10 Literary Sites in Savannah, Georgia Worth Visiting

Savannah is a coastal town in the state of Georgia known for its beautiful architecture, mossy oaks, and rich history. But what many might not realize is that Savannah also has several literary sites that bookworms will love exploring. In this post, we’re sharing 10 literary sites in Savannah that every literature lover should have on their bucket list.

If you enjoy reading, check out our list of 23 Books to Satisfy Your Wanderlust and 9 Audiobooks for Your Next Road Trip.

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Mercer-Williams House Museum

The book most famously associated with Savannah is Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt. This true crime book reads more like a novel and captured the literary world by storm in the late ’90s. The New York Times stated it “might be the first true-crime book that makes the reader want to book a bed and breakfast for an extended weekend at the scene of the crime.”

The Mercer-Williams House Museum is the scene of the crime where antiques dealer and historical preservationist Jim Williams shot his employee and former lover, Danny Hansford, after a quarrel. The stately red bricked mansion sits in a fenced lawn on Monterey Square.

While it is quite unassuming in its appearance and the museum’s website makes no mention of the murder, it is what draws most people to the house. For $13.50, you can see the stunning interior and several items from the private collection of Jim Williams.

Bird Girl Sculpture

Bird Girl is a sculpture by Sylvia Shaw Judson. There were a few casts made after its creation in 1936, and one ended up at a family plot in Bonaventure Cemetery (more on the cemetery below).

The statue of the girl serenely holding two shallow bowls in her upturned hands largely went unnoticed for nearly 60 years. That is, until Berendt needed a cover for Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The photographer, Jack Leigh, tasked with going to Savannah to snap a photo for the cover of the book stumbled upon the statue in the cemetery. The statue originally was just made to serve as a bird bath with no hidden meanings, but set against the title of the book, it appears as if the girl is contemplating the weight of good and evil in her hands.

With the book’s success, people began flocking to Bonaventure Cemetery to see the famous statue. The family who owned it eventually had it removed due to the heavy traffic, and it was entrusted with the Telfair Museums for safekeeping and public display.

Today, visitors can see Bird Girl in the Telfair Academy building of Telfair Museums. It is part of an ongoing exhibit which showcases the history of Bonaventure Cemetery.

If you find yourself driving around in Georgia, keep an eye out for small scale replicas of Bird Girl. She can commonly be found outside people’s homes in their gardens and flower beds. You can buy your very own Bird Girl statue HERE.

Bonaventure Cemetery

Mossy old oak trees towering over Victorian graves make Bonaventure Cemetery one of the most beautiful cemeteries in the USA. You’ll want to bring your comfiest walking shoes for your visit, because the cemetery is absolutely enormous (over 100 acres!), and most of the paths are gravel. You can see what walking shoes we love best in 15 of Our Favorite Items for Travel.

The most famous literary landmarks in the cemetery are those associated with Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil – we promise this will be the last mention of the book in this post! Here, you can visit the grave of Spencer Lawton Jr., the District Attorney who prosecuted Jim Williams. While this at first seems pretty boring, people like to visit the site because the mysterious voodoo priestess known as Minerva reportedly cast a spell over Lawton’s grave – as famously depicted in the movie adaptation of the book. The cemetery is also the final resting place of Jack Leigh, who photographed the cover of the book.

Johnny Mercer is another notable figure buried at Bonaventure (whose great-grandfather built the Mercer-Williams House). Johnny Mercer was a renowned lyricist and songwriter who co-founded Capitol Records. The “Moon River” singer’s grave is engraved with lyrics from his most famous songs as well as a reproduction of a self portrait.

Savannah native Conrad Aiken was the first author from Georgia to win the Pulitzer Prize. He went on to be the Poet Laureate from 1950-1952. There is a bench beside his grave in Bonaventure Cemetery, because he wanted people to stop and enjoy a martini there.

The bench is inscribed with “Cosmos Mariner – Destination Unknown”. The Cosmos Mariner was a boat Aiken spotted on the river while he was visiting Bonaventure Cemetery. It stuck out in his mind, and when he looked up where the ship was headed, it was listed as “destination unknown”.

Flannery O’Connor Childhood Home

Flannery O’Connor is the greatest American short story writer from the 20th century. Period.

Her works are filled with complex and flawed characters who are in the throws of a spiritual epiphany. The Southern Gothic author drew inspiration for her stories from the place she intimately knew – her home state of Georgia. She lived in Savannah for the first 13 years of her life, and fans of her work have the opportunity of visiting her childhood home when they’re in the area.

Flannery O’Connor’s Childhood Home is nestled in the corner of Lafayette Square in Savannah. Visitors can explore both levels of the home, with tours offered three times per day. The historical site has been restored to the Depression Era with great lengths taken to obtain furnishings that were in the home while Flannery lived there.

Fans of Flannery will love visiting the gift shop after the tour for a wide array of souvenirs inspired by the author and books about and by the author.

Be sure to keep an eye on their events page for special happenings related to Flannery O’Connor. If you visit around March 25th, you are sure to experience something special for her birthday!

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

Less than 350 feet away from Flannery O’Connor’s childhood home is the church where she was baptized and attended mass – The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist. The church is so close that she could see the church steeples when she looked out the windows of the upper rooms of her home.

Flannery once stated, “All of my stories are about the action of grace on a character who is not very willing to support it”. Any hardcore fan of Flannery O’Connor will enjoy visiting the beautiful cathedral where Flannery first learned of the grace of God that plays such an important and surprising role in all of her stories. The time she spent in The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist was surely impactful, as she remained a devout Catholic her entire life.

In 2014, 50 years after her death, the church held a special mass in remembrance of the author whose spiritual foundation was laid there. It is an absolutely beautiful church. When you step inside, it’s easy to see why Flannery would have felt inspired while sitting in its pews.

Bookshops

E Shaver Booksellers

What’s better than a bookshop with a maze of floor to ceiling shelves? One with cats! E. Shaver Booksellers has been a Savannah staple since 1975. Bookworms will love browsing the many shelves of books. There are also beautiful puzzles, bookish games, and stationery throughout.

We spent a solid hour zig-zagging through the shop and perusing the shelves. One of our favorite moments was when we stumbled upon the sweetest little fluff ball of a cat named Mr. Eliot. He is just one of a few cats who are living their best lives in the bookshop.

The Book Lady Bookstore

Another longstanding literary site in Savannah is The Book Lady Bookstore. Founded in 1978, the store offers a mix of new and used books and has an impressive collection of rare and out-of-print selections. The store’s stock is carefully curated with each book being thoughtfully chosen by the store’s proprietor.

The bookshop oozes coziness that can only be described as hygge. When you aren’t cozied up with a stack of books in one of the shop’s comfy chairs, you’ll want to head to their cafe for a cup of coffee.

Books on Bay

Books on Bay is a bookstore specializing in vintage books. They have a large selection of beloved classics such as Nancy Drew, The Hardy Boys, and Trixie Belden to name a few. You’ll feel like you’ve stepped back in time as soon as you’ve walked through the door, and you’ll leave feeling warm and fuzzy after you’ve combed through their nostalgic selection.

Agatha’s Coffee & Tea House

After visiting so many literary sites in Savannah, you’re bound to need a sweet treat and a cup of tea! Agatha’s Coffee and Tea House is the place to go. This book cafe is newer to the scene, but has quickly made an impact as one of the best literary sites in Savannah.

The cozy cafe has a dark academia vibe and celebrates notorious mystery writers such as Agatha Christie (it’s in the name of course!) and Alfred Hitchcock. The interior is decked out in vintage furniture and objects from around the globe that make you feel like you’ve stepped right into the setting of a mystery novel. Keep an eye on their Instagram page to see if there are any mysterious happenings going on during your visit!

The Savannah Book Festival

If you’re a book lover trying to determine when you should visit Savannah, consider going during The Savannah Book Festival! The annual festival usually takes place in February over a weekend and highlights the works of authors from various genres.

Not only does the book festival give you the opportunity to hear some of your favorite authors speak, you get the chance to have them sign your books as well! Over 9,000 people come to Savannah to attend the event, so be sure to book your accommodations early if you plan to attend.

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We hope you’ve enjoyed reading about these 10 literary sites in Savannah, Georgia. We sure loved exploring them! Tell us your favorite literary sites in the comments below!

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