Savannah Midnight Garden: Narrated Walking Tour
4.9
277 Ratings
Savannah
Embark on a captivating narrated walking tour of Savannah's Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Discover the fascinating backstories and iconic locations from the book and movie, led by a knowledgeable guide.
Duration:
2 hours, 15 minutes
Cancellation:
1 day
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Highlights
- Reynolds Square - Out tour begins here. Introduction to Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil’s main character, Jim Williams, and an outside look at what is probably his most high-profile Savannah project - the Olde Pink House Restaurant and Tavern. We also introduce Minerva, the voodoo priestess and member of his defense team.
- Johnson Square - We stop here to talk about Johnny Mercer and the Midnight movie soundtrack, and why director Clint Eastwood thought it was important to have a movie soundtrack that was 100 percent Johnny Mercer music.
- Wright Square - A look at the movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil Qe compare it to the book, and take a deep look at its characters and the various places it was filmed, including an outside look at the Federal District Court Building, used as an exterior in the movie’s courtroom scenes.
- Chippewa Square - A brief presentation about the movie Forrest Gump.
- Hamilton-Turner House - An in-depth look at one of the main venues for the book and the movie - The Hamilton Turner Inn. Talk about Joe Odom, Nancy Hillis (the real “Mandy), and Jerry Spence. We also introduce “Vamp of Savannah,” Hillis’ tell-all book.
- West Jones Street - We’ll trace the history of Clary’s Cafe and introduce Moe Fetzer (the real Luther Driggers). Then we take a look at 115 W. Jones St., anchor of the movie’s famous scene introducing Joe Odom. Then we see John Berendt’s first home in Savannah, as well as the home where Berendt met Joe Odom.
- Mercer Williams House Museum - We stand in front of the Mercer Williams House Museum and discuss its history to present-day; its role in the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil saga; and the trials of Jim Williams. We do not go inside the museum.
- Armstrong House - We stand in front of the Armstrong House and discuss its history and its role in Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. It is now a private home, we do not enter it.
- Forsyth Park - Our tour ends here with a discussion on Midnight characters and “where are they now.” We also talk about how the author wrote the book and what the book has done for Savannah - and anything else tour participants want to talk about!
What's Included
- Expert local guidance
- All-inclusive pricing
What's Not Included
- Gratuities
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- This tour does not include a tour of the Mercer Williams House Museum.
Additional Information
Join a small, intimate group (limited to 15 people) for a deep exploration of all aspects of Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Your guide, a seasoned journalist and long-term local resident of downtown Savannah, leads this two-hour journey, offering in-depth insights into John Berendt’s book, Clint Eastwood’s corresponding film, and the rich history of Savannah that is intertwined with both. Visit key locations from the narrative, such as the Hamilton-Turner Inn, Clary’s Cafe, and Mercer-Williams House, while grabbing exclusive insights on the diverse cast of characters - from Jim Williams and Minerva to Joe Odom, Nancy Hillis, and Moe Fetzer, among others.
- A moderate amount of walking is involved, comfortable walking shoes are recommended
- This tour is not recommended for children under 14.
- BOOK CLUBS WELCOME!
Location
23 Abercorn St
Abercorn Street
We meet at the John Wesley statue in the middle of Reynolds Square, which is right across the street from the Old Pink House Restaurant and Tavern at 23 Abercorn St.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.9
(277 Ratings)
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Donald_j
Mar 31, 2024
Great story telling.. loved the horses. - Great story telling.. loved the horses. We were on schedule and the guide did a great job keeping everyone involved.
Review provided by Viator
Donna_o
Mar 28, 2024
Great Tour - Great walking tour. Martin was very knowledgeable and had great stories to tell. Definitely wear comfortable shoes as you’re walking/standing for over 2 hours.
Definitely recommend
Review provided by Viator
Jeri_c
Mar 27, 2024
Midnight in the garden of good and evil. - What very informative. Learn lots about the city of Savannah. And also the book and movie. Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. Need to rewatch the movie now.
Review provided by Viator
Colleen_s
Mar 23, 2024
Very knowledgeable and animated tour guide - Martin, thank you so much for a very enjoyable walking tour. You had so much knowledge on the book, the movie and Savannah. It was amazing. I apologize for leaving early. I had an allergic reaction to something I ate earlier.
Review provided by Viator
Sonb71
Mar 14, 2024
Midnight Tour - Martin was very informative. The tour made everything in the book and movie come to life. We rewatched the movie once we returned home and noticed so much more. The walk was nice and the weather perfect. Savannah is beautiful.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Clyde_w
Mar 12, 2024
Liked this tour - What we expected was a fun little walking tour past the Mercer Williams house and a few other places but we got quite a bit more. Plenty of material to please a Midnight in the Garden fans but also interesting history of Savannah, a little voodoo, and some locations of other films filmed in Savannah such as Forest Gump. Our tour guide Martin came highly recommended. We felt like he lived up to the hype. The tour size was small and there was ample time for asking questions along the way. An enjoyable stroll through the historic division.
Review provided by Viator
Kenneth_p
Mar 8, 2024
“Midnight in the Garden “ tour - Martin, our guide, was entertaining as well as knowledgeable. We had a great time and would recommend this tour to anyone interested in the book, movie
Review provided by Viator
Seaside36272732856
Mar 7, 2024
Fun afternoon! - Entertaining and knowledgeable! Kept our attention and learned all sorts of fun facts. “as a matter of fact, when I think about it, it suits me fine.See, with all these weirdos you got filling up your book, I figure somebody’s gonna have to play the good guy, and it’s beginning to look like it’ll be me.” Thanks for a great afternoon!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Marializa_h
Mar 30, 2024
Enjoyed the tour! - Martin was an engaging and knowledgeable guide. I learned a lot on this tour, not only about “Midnight”, but also about Savannah’s history. If you are familiar with “Midnight” and its background, some of the information shared may not be new to you. It’s great to see the places mentioned in the book in “real life”! It was a nice way to spend an afternoon!
Review provided by Viator
Cindy_k
Mar 24, 2024
Good tour - watch or read the book - The tour was good and interesting. It also added realism to book. You learned about Savannah while providing context to a lot of the events and places in the book. If you take this to, I’d recommend either reading the book or seeing the movie prior as I feel like it would be a more enjoyable experience.
Review provided by Viator
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