Shows and Attractions Found on Our Tours

Confederate General Hugh W. Mercer (Great Grandfather of Composer Johnny Mercer) began building Mercer House in 1860, though he never lived there. Because of the Civil War the new owner, John Wilder, did not complete the house until 1868. Eventually Mercer House was employed as the Savannah Shriners Alee Temple, and then lay vacant for a decade. Jim Williams, a wealthy antiques dealer and home restorer, purchased Mercer House in 1969, and after restoring the home, lived there and ran his antiques and restoration business from the carriage house. In 1981, Williams shot and killed his sometimes lover / assistant in Mercer House, claiming it was self-defense. Williams endured four trials for the same crime before being acquitted in 1989, only to die a few months later of pneumonia and a heart attack. He was the main character of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" (on New York Times Best Sellers List for 216 weeks). The nonfiction narrative about the shooting and local characters of Savannah was written like a novel. The book was very compelling reading material and greatly increased public interest in Savannah. Clint Eastwood made "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil" into a movie in 1997, with Kevin Spacey playing the role of Jim Williams. Many location shoots for the movie were done in and around Mercer House.