Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, located in historic downtown Savannah, was founded in 1966 and exhibits beautiful models of famous ships along with paintings and maritime antiques focussing mainly on the golden era of Atlantic shipping between England and America during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The models on display include such historic vessels as the City of Savannah an incredible ship partly powered by sail and partly by steam and at 245 feet long and 38 feet wide she was understandably the flagship of the Ocean Steamship Company of Savannah. Then there's The Anne, (at 200 tons and 87 feet long relatively small in comparison to The City of Savannah) which sailed to America from England in the fall of 1732 bringing the first settlers to the new colony of Georgia. And what ship museum would be complete without the world famous Titanic? Built in Belfast, Northern Ireland, between 1909 and 1912 it weighed 45,000 tons and was 882 feet long making it the biggest and most luxurious ship of the time.
In addition to the fascinating collection, Scarborough House, the grand and imposing historic home of the museum is an attraction in itself. It was built in 1819 for William Scarborough who was one of the owners of the Savannah, the first steam ship to cross the Atlantic, and fell into disrepair before being restored to its former glory in 1996 to house the museum. There's also the added attraction of the carefully planned and planted gardens that complement the elegant house beautifully.
The Museum is a must for anyone visiting the area and is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
