The Mercer Williams House Museum is located in a restored historic home in Monterey Square in Savannah, Georgia, that was originally built between 1860 and 1868. The collection inside the home is from noted antiques dealer and restorer Jim Williams’ private collection and includes period furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries, English and American portraits and drawings from the 17th and 18th centuries, and an extensive collection of export Chinese porcelain.

  • What architectural style is the Mercer-Williams House built in?

    • The Mercer-Williams House was built in the Italianate style, an architectural style developed in Great Britain in the early 1800s and fashionable in the United States between 1840 and 1890.

    • Key features of the Italianate style include belvedere or campanile towers, low-pitched or flat roofs, eaves supported by ornate corbels, and decorative elements such as cornices and brackets.

    • By the Civil War, the style—also known as Tuscan Villa style—was the most popular architectural style on the east coast of the U.S.

  • When was the Mercer-Williams House constructed?

    • Construction on the Mercer home began in 1860 with John S. Norris of New York City as the architect.

  • Who was the house originally built for?

    • The house was originally designed for General Hugh Weeden Mercer (1808–1877), a well-known figure in Savannah and a Confederate general during the US Civil War.

  • Did the Mercer family ever live in the home?

    • No, due to the Civil War, General Mercer left the city in 1864, was relieved of duty due to illness, and was later imprisoned with other Confederate leaders. No Mercer ever lived in the home.

    • The new owner, John Wilder, finished the house in 1868.

  • What was the Mercer House used for in the 20th century?

    • During the 20th century, the home was briefly used as the Savannah Shriners Alee Temple.

    • It was then vacant for 10 years before being purchased in 1969 by Jim Williams, a noted antiques dealer and preservationist.

  • Who was Jim Williams?

    • Jim Williams was one of Savannah’s original and most dedicated restorationists. Over his 30-year career, he restored more than 50 homes throughout Savannah and the Lowcountry of Georgia and South Carolina.

    • He is also known for being the defendant in four murder trials for the same crime.

  • What was the murder case associated with Jim Williams?

    • In 1981, Jim Williams was charged with the shooting death of his assistant in the Mercer House.

    • He went through four murder trials and was found not guilty at the final trial.

    • He died in the Mercer House in 1990 from pneumonia and heart failure, six months after his trial.

  • What book and movie were based on the Mercer House and Jim Williams?

    • The 1994 true crime novel Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil was based on Jim Williams' murder trial.

    • The book was later made into a 1997 film directed by Clint Eastwood.

  • Who owns the Mercer House today?

    • The home is now owned by Jim Williams’ sister, Dorothy Kingery.

    • Ms. Kingery holds a master’s degree in history and a doctorate in sociology from the University of Georgia.

    • She has lived in the Mercer House since 1990.

  • When did the Mercer House open to the public as a museum?

    • In 2004, the Mercer House opened to the public as a museum.

  • What areas of the Mercer House are open to visitors?

    • Since the home is still a private residence, tours are limited to the first-floor rooms.

    • Tickets may be purchased at the carriage house at the back of the property.

    • The carriage house also functions as a store and was the former shop where Jim Williams ran his antiques business.

  • What is the focus of the Mercer House tours?

    • While many visitors are attracted due to the book, movie, and Jim Williams’ story, the tours focus on the architecture of the home and the history of its artifacts and antiques.

  • What is located near the Mercer House?

    • The Mercer Williams House is located in Monterey Square, which was established in 1847.

    • It is considered the most picturesque square in Savannah, with most of its buildings still original.

  • Where is the Mercer Williams House Museum located?

    • 429 Bull Street, Savannah, GA 31401, Phone: 912-236-6352

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