The Marshall House- Savannah, GA

Savannah is among my absolute favorite cities in the world. Really, what’s not to love, with all the leafy squares, magnificent mansions and amazing architecture. Then, there are the historic hotels. An embarrassing amount of options await those who prefer vintage digs, making the task of choosing one almost impossible. The only real solution is to keep returning until you stay at them all. Although I have yet to complete this mission, I have stayed at enough to proclaim The Marshall House one of the city’s finest hotels, historic or otherwise.

During the heady days of the railroad boom of the 1840s, Savannah double in size, seemingly overnight. To an enterprising affluent woman named Mary Marshall, whose prosperity was attributed to her own business acumen rather than inheritance, this presented a fabulous opportunity to make even more money through the construction of boarding houses and hotels.

An early real estate developer, Mary held a vast property portfolio which included The Marshall House Hotel, constructed in 1851. Considered the crown jewel of her collection, the hotel was viewed as architecturally significant even at the time of its construction. The granite first floor contained several stores, while the upper floors were finished in Philadelphia pressed brick. To the delight of guests, the roof housed an observation deck, providing unobstructed views of Savannah.

Inside, there were reading rooms, smoking rooms, a bar, private parlors, and two dining rooms, with seating for 90 people. The good times were short lived however, as It wasn’t long before the advent of the Civil War and the arrival of Sherman would forever change Savannah. By 1864, the Marshall House was occupied by Union troops, and the building was transformed into a hospital.

Following the war, the property operated under several different names, including the Geiger Hotel, until operations ceased in 1957 for economic and structural reasons. Sadly, the top floors were abandoned, while the ground floor was maintained as commercial space. All was not lost however; in 1999, the Marshall House received a well deserved extensive renovation.

Items that could be restored, including original wood floors, fireplaces, brick walls, guest room doors and claw foot tubs, were. Lost items were recreated, such as the veranda and the gas lights. The result is absolutely amazing. While the lobby is a cool and elegant retreat, the rooms almost feel frozen in time. I am sure all of their options are outstanding, but if you can, book into the Mary Marshall Suite. It is an experience.

Consisting of a sitting room and a private bedroom, separated by glass French doors, it is a tasteful space. However, the best part is the veranda, which you access through a large sash window. It is not an easy or graceful act, but it is well worth the spectacle. Outside, rockers and tables await, complete with a fabulous view of Broughton Street, and its endless parade of ghost tours, which stop in front of the hotel. For the record, I was not visited during my stay. I will not hold that against the hotel however, because literally everything else was perfect, including the chocolate cake they served at breakfast.