Architecture takes spotlight in alumnus’ tours

Photo by Charlie Ribbens
Alumnus Jonathan Stalcup started his own company, Architectural Tours of Savannah, to appeal to tourists and locals who are interested in the history of the city’s built environment.

By: Monique Bos

Published: Friday, October 14, 2005

Savannah College of Art and Design alumnus Jonathan Stalcup has found a creative way to utilize his Master of Architecture degree: He conducts walking tours through downtown Savannah, highlighting local architecture — as well as the historical and social contexts that have influenced building trends.

Stalcup, who graduated in 2004, started Architectural Tours of Savannah to combine his expertise with the demand for a tour that concentrates on architectural history.

“I’d always thought about putting together my own tour company,” said Stalcup, who worked as a tour guide at the Owens-Thomas house for five years. “Lots of people asked about a tour on architecture.”

He said that while some local companies did touch on the built environment, none of them specialized. He saw a possible niche that he was uniquely qualified to fill.

“I love it,” he said of his burgeoning business, which he described as “more than full-time.” Right now, Stalcup serves not only as guide, but also as graphic designer, Web designer and publicist. “It’s just me,” he said.

He started the company during the summer — off-season for tourists — but has quickly seen an increase in business and interest.

“I’m already booking for spring,” he said. “I try to keep them smaller so it’s a more intimate tour, educational and informative.”

Although he grew up in Iowa, Stalcup said his interests in both Savannah and architecture stretch back to his childhood.

“I’d always been fascinated with Savannah since I was a little kid,” he said. “My sisters used to read me stories about Savannah.”

He also enjoyed playing with Legos, blocks and other building materials, he said. When he was about 10 years old, his father brought home a CAD program.

“I started playing on the computer,” Stalcup said. “That was it.”

Designing buildings on the computer and by hand remained a hobby throughout junior high and high school, he said. When he was ready to continue his education, SCAD presented an obvious choice.

Stalcup draws on the education he received at SCAD for his tours, he said. He took a number of architectural history electives in addition to his major studies. He remains in contact with architectural history department chair Robin Williams, who continues to provide assistance and answer questions for him, he said.

Stalcup offers three different tours, each focusing on specific aspects of Savannah’s architecture: Colonial to Contemporary, which provides an overview of the city’s architectural development from early colonial days to the present; King Cotton, which concentrates on 19th-century building styles and culture; and Lit City, which analyzes the effects of electricity on architecture.

He begins the Colonial to Contemporary tour in Washington Square “because it’s quiet but also to do a chronological overview,” he said. To supplement his introduction on the history of Savannah, he presents visual aids, such as a drawing of the settlement shortly after James Oglethorpe and the first 114 colonists arrived in 1733.

The tour, which ends at Telfair Square, provides a comprehensive and accessible overview of architectural trends in Savannah. Stalcup contextualizes changes in the built environment in terms of local economics, such as the 1793 invention of the cotton gin and architect William Jay’s departure due to financial panic; national politics, such as the development of Federal architecture to reflect an evolving American consciousness, in place of the Georgian style that hark back to England; and international discoveries, such as archaeological digs that unearthed Roman ruins.

He also discusses the role of the Civil War in altering architecture, particularly in ending the popular Greek Revival style that characterized many plantation buildings.

“It was ubiquitous,” he said. “More importantly, it represented democracy, and people were disillusioned with democracy.”

Stalcup incorporates several SCAD buildings, including Orleans Hall and Oglethorpe House, into his discussion of 20th-century architecture. Of Oglethorpe House, built in 1967, he said, “It was influenced by the Bauhaus movement — design comes from emotions, shapes, materials. There’s no sense of history.”

The tour ends with the Jepson Center for the Arts, designed by noted architect Moshe Safdie and under construction. Stalcup also discusses the City Market parking garage, how it served as the impetus for the preservation movement in the 1950s, and the city’s plans to restore the original square in 2006.

Stalcup’s passion for his subject matter translates to success as a tour guide — as the guestbook on his Web site, www.architecturalsavannah.com, attests. Locals and tourists alike recommend his tours, citing his knowledge of the city’s history, stories of its inhabitants and unique insights into Savannah.

Stalcup also is happy with his profession.

“I’m outside, giving tours all the time, talking about what I love.”


For more information about Architectural Tours of Savannah, including booking and reservation information, visit www.architecturalsavannah.com, call (912) 604-6354, or e-mail jonathanstalcup@architecturalsavannah.com. The cost is $20 for adults, $10 for students, $5 for children ages 6-12 and free for children under 6.