Museum Tour

The Hay House is one of Georgia’s most distinguished structures. Built between 1855 and 1859 for William Butler Johnston and his wife, Anne Tracy Johnston, in the Italian Renaissance Revival style. We have included a snapshot of what you will enjoy on the museum tour, which is offered Wednesdays through Sundays. View the museum tour hours here.

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    The Basement
    The ground floor of the building functioned as workspace for servants and summer living quarters for the Johnston-Felton family. In addition to having a kitchen, scullery, and butler’s pantry, there was a summer dining room, living room, and bedroom.
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    The Main Floor
    The main level is the most lavish and ornately decorated floor of the house. It features three parlors, the formal dining room, and the art gallery. The impressive ceiling heights range upwards of 30 feet.
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    The Second Floor
    The floor plan is derived from Italian villas, with two bedrooms on either side of a central hallway, four bathrooms, and a terrace overlooking the front lawn.
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    Behind the Scenes
    This special tour is offered twice a month on Saturdays and provides access to all seven levels of Hay House, including the wine cellar, various attic spaces, and the secret room. View Behind the Scenes schedule here.
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    The Art
    Throughout the museum tour, you’ll enjoy magnificent works of art prominently displayed throughout the Hay House. Examples include paintings, porcelains, beautiful stained glass, décor, and more.