Savannah History Museum, Georgia
Museum with a major rail exhibitOpen daily, 9 am to 4 pm
The Savannah History Museum fills the former Central of Georgia Railway passenger depot with the city's story, from its earliest days and the American Revolution to jazz, and keeps an early 20th century steam locomotive on display under the station roof.
- Former Central of Georgia passenger depot
- Early 20th century steam locomotive
- 17 restored Revolutionary War cannons
- Battlefield tours included
- Savannah Jazz Exhibit
- Open daily, 9 am to 4 pm
Savannah History Museum at a glance
- Hours
- Daily, 9 am to 4 pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day
- Admission
- Adults $12, children 3 to 12 $8; Battlefield Tours included
- Seasonal events
- Loyalists and Liberty Battlefield Tours
- Plan for
- About 1.5 to 2 hours
- Best for
- History-minded families and visitors new to Savannah
- Best ages
- Ages 5 and up
Hours and prices as the museum posts them, checked October 19, 2026. Confirm before you go.
Contact and directions
- Address303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA 31401(opens in a new tab)
- Phone(912) 651-6825
- Emailinfo@chsgeorgia.org
- Alsomalstad@chsgeorgia.org
- Websitechsgeorgia.org/savannah-history-museum(opens in a new tab)
Follow Savannah History Museum
Look inside the book
Taking the kids to Savannah History Museum? Bring Rally along.
In Rally Takes the Train, a corgi's little legs can't manage the big train stairs, so Dad gives him a boost. It takes about five minutes to read, a good fit for the drive to Savannah.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $13.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $13.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
A passenger station that became the city's storyteller
Before it was a museum, this building was the Central of Georgia Railway's passenger depot in Savannah, the place where travelers stepped on and off trains at the edge of downtown. The nonprofit Coastal Heritage Society now runs it as the Savannah History Museum, one of the anchors of Tricentennial Park along with the Georgia State Railroad Museum, the Savannah Children's Museum and Battlefield Memorial Park, all beside the city's Visitor Information Center.
The museum traces Savannah from its earliest days to the present. The railroad thread is impossible to miss, since the exhibits share the old depot with an early 20th century steam locomotive. Other galleries hold archaeological finds from Savannah's Revolutionary War history and, most recently, the Savannah Jazz Exhibit, sponsored by Savannah Jazz.
The newest exhibition, Loyalists and Liberty: Savannah in the American Revolution, features 17 restored cannons and other artifacts recovered from the Savannah River off Old Fort Jackson in 2021 and 2022. It connects to the ground right outside. Battlefield Memorial Park, across the street, honors the more than 800 people killed or wounded on October 9, 1779, in one of the bloodiest battles of the Revolution. Guided Loyalists and Liberty Battlefield Tours start inside the museum and end with a musket firing demonstration on the battlefield, and they are included with admission.
A steam locomotive in the depot, cannons from the river
Train fans should head first for the early 20th century steam locomotive, displayed inside the former passenger depot where trains once called. Around it, the galleries move through Savannah's history with interactive experiences aimed at families.
The Loyalists and Liberty exhibition brings out the 17 cannons raised from the Savannah River, and archaeological finds fill in the Revolutionary War story. Music lovers will find the Savannah Jazz Exhibit. Check the calendar for Battlefield Tour times, which lead you out across the street to the memorial park. Afterward, the Georgia State Railroad Museum's historic shops are right next door, so a combined day of railroad history is easy to plan.
Don’t miss
- The steam locomotiveAn early 20th century engine on display inside the old Central of Georgia passenger depot.
- The depot building itselfThe museum is housed in the former Central of Georgia Railway passenger station, a railroad landmark in its own right.
- Loyalists and LibertySeventeen restored cannons recovered from the Savannah River in 2021 and 2022 anchor this new exhibition.
- Battlefield ToursGuided tours begin inside and finish across the street with a musket firing demonstration.
- The Savannah Jazz ExhibitThe museum's newest gallery, sponsored by Savannah Jazz.
A locomotive, cannons and musket fire
Kids who love trains get a real steam locomotive indoors, and the museum's interactive exhibits are designed for families. School-age children usually love the Battlefield Tour's musket firing demonstration and the cannons pulled from the river.
Children 3 to 12 pay a reduced price, and the Savannah Children's Museum and the Georgia State Railroad Museum's handcar and train rides are steps away for younger visitors who need to move.
Plan your visit: tips for Savannah History Museum
- Check the calendar for Battlefield Tour times; they are included with admission.
- Pair it with the Georgia State Railroad Museum next door using a See 3 ticket.
- Visitors with EBT, SNAP or WIC benefits get free admission through Museums for All.
- Group and school tours need a nonrefundable deposit and final numbers 10 days ahead.
Run by the Coastal Heritage Society
The Coastal Heritage Society, a nonprofit that also runs the Georgia State Railroad Museum, Old Fort Jackson and other sites, operates the Savannah History Museum. You can help by becoming a member, donating, sponsoring a cannon, volunteering, joining the teen board or shopping in the society's store.
Railroad history steps away
The Georgia State Railroad Museum, in the old Central of Georgia shops right next door, adds a working turntable, a handcar and train rides. Up the coast about 83 miles, the Best Friend of Charleston exhibit is another early railroad stop, and the Georgia Coastal Railway is about 95 miles south. See more train museums in Georgia.
- Georgia State Railroad MuseumSavannah, GA · same town
- Charleston Best Friend of Charleston historic locomotive exhibitCharleston, SC · about 83 mi
- Charleston & Savannah Railway historical exhibitsCharleston, SC · about 83 mi
- Georgia Coastal RailwaySt. Marys, GA · about 95 mi
- Folkston Funnel Train Viewing PlatformFolkston, GA · about 101 mi
- Aiken Train MuseumAiken, SC · about 108 mi
Bring Rally along: a train book for the drive
Old depots like this one were where families waited by the windows for their train to pull in. That makes me think of Rally's favorite part of our book, when he looks out an arched train window at the ocean and greets a white bird. Savannah is a coastal city, so it feels right. My mom dreamed up that bird, and you can read about her on our story page.
Free for train families
Print the Rally coloring pages before you go
Watercolor coloring pages from the book, free to print. Tuck a few in a folder with crayons for the drive or the wait for the next train.
Get the free coloring pages
A train story for the ride homeRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi's first train trip to see his grand-paw-rents. Hand-painted in real watercolor. $13.99 on Amazon, for ages 0 to 8.
Buy on Amazon (opens in a new tab)More for train families
- Train museums in Georgia: every museum by town, with a map
- Train museums in every state: search by town or near you
- Christmas train rides in Georgia
- Halloween train rides in Georgia
- Every Amtrak route with kids
Work or volunteer at Savannah History Museum?
We want this page to be the best introduction to your museum on the web. Send new hours, event dates, corrections or photos to kelsey@rallytakesthetrain.com and we will update it. You are welcome to share this page with your members.
Sources
- Savannah History Museum official website(opens in a new tab)
- Savannah History Museum on Facebook(opens in a new tab)
- Savannah History Museum on Instagram(opens in a new tab)
- Savannah History Museum on YouTube(opens in a new tab)
- Savannah History Museum on X(opens in a new tab)
Everything on this page comes from the museum’s own website and social pages and, for history, Wikipedia, checked October 19, 2026.
Savannah History Museum: 20 questions before you go
Where is the Savannah History Museum?
The Savannah History Museum is at 303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Savannah, Georgia 31401, inside the former Central of Georgia Railway passenger depot. It is in Tricentennial Park by the Visitor Information Center, across from Battlefield Memorial Park and next to the Georgia State Railroad Museum.
What are the Savannah History Museum hours?
As of October 2026, the museum is open seven days a week from 9 am to 4 pm. It closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Battlefield Tour times vary, so check the Coastal Heritage Society calendar or call (912) 651-6825 before you go.
How much is admission to the Savannah History Museum?
As of October 2026, admission is $12 for adults and $8 for children ages 3 to 12. Guided programs, including the Loyalists and Liberty Battlefield Tours, are included. Tickets can be bought online through the Coastal Heritage Society website or at the museum.
Is there a train at the Savannah History Museum?
Yes. Exhibits include an early 20th century steam locomotive displayed inside the museum, which is housed in the former Central of Georgia Railway passenger depot. For more trains, the Georgia State Railroad Museum next door has locomotives, a turntable, a handcar and train rides on select days.
What building is the Savannah History Museum in?
The museum is located in the former Central of Georgia Railway Passenger Depot in downtown Savannah. The railroad's repair shops, now the Georgia State Railroad Museum, are right next door, so the whole area makes a natural railroad history day.
Can I visit the Savannah History Museum and Georgia State Railroad Museum together?
Yes, and they are steps apart in Tricentennial Park. The Coastal Heritage Society's See 3 ticket covers any three of its participating museums, including both of these, and is good for three days once redeemed. It is the society's best value for a multi-museum visit.
What is the Loyalists and Liberty exhibit?
Loyalists and Liberty: Savannah in the American Revolution is the museum's newest exhibition. It features 17 restored cannons and other artifacts recovered from the Savannah River just off Old Fort Jackson in 2021 and 2022, along with archaeological finds from the city's Revolutionary War history.
What are the Battlefield Tours at the Savannah History Museum?
Loyalists and Liberty Battlefield Tours begin inside the museum and end at Battlefield Memorial Park across the street with a musket firing demonstration. They are included with museum admission. Check the Coastal Heritage Society calendar for tour times on the day you plan to visit.
What happened at Battlefield Memorial Park in Savannah?
Battlefield Memorial Park honors the more than 800 people who were killed or wounded on October 9, 1779, in one of the bloodiest battles of the American Revolution. The park sits across the street from the Savannah History Museum and in front of the Georgia State Railroad Museum.
Is the Savannah History Museum good for kids?
Yes. The museum offers interactive experiences for families, a steam locomotive, cannons from the river and the musket firing demonstration at the end of Battlefield Tours. Children 3 to 12 get reduced admission, and the Savannah Children's Museum is nearby for younger kids.
What is the Savannah Jazz Exhibit?
The Savannah Jazz Exhibit is one of the museum's most recent additions, sponsored by Savannah Jazz. It sits alongside exhibits that trace Savannah from its earliest days to the present, giving music lovers a reason to visit beyond the locomotive and Revolutionary War galleries.
Is there free admission at the Savannah History Museum?
Visitors who receive EBT, SNAP or WIC benefits get free admission through the Museums for All program, called CHS All In, with proof of assistance. It does not cover special events, booked programs and field trips, birthday parties or after-hours events.
Does the Savannah History Museum offer school and group tours?
Yes. Student programs include Siege of Savannah, guided tours and self-guided tours, and adult groups can book similar programs. Bookings need a nonrefundable deposit, with final numbers and payment due 10 days ahead. Email Megan at malstad@chsgeorgia.org with questions.
Are there scout programs at the Savannah History Museum?
Yes. The Coastal Heritage Society lists a Juliette's Family Tree scout program shared between the Georgia State Railroad Museum and the Savannah History Museum, along with railroad programs next door. Book through the society's field trip form or email malstad@chsgeorgia.org.
How long does a visit to the Savannah History Museum take?
Plan on about an hour and a half to two hours to see the locomotive, the Revolutionary War galleries and the jazz exhibit, and to join a Battlefield Tour. Add more time if you are pairing it with the Georgia State Railroad Museum next door.
Who runs the Savannah History Museum?
The Coastal Heritage Society, a nonprofit, runs the museum along with the Georgia State Railroad Museum, Savannah Children's Museum, Old Fort Jackson, Pin Point Heritage Museum and Harper Fowlkes House. Its general phone number is (912) 651-6840 and email is info@chsgeorgia.org.
How can I support the Savannah History Museum?
You can become a Coastal Heritage Society member, donate, sponsor a cannon, apply to volunteer or join the teen board. The society's shop also supports its museums. Details are on chsgeorgia.org, or call (912) 651-6840.
Is parking available at the Savannah History Museum?
The museum does not post parking details on its page. It is next to the Savannah Visitor Information Center on Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd in Tricentennial Park. Call (912) 651-6825 before your visit to ask where to park.
Is the Savannah History Museum open on holidays?
The museum is open seven days a week but closes on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day. Most other holidays follow regular hours of 9 am to 4 pm. Check chsgeorgia.org or call (912) 651-6825 to confirm before a holiday visit.
What train museums are near the Savannah History Museum?
The Georgia State Railroad Museum is right next door. The Best Friend of Charleston locomotive exhibit in South Carolina is about 83 miles away, and the Georgia Coastal Railway in St. Marys is about 95 miles south.
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