Green-Meldrim House, Savannah

If you stand beside the William Jasper Monument in the center of Madison Square, face west. Through the trees, you will see two Gothic Revival buildings: the pointed tower to the left belongs to Saint John’s Episcopal Church, while the salmon-pink mansion slightly to the right is the Green-Meldrim House. Walk towards the western edge of the square and continue along West Macon Street. The mansion entrance, behind a tall black cast-iron fence, will be on your right.

Built between 1853 and 1861 for cotton merchant Charles Green, this house was one of Savannah’s most expensive private residences. Notice the pink stuccoed brick, projecting oriel windows, and the crenelated parapet along the roof, which gives the mansion the appearance of a small castle. A decorative cast-iron veranda wraps around three sides.

At the center of the façade, look for the unusual iron entrance portico, supported by octagonal posts and pointed arches. Directly above it is another projecting window. As you approach, examine the three successive pairs of front doors, designed to provide security, ventilation, and light.

Inside, the house follows a broad center-hall plan. The principal rooms include double parlors, a dining room, and a sitting room with high ceilings. Look for the original walnut woodwork, plaster cornices, marble fireplaces, chandeliers, and large gilded mirrors. The freestanding staircase is one of the main interior attractions, illuminated from above by a glass dome.

The house is closely associated with Union General William Tecumseh Sherman, who used it as his Savannah headquarters in December 1864. From here, he sent President Abraham Lincoln his well-known message offering Savannah, its cannon, ammunition, and thousands of cotton bales as a Christmas gift. Sherman also met Black religious leaders here in January 1865 to discuss the future of formerly enslaved families.

Judge Peter Meldrim bought the house in 1892. His family later sold it to the neighboring Saint John’s Episcopal Church, which still uses the building for parish meetings, receptions and guided visits.

After touring the house, cross West Macon Street to Saint John’s Church, easily identified by its square tower, pointed windows and tall spire. Both buildings remain active church properties, so tour access may vary.