The Telfair Museums are composed of a pair of National Historic Landmarks as well as a building made famous by its Moshe Safdie design.

The museum had opened in 1866 and is celebrating its 125th anniversary in 2011. It is not just one of the best Savannah museums but is also the oldest publicly-owned art museum in the South.

Telfair Academy, which was the first of the three sites compromising the museum, had originally been a mansion owned by Alexander Telfair, son of Georgia governor and Revolutionary War hero Edward Telfair. The structure was designed by William Jay, a popular British architect during those times, and now Telfair Academy houses American Impressionism works. At the Owens Thomas House, visitors would be able to view 19th century works while contemporary works are housed in the Jepson Center.