At 429 Bull Street, facing Monterey Square, the Mercer Williams House Museum is a historic Italianate mansion known for its connection to Jim Williams and the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. A guided tour introduces the house’s history and Williams’s work as an antiques collector and restorer, with original furnishings and art from his collection inside. The garden adds another reason to pause here. The house remains privately owned, so the tour covers only part of the home.
A house begun before the Civil War
New York architect John S. Norris designed the house for General Hugh W. Mercer. Construction began in 1860 and stopped during the Civil War; the home was completed in 1868. Mercer never lived there. The property had passed to John R. Wilder before construction was finished.
The mansion’s Italianate design sets it apart among Savannah’s historic homes. Its elaborate exterior details and position on Monterey Square make the building easy to spot from Bull Street. The house was designed as a private residence, not as a museum, and its history includes several owners.
Jim Williams and the restoration
In 1969, antiques dealer and preservationist Jim Williams bought the vacant house and spent two years restoring it. His work on historic properties extended beyond this home: accounts in the supplied material credit him with restoring around 50 Savannah buildings. The house museum gives attention to that work and to his skill as a collector and conservator of art and antiques.
The home is also closely tied to John Berendt’s Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil and its film adaptation. The book recounts the events surrounding a fatal shooting at the house and the subsequent trial of Williams. The tour’s emphasis is not solely on that story; it also covers the property’s earlier history and the objects Williams collected.
What to look for inside
The rooms on the tour contain original furnishings and works from Williams’s collection, including English and American portraits and Chinese export porcelain. The collection spans different periods, with pieces described as dating to the 18th century and earlier. Visitors may also see details such as carved woodwork and marble mantels.
Access is limited to the portion of the house available for tours. Williams’s family still owns the home, and it remains a residence as well as a museum. The guided visit provides context for the rooms and collection, so the stories about the house and its former owner are part of what you see.
A visit on Monterey Square
The house stands at 429 Bull Street, facing Monterey Square, and is a short walk from Forsyth Park. Its garden is part of the visit, though indoor photography is not allowed. A gift shop is also on site.
If you are reading Berendt’s book or exploring Savannah’s historic homes, this stop connects the city’s architecture and preservation history with a well-known local story. The tour is relatively brief, so it can fit between a walk through the square and other nearby sights. Booking ahead is recommended.
Perguntas frequentes
Can you take photos inside the Mercer Williams House?
No. Photography is not permitted inside the house.
How long does a tour take?
Plan on about 30 to 40 minutes, based on the reported tour lengths.
Can you see the whole house?
No. Tours cover only part of the privately owned home.
What is the Mercer Williams House known for?
The mansion is associated with Jim Williams and the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It is also known for its Italianate architecture and Williams’s art and antiques collection.
