Your First Stop in Georgia’s First City
As a beacon for public education in Georgia, the doors of Massie Common School opened on October 15, 1856, welcoming over 150 students and remained open until 1974. Designed by nationally acclaimed architect John S. Norris, Massie is listed on the National Register of Historic Buildings. After serving generations of Savannah students, today’s Massie is a museum for local history and architecture.
The restored buildings and state-of-the art exhibits present students and visitors of all ages with an engaging, interactive experience, one that should not be missed. The three-dimensional, scaled model depiction of the National Landmark District in Savannah: An Intelligent Grid offers a unique visual orientation to Savannah. The touch screen laser show provides visitors with the story of the Savannah Plan, Monument Row and Savannah Fires. While walking through the facades of classical structures from around the world, architecture becomes a sensory experience in the Classically Inspired exhibit. Visitors view architectural styles seen throughout Savannah while interactive components of the exhibit engage both the young and young-at-heart.
Other exhibits throughout the museum include The Debatable Lands, exploring local native American history artifacts dating from pre-history; Loss and Regeneration: Preserving Savannah chronicling the 20th century historic district; and the 19th century Heritage Classroom, providing a glimpse into life as a student in the 19th century.
