Before Hamilton-Turner was an inn, it was a home.
Before it welcomed travelers, it welcomed Savannah society.
And before guests photographed the mansion from Lafayette Square, people reportedly stood outside to marvel at something they had never seen glowing from a private house before:
Electric light.
The building has been collecting stories since 1873.
Who Built the Hamilton-Turner House?
Samuel Pugh Hamilton had the mansion built in 1873.
Hamilton was a prominent Savannah businessman and civic figure whose social standing earned him the nickname "Lord of Lafayette Square."
The house matched the reputation.
Its grand architecture and elaborate interiors quickly made it a natural setting for Savannah social gatherings.
Was Hamilton-Turner Really One of Savannah's First Electrified Homes?
Yes.
Hamilton was involved with the Brush Electric Light & Power Company, and the mansion became Savannah's first private residence to use electricity.
According to the inn's historical record, spectators gathered outside to see the electric lights shining through the windows—while some reportedly feared the technology might cause the house to explode.
By 1886, the home was fully outfitted with electric lighting.
How Did the House Survive Savannah's Great Fire?
In 1898, fire threatened the property.
The home's Connecticut limestone roof is credited with helping save it from destruction.
The mansion survived.
And its story kept changing.
Where Does the "Turner" Name Come From?
Dr. Francis Turner purchased the residence from the Hamilton estate in 1915.
The Turner family remained connected with the property for decades, ultimately selling it in 1965.
That sale nearly brought the mansion's story to an abrupt end.
The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist acquired the property and planned to replace it.
Historic preservation efforts intervened, and the house survived again.
What Does Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Have to Do With It?
Another chapter arrived in the late 1980s.
Ruben Lee Harper purchased the property, and his cousin Joe Odom became its manager.
Odom's lively gatherings at the house were later referenced in John Berendt's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
The mansion subsequently appeared in the film adaptation directed by Clint Eastwood.
When Did It Become Hamilton-Turner Inn?
Charlie and Sue Strickland purchased the property in 1996 and converted it into the bed-and-breakfast now known as Hamilton-Turner Inn.
Today, the property offers 17 individually designed rooms, each carrying its own character and, in many cases, the name of a figure from Georgia history.
You Are Not Just Looking at History
That is the difference between visiting an old house and staying in one.
Have breakfast where generations before you gathered.
Walk out the front door onto Lafayette Square.
Come back for evening wine and hors d'oeuvres.
Climb the staircase.
Look through windows that have watched Savannah change for more than 150 years.
Hamilton-Turner is still a hotel.
It just happens to have a very long memory.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hamilton-Turner Inn
When was Hamilton-Turner Inn built?
The mansion was built in 1873 for Samuel Pugh Hamilton.
Was Hamilton-Turner one of the first Savannah homes with electricity?
Yes. The Hamilton mansion became Savannah's first private residence with electric lighting.
Was Hamilton-Turner in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil?
The home's history is connected to Joe Odom, whose parties were referenced in the book, and the property later appeared in the film adaptation.
How many rooms does Hamilton-Turner Inn have?
The inn currently offers 17 individually designed rooms.
