Bethesda Home for Boys
Also known as: Bethesda
Why it's listed
Bethesda Home for Boys is an orphanage campus of roughly 650 acres south of Savannah, Georgia. George Whitefield laid its first brick on March 25, 1740, to shelter destitute children, and it is described as the first charity in America and the oldest existing orphanage. Fires in 1773 and 1805 destroyed the first two main buildings, and a permanent structure was completed in 1870. Its center section has since been removed, leaving two two-story wings divided by a courtyard. A 1968 administration building occupies the approximate site of Whitefield's original house, and a small neo-classical brick chapel from 1925 is among the notable buildings. After a period of ruin and state or city control, the Union Society bought the tract in 1854 and has administered it since. Over 8,000 boys have been helped. The complex is largely self-contained, with residences, a gym, a cafeteria, shops and recreation facilities, and it was listed for its humanitarian, educational and historical importance.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents Bethesda as the first charity in America and the oldest existing orphanage, which has operated as a home for orphaned children since 1740 apart from brief interruptions. It is also tied to the Rev. George Whitefield and to the Union Society, which has administered it since 1854. Areas of significance are education, social/humanitarian history and architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 73000614, listed September 12, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | S of Savannah at Ferguson Ave. and Bethesda Rd., Savannah |
|---|---|
| County | Chatham County |
| Listed | September 12, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73000614 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 18th and 19th centuries (specific date 1740) |
| Architect / builder | No architect discovered; a "Mr. Day" was recruited from England for the original construction |
| Architectural style | Neo-classical (1925 chapel); 1870 three-story pedimented building |
| Areas of significance | Education, Social History |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and in use as a boys' orphanage, in excellent condition and altered; about eighty-eight boys in residence in 1973. |
| Acreage | 650 |
| Coordinates | 31.96366, -81.09275 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 73000614.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4897981
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.