tours in the Historic District frequently pass by the home and share tales connected to it. Whether one believes or not, those stories add a layer of intrigue that never seems to hurt a Savannah itinerary.

Finally, a word about expectations. The Andrew Low House Museum is a historic home—no flashy touchscreens or immersive projections inside, just well-chosen artifacts, architecture that holds its own, and knowledgeable human guides. The trade-off is worthwhile. Many guests leave remarking that they remember the cadence of the docents’ stories days later, which is the point. In a city brimming with historic sites, this one stands out for the way it braids architecture, global commerce, personal perseverance, and community stewardship into something compelling and—yes—beautiful. Travel itineraries are crowded. But make time for this house, and you’ll walk away feeling that Savannah stepped out of the textbook and into your day, which is exactly the kind of memory that gets shared, reposted, and retold long after your suitcase is unpacked.

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