Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum with Kids - Savannah, GA
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum in Savannah, Georgia, brings centuries of ocean travel to life through exquisitely detailed ship models inside the historic William Scarbrough House. Families can explore sailing ships, steam technology and maritime art, then take a break in the museum gardens. Free guest parking and a family ticket help, but the mansion has stair-only levels.
Adult admission is $17.50, students are $14.50, and children 5 and under enter free. A $48 family ticket covers up to two adults and three children under 18.
Tickets and family rates →The museum asks visitors to allow at least one hour for its galleries and gardens. Families who read displays carefully or take a garden break may prefer 90 minutes to two hours.
School-age children who enjoy ships, engineering, art and history will find the strongest fit. Younger kids may enjoy searching for details in the models but need shorter gallery sessions.
Free on-site parking, a short indoor visit and flexible self-guided touring help families; stairs to the upper and lower levels and careful supervision around historic displays add challenges.
See the full Family Friction score →Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum exhibits: model ships, history and gardens
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum in Savannah, Georgia, is a rewarding stop for children who like to look closely, spot surprising details and ask how things work. The collection fills nine galleries with meticulously crafted ship models, maritime paintings and historical objects. Families can compare tall ships, early steam vessels, ironclads and more recent naval craft. Instead of trying to read every label, ask children to identify sails, anchors, lifeboats, smokestacks and the rigging that sailors used to control a vessel. Those visual challenges make the exhibition more approachable for young visitors, while older children can connect the models to geography, engineering, ocean trade and the changing technology of travel.
The museum occupies the William Scarbrough House, built in 1819 for a leading investor in the steamship Savannah. This setting is part of the story: the real SS Savannah made a pioneering Atlantic crossing under both sail and steam power in 1819. Invite kids to compare how a sailing vessel moves with how a steam-powered ship operates, then look for differences in hull shape, deck equipment and the number of masts. The historic mansion is an elegant museum, not a climb-on ship or a playground, so the best experience involves taking your time with the displays and supervising children closely. Families with children who prefer movement may want to alternate gallery exploration with time outdoors.
After the ship models, the landscaped Scarbrough Garden offers a change of pace. This historic-district garden features pathways, plantings, a brick terrace and a former Weather Bureau kiosk, while the North Garden has additional open space and garden features. The gardens can be a useful place for a slow stroll and a conversation about what children noticed inside, although outdoor time is weather-dependent. The museum is just west of City Market, making it practical to combine with a downtown Savannah day. Allow at least one hour and consider staying longer when children become absorbed in the maritime stories or the current exhibition; the museum also runs special educational and family programs on selected dates.
Make the museum part of a bigger Savannah family adventure. Find more historic sites, outdoor stops and activities suited to different ages in our guide to Savannah with kids.
Best for curious school-age children, with shorter visits for toddlers
Infant
Babies can accompany adults through accessible areas in a stroller or carrier. The ship models are mostly for accompanying caregivers, and stairs limit where a stroller can travel.
Toddler
Toddlers may enjoy pointing at sails, boats and garden features for a short period. This is a look-don't-touch museum, so close supervision and a brief visit are important.
Little Kids
Children who like boats and visual treasure hunts can compare sails, flags and tiny crew details. Build in garden breaks rather than expecting long periods of label reading.
Big Kids
A strong age for asking how sailing and steamships differ, counting masts and spotting different vessel types. A scavenger-hunt approach keeps the galleries interesting.
Tweens
Excellent for kids ready to connect shipbuilding, technology, maritime trade and Savannah history. The SS Savannah story provides an accessible engineering hook.
Teen
Teens interested in art, design, military and commercial history or historic architecture can appreciate the models and collection. Others may prefer a focused, shorter tour.
Family Friction: historic galleries are easy to tour, but stairs matter
KidWaypoint assesses arrival, queues, heat and weather, walking, stroller access, care facilities, sensory conditions and schedule freedom so parents can anticipate the practical effort of visiting, not just the admission price.
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum is a manageable stop for many families thanks to free on-site guest parking, an indoor main collection and the freedom to tour at your own pace. Most visitors can plan a relatively short visit, and the gardens provide a change of setting. The principal complication is the historic Scarbrough House: the main gallery level uses a wheelchair lift, while the second floor and basement require stairs. Families using strollers should plan where to leave them before visiting those areas. Garden heat, rain and the museum's quiet exhibit atmosphere are secondary considerations.
| Factor | Score | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Parking & Arrival | 1/5 | The museum offers free guest parking in its lot on the south side of the building, including four accessible spaces. If the lot fills, nearby metered streets and paid lots provide alternatives. |
| Queue & Wait Time | 1/5 | Regular visits are self-guided and admission can be bought on arrival. The museum does not publish a standard queue duration, though special events and busy periods may increase entry demand. |
| Heat & Weather Exposure | 1/5 | The principal ship-model galleries are indoors, making this a practical option in hot or rainy weather. The Scarbrough and North Gardens are outdoors, so that part of the visit depends on conditions. |
| Walking Distance & Terrain | 1/5 | This is a house museum with nine galleries and adjoining gardens rather than a long walking trail. However, historic staircases and changes in level affect which rooms families can reach. |
| Stroller & Mobility Access | 4/5 | Strollers are welcome on the first floor and in the gardens but not on staircases. A wheelchair lift reaches the main exhibition floor; the second floor and basement are stairs-only. |
| Restroom & Baby-Care Access | N/A | Accessible restrooms are available in the Assembly Room via the North Garden ramp. Dedicated diaper-changing stations and private feeding facilities are not confirmed. |
| Sensory & Crowd Load | 2/5 | Quiet, visually detailed galleries suit children who enjoy observation. Special events may be louder or busier, while fragile exhibits and narrow historic circulation areas can require careful supervision. |
| Schedule Flexibility | 1/5 | The museum normally opens daily from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. with last admission at 4:30 p.m. Self-guided visits do not require a fixed guided-tour time, but numerous holidays are excluded. |
| Scored total | 11/35 | Low Friction |
Strollers work on the first floor and in gardens, not on staircases
The museum welcomes strollers on the first floor and in the gardens. The main gallery floor has a wheelchair lift, but families cannot bring a stroller up or down the historic stairs to other levels.
The gardens are wheelchair accessible, and the North Garden ramp leads to the Assembly Room and accessible restroom facilities.
The main exhibition floor is reached by a wheelchair lift; the upper floor and basement are accessible only by stairs.
The museum states that visitors can park strollers at the gift shop or near the garden entrance by the stairs while exploring upper levels.
Parents with infants may find a comfortable baby carrier more practical for any stair-only exhibits, provided they can manage the steps safely.
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum tickets, hours and free parking
General adult tickets are $17.50. A $48 family admission covers up to two adults and three children under 18. Children ages five and under enter free, and the museum provides free guest parking on site.
| Activity or service | Cost | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Adult museum admission | $17.50 | Regular adult walk-up price; online purchases include a processing fee. |
| Student admission | $14.50 | Students through high school and college students with ID. |
| Senior or military admission | $14.50 | Visitors ages 65 and older and past or present military. |
| Children ages 5 and under | Free | No regular admission charge for children 5 and younger. |
| Family admission | $48 | Covers up to two adults and three children under age 18. |
| Group admission | $11 per person | Self-guided groups of 10 or more must reserve ahead. |
| Museum guest parking | Free | Museum lot on the south side; nearby paid street or lot parking if full. |
| North Garden admission | Free | The museum describes its North Garden as publicly accessible without an admission ticket. |
Family cost example: Two adults and two children ages 7 and 10 can use the $48 family ticket instead of two $17.50 adult tickets plus two $14.50 student tickets ($64). Two adults with children ages 3 and 5 would pay $35 at standard adult rates, since both children enter free. Online processing fees may change totals.
What are Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum hours?
- Open Monday through Sunday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., outside listed holiday closings.
- Last admission is 4:30 p.m.; arrive earlier if you want the galleries and gardens.
- The museum closes on multiple major holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
- Check the official calendar for special events or closure changes before setting out.
The museum recommends spending at least an hour on site. For a relaxed family visit, arrive early enough to enjoy both the indoor ship models and the gardens without rushing. The last admission time is not enough for an in-depth visit.
Make ship models interesting for kids and plan around mansion stairs
These simple choices can turn a quiet collection into a memorable family stop in downtown Savannah.
- Turn details into a ship hunt.Ask kids to look for anchors, masts, flags, smokestacks and different hull shapes in the nine maritime galleries.
- Explain the SS Savannah story.Compare sails with steam propulsion and talk about how the ship made its historic Atlantic crossing in 1819.
- Choose the best ticket combination.Compare the $48 family admission with individual fares, especially if your children are five or younger and enter free.
- Plan the stroller route before stairs.Strollers can stay on the first floor and in gardens, but the second floor and basement can only be reached by stairs.
- Save some time for the gardens.The outdoor Scarbrough and North Gardens provide a different setting after the indoor ship models; choose an appropriate weather window.
- Check closing dates and parking.The museum usually closes at 5:00 p.m. with last admission at 4:30 p.m., but holidays and special events can change a visit.
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum: questions parents ask
Quick answers about Savannah maritime museum tickets, parking, exhibits, strollers and visit length.
How much are Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum tickets?
General adult admission is $17.50, students are $14.50, and children ages five and under enter free. A $48 family ticket admits up to two adults and three children under 18. Online orders may add a processing fee.
Is there free parking at Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum?
Yes. The museum has free guest parking in its lot on the south side of the building, including four accessible spaces. Paid street parking and nearby lots are alternatives when the lot is full.
What is Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum about?
The museum explores maritime history through nine galleries of model ships, paintings and antiques. Its historic William Scarbrough House connects the collection to the pioneering steamship Savannah.
How long should families spend at the museum?
The museum recommends allowing at least one hour. Approximately 60 to 120 minutes is reasonable for many families, depending on children's interest in the models and time spent outdoors in the gardens.
Can I bring a stroller into Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum?
Strollers are allowed on the first floor and in the gardens but cannot be taken on the historic staircases. A lift serves the main exhibition floor, while the second floor and basement are accessible only by stairs.
Is Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum good for young children or rainy days?
The indoor galleries work well as a rainy-day activity, especially for children interested in boats and models. Preschoolers may prefer a brief visit with a simple visual game; the gardens are outdoors and best saved for dry weather.
