Entry No. 15 — the Savannah file — filed under: haunted house
Sorrel-Weed House
A Greek Revival mansion Robert E. Lee visited twice, now run as one of Georgia's first two State Landmarks — and the rare haunted house that debunks its own most famous legend. The oft-repeated story of an enslaved woman named Molly has been shown by historians to be pure fiction, even as nightly paranormal investigations still center on it.
The story
At 6 West Harris Street on Madison Square, the Sorrel-Weed House looks every bit the solemn Greek Revival mansion it was built to be around 1840. Constructed for merchant Francis Sorrel and visited twice by General Robert E. Lee, the property was among the first two structures designated as Georgia State Landmarks. From the sidewalk, it presents as a textbook specimen of antebellum architecture, framed by high iron railings and plaster columns.
The real strange twist isn't what happened inside during the 19th century—it's what happened on the tour circuit in the late 20th. For years, Savannah ghost tours built their centerpiece around the tragic, violent story of an enslaved woman named Molly. It made for gripping late-night theater, right up until local historians checked the archival records and proved Molly never existed. The entire narrative had been manufactured out of thin air for tour scripts.
What makes the house genuinely strange today is that it functions as a self-aware haunt. Night after night, paranormal investigation tours lead visitors through dark hallways and into the basement armed with electromagnetic field meters, hunting for the spirit of a person fabricated to sell tickets. You aren't just watching for bumps in the night—you're watching invented folklore outpace documented history in real time.
What it's like
Arrive at Madison Square before dusk when the city walking groups begin gathering on the pavers. Stepping inside requires purchasing an indoor ticket rather than sticking to the basic sidewalk tour—an upgrade that usually runs around $35 extra. You will be ushered through dimly lit, high-ceilinged parlors down into the basement with ghost-hunting gear in hand. The atmosphere leans heavily into theatrical suspense; for the most revealing visit, take the evening investigation tour and ask your guide directly to separate the documented historic facts from the invented script.
The move: Take the evening ghost/paranormal investigation tour together, then ask the guide directly which parts of the story are historically documented and which were invented for the tour script.
- 📍 Madison Square, Historic District
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 6 W. Harris St, Savannah, GA 31401
Hours: Added 2026-07-20 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Colonial Park Cemetery — Pair the invented folklore of Sorrel-Weed with the stark reality of Colonial Park Cemetery three blocks away, where 700 victims of the 1820 yellow fever epidemic lie buried.
- Beach Institute African-American Cultural Center — Ulysses Davis Collection — Walk three blocks southeast to replace tour-script myths with authentic local Black history and the hand-carved wood sculptures of Ulysses Davis.
- 17Hundred90 Inn & Restaurant — Head four blocks northeast to compare Sorrel-Weed's debunked legend with Savannah's oldest operating inn and its own long-standing Room 204 hauntings.
- Alley Cat Lounge — After chasing ghost signals in dark antebellum basements, head subterranean down an alley off Broughton Street for a stiff cocktail.
Good to know
Did Robert E. Lee actually visit the house?
Yes. General Robert E. Lee visited the Francis Sorrel House twice, a fact preserved in the home's historic records.
Is the story of the enslaved woman named Molly real?
No. Historians have thoroughly debunked the story of Molly as pure fiction, despite its continued appearance on ghost tour routes.
What tours are available at the Sorrel-Weed House?
The house runs daytime historic and architectural guided tours, evening ghost tours, and late-night indoor paranormal investigations.
Do you need a ticket to go inside the house?
Yes. Standard street walking tours only view the exterior from Madison Square; entering the rooms and basement requires a specific indoor museum or paranormal tour ticket.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Wikipedia · Official site · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-20