The King-Tisdell Cottage, Savannah

The King-Tisdell Cottage, Savannah

The King-Tisdell Cottage is owned and operated by the King-Tisdell Cottage Foundation. The Cottage serves as an African-American heritage and history museum named after its owners, Eugene and Sarah King, and Sarah King's second husband, Robert Tisdell.

The building is furnished in a style typical of a black residence in the 1890s. The cottage was originally built in another area in 1896 by W.W. Aimar, and features gingerbread-style adornment on the porch in a distinctive wheel and spindle pattern. It was threatened by demolition in 1970, but the City of Savannah and Historic Savannah Foundation managed to save the historic building, move it to its current location, and re-construct it.

The museum's exhibits demonstrate the history of Savannah and the Sea Islands, emphasizing the many ways that African-Americans have contributed to the area's history. One of the exhibits is particularly noteworthy- an original bill of sale for slaves, handwritten in Arabic by slaves on a plantation. Outside, the Cottage features the fountain “Free to Fly,” by famous sculptor Ivan Bailey, and a gas light dedicated to key civic leader Sadie Steele.

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The King-Tisdell Cottage on Map

Sight Name: The King-Tisdell Cottage
Sight Location: Savannah, USA (See walking tours in Savannah)
Sight Type: Museum/Gallery
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

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