Savannah Walking Tour: Midnight Garden Stories

Follow the real crime and the real people through Savannah's squares

This 90-minute walking tour of Savannah's Historic District stops at locations featured in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil," with a guide who shares the real stories and photographs of the characters from the book. You'll pass the Mercer Williams House, where Jim Williams lived; Joe Odom's House; Forsyth Park; and the homes of other figures central to the book and the crime that became a bestseller. The tour is wheelchair accessible and suitable for all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each2 stops

1. Mercer Williams House Museum15m
2. Forsyth Park5m

Walking tour of Savannah landmarks

• Stop outside to discuss Jim Williams and associates
• Stop outside to discuss Luther Driggers' story
• Stop outside Mercer Williams House to discuss Jim Williams and murder events
• Stop outside to discuss Nancy Hillis and Joe Odom
• Stop at Forsyth Park entrance to discuss William Simon Glover and Patrick

The experience

The tour moves through Savannah's Historic District at a leisurely pace, stopping outside each location rather than entering the homes themselves. At the Mercer Williams House, the guide discusses Jim Williams, his lawyer Sonny Seiler, and the events leading to Danny Hansford's murder. You'll hear about Luther Driggers, who ate breakfast at one stop every morning, and see the real photographs and documents that connect the book's characters to the actual people who lived them. The guide brings the stories to life with the details that made the book so compelling: the dog Patrick, the business schemes, the relationships that tangled into tragedy.

The walk includes stops at Forsyth Park, where you'll learn about William Simon Glover and Minerva, and passes the homes of Nancy Hillis (Mandy in the book) and John Berendt himself, who lived in Savannah while researching the story. Travel time between stops is built into the 90-minute duration, so the pace stays unhurried. Strollers and wheelchairs are accommodated throughout, and service animals are welcome.

What’s included

• A live guide in English who shares the real stories and photographs of the characters.
• stops at the Mercer Williams House, Joe Odom's House, Forsyth Park, and the homes of other figures from the book.
• discussion of the actual people and events that inspired the bestseller.

Information

Lasts 1h 30m, runs Monday to Saturday at 09:00, from US$ 33 per person, with a live guide in English and with free cancellation up to 24 h before.

Days and timesMonday to SaturdayDeparts at 09:00Another time? ›

GroupUp to 30

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Book up toStart time

AgesAdult (18 to 64 years) · Senior (65 and older) · Youth (13 to 17 years) · Child (2 to 12 years) · Infant (under 2): free

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated 4 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortWheelchair accessibleAccessible transportStroller-friendlyPets welcome

Operated by Afterlife Tours

Is this one for you?The tour moves at a leisurely pace through Savannah's Historic District, so it suits anyone who wants to walk and absorb the stories without rushing. If you've read the book and want to see the real places and hear the true details behind the characters, this walk connects the story to the city itself.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Youth (13 to 17 years); Child (2 to 12 years); Infant (under 2): free.

What locations from the book does the tour actually visit?

The tour stops outside the Mercer Williams House, Joe Odom's House, Forsyth Park, and the homes of other characters featured in "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." You don't enter the homes, but the guide discusses the real people and events connected to each location while you stand outside.

How long is the Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil walking tour?

The tour lasts 90 minutes, including travel time between the stops in Savannah's Historic District.

Who was Jim Williams and why does the tour focus on him?

Jim Williams was the central figure in the crime at the heart of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil." He lived in the Mercer Williams House, and the tour discusses the events that led to Danny Hansford's murder, his trials, and his lawyer Sonny Seiler's role in the case.

Is the tour accessible if I use a wheelchair or stroller?

Yes, the tour is fully wheelchair accessible. All areas and surfaces are accessible, and strollers are welcome for infants and small children. Transportation options are also wheelchair accessible.

What makes this tour different from just reading the book?

The guide shares the real stories and real photographs of the actual people behind the characters, along with details about how the book changed Savannah's tourism. You see the real locations where events happened and hear the context that the book made famous.