 | Savannah Things To Do | Tips 1 - 10 of 289 |  |
Popular Things To Do | Other Things To Do Tips | All Tips (289) This is a great way to see the historic River Street from a Riverboat! The Captain will narrate the Savannah River history Location: Cruising year round from East River Street
Saturday lunch and Sunday brunch cruises, also includes narration by the Captain and a buffet, great food and a relaxing cruise.
1 hour no reservation required
Fare $14.95
Children under 12 $8.50
There are several other cuise packages that are longer and more expensive and do require reservations, so check the link below for more details and prices. Leave a Comment
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Besides the 19th-century architecture, the colonial cemeteries, & the excellent preservation movement, Savannah also boasts that the entire historic downtown is a National Historic Landmark! It is also the first planned city in North America. Because Sherman did not burn Savannah, much of its historic antebellum architecture survives.
General James Oglethorpe founded Savannah as the southernmost outpost of England's American colonies in 1733. He selected a high bluff above the Savannah River, & then he mapped out a planned city according to 18th century British specifications. The original city had 24 squares; there are still 21 left.
Walk compact Savannah...only 2.5 square miles in the historic district. Because each one of the 21 squares has its own distinct personality, wander the squares.
Johnson Square was the first square laid out by Oglethorpe, & it was named for Robert Johnson, governor of South Carolina at the time that Georgia was founded. The square is anchored on the east by Christ Episcopal Church, the 1st congregation of the colony. The present church is quite simple & is fronted by staid Corinthian columns. Here is where John Wesley held the first Sunday school class in North America.
Walk west to Ellis Square & the City Market(a pedestraian-only area of narrow streets lined with shops, & restaurants).
East of City Market astride Abercorn Street, you find the Oliver Sturges House famous for its dolphin-shaped downspouts that decorate the side of the house.
Go east, & you will run into Warren & Washington Squares.
South on Habersham street between State & York is Columbia Square where the famed IIsaiah Davenport House Museum is situated.
West again on Oglethorpe Square you find three homes designed by William Jay (famed English Architect).
The oldest art museum in the south called Telfair Museum of Art is located in Telfair Square.
Continued in the next tip. Leave a Comment
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One of the reasons for Savannah being named "The Most Beautiful City in America' is because of all the parks (locals refer to them as "vest parks") such as Forsyth Park.
This park links Savannah's Historic and Victorian districts. It is the largest park in Savannah and the most active as well. I find it amazing that such a large park would still exist, keeping its original size, for 150 years! The park has 20+ acres which boast a landmark cast-iron white fountain modeled in 1858 after one that graces the Place de la Concorde in Paris; a Spanish-American War memorial; and an imposing monument to the Confederacy, built in 1875, and inscribed with the words, "Come from the Four Winds, O Breath, And breathe upon these slain that they may live."
Forsyth Park has long been the scene of Civil War re-enactments and a spot where famous movies have been filmed such as Forest Gump and Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
The park is usually always crowded with sport enthusiasts playing touch football or softball. Skateboarders abound as do families enjoying picnics.
Here in Forsyth Park, I understood the South's great natural beauty and the pride that Southerners have always displayed. Leave a Comment Directions: Southern fringe of the historical district
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Take time to read the headstones to discover prominent businessmen, governors, & inventors buried here. However, & more importantly, you will be able to read stories of "regular" Savannahians who died sometime during the cemetery's 103-year-history.
Sadly, years of neglect & vandalism destroyed many of the tombstones. There are hundreds of stones that are missing, & many inscriptions on other tombstones are very worn or have been altered.
Our Ghost Tour Guide told us that "Sherman's troops are thought to have been responsible for the vandalism during the Union occupation of Savannah in 1864."
% Depicted in the photo in my 1st tip on the cemetery, old grave headstones are attached to the brick wall at the back of the cemetery. While Sherman's troops camped there, they broke off many of the headstones to put up their tents.
The photo on this page shows an unusual custom in this cemetery, an odd-shaped crypt built in the shape of a bed with the headboard to the right. They wanted the shape to symbolize "everlasting sleep". Entire families were buried in one of these crypts, one family member on top of the other!
Unlike today's cemeteries, these old tombstones told a complete story. I wrote down as best I could one poignant inscription:
"iIn Memory of JACOB R. TAYLOR, Son of John P. Taylor of Philadelphia. A youth of exemplary department conciliating manners and (?) promise, who in the 19th year of his age, when unarmed and peaceably walking the streets of Savannah, was on the evening of the 11th of November, 1811, attacked and inyhumanly decimated (?) by an armed band (?) belonging to the crews of the French Privateers La Vengeance and La Franchise. Rest infinite youth far from thy friends inurnd by strangers honourd and by strangers mourned. Though thy lone turf no kindred drops can (?), Yet virtue hallows with her tears thy grave."
(?)=Could not read what it said. Leave a Comment Directions: Located at the corner of Oglethorpe and Abercorn Streets.
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Down on the riverfront you'll find some great little shops and restaurants. The street are all cobblestone so speeding is Not an issue, it is a very slow and bumpy ride. Go park and take a walk around, parking is cheap about 50 cent to $1.00 an hour. Walk along the river and see all the riverboats and shops for blocks. Leave a Comment
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If you haven't heard yet, Savannah was recently named America's most haunted city, and this particular tour is the reason why. The owner of the business has been giving tours here for over 10 years, but he didn't start his own tour company until October 2002. He is the president of the Georgia chapter of the American Institute of Parapsychology, and I believe he has his degree in parapsychology from Duke. Although he doesnt give the actual tour around the city, he finishes the tour by giving a talk at his house about your choice of topics. I took the 90 minute night tour, which begins at his house/business and walks to several nearby places that are supposedly haunted, including the cemetery, private houses, and other buildings and churches. The guide is very knowledgable and provides lots of interesting, sometimes scary information about the places you see as well as about the city in general. Savannah has a long and difficult history, and there is much more to it than you would think by just walking about yourself without getting the info from somewhere, which is why I recommend this tour. After the about 75 minute walking tour you return to the house to meet the owner and hear his stories. You can stick around afterwards to look around, ask questions, etc. and they recently started offering various RedArdor metaphysics services, such as tarot readings and palmistry, including specialized readings for couples. There are over 300 haunted houses alone in Savannah, and much of the city is built over old unmarked graves. I will leave the rest of the city's haunted history for you to find out if you choose to. They also have a small shop with books, artwork, etc. all dealing with the paranormal, as well as a few haunted artifacts on display.
Tours begin between 9-11pm and cost $15. There are day tours for those who can't come at night, and there is a special midnight tour that last 2 1/2 hours and is supposed to be the scariest of all and costs $35 for adults, $30 for under 16. Call for reservations. Leave a Comment Address: 120 East Jones StreetPhone: (912) 234-2121Directions: One house from the corner of Abercorn and E Jones Streets, easy to find by the lights hanging over the front porchWebsite: http://www.sixthsensesavannah.com/
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TThe original City Market started in 1755 when the farmers and the fishermen would bring their "wares" to market. Horse-pulled wagons would be brimming with goods, and the area was filled with activities. The market area was Savannah's commercial center.
Unfortunately, the first two Market buildings were destroyed by fire, and a third was torn down after it was used as a "dressing station" during the Siege of Savannah in the Civil War. But, it was the Market building of 1872 that was the most popular and most well remembered. This building was a building with Romanesque arches, a soaring roof line, circular windows, and was constructed with brick in an ornate design.
This is the building that survived for 200 years, but after the supermarket (air-conditioned) became popular in Savannah, the old Market was thought of as a "relic"; thus, plans were made to tear it down to put up a parking garage.
For years, there was a heated debate; yet, in 1954, the grand old Market building was knocked down. This sad incident "fanned the flames of determination for historic-mined Savannahians who vowed to protect and preserve historic structures in the city."
The most active of these people were seven women who ended up forming the Historic Savannah Foundation That organization is still active today.
The Savannah Market was rebuilt and is thriving today as The New City Market.
It's now a pedestrian-only arcade along West St. Julian between Barnard & Montgomery. It's where the "toniest" shops and finest restaurants reside.The area includes outdoor cafes, underground clubs, eateries, galleries, and other unique shops.
This new market has become a magnet for the locals who craved a more "laid-back alternative to the boisterous River Street scene." It's a more serene place with a romantic ambience, a historic flavor, and an artistic aura. Leave a Comment Directions: West of Johnson Square, past Ellis Square. Along West St. Julian between Barnard & Montgomery.
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At he Riverfront at Bay Street, don't miss the promenade at the top of Yamacraw Bluff.
It is parallel with the high row of ballast-stone and brick buildings that as of 1817 served as cotton warehouses. The first two floors of this Factors Walk (called this because a "factor" is a cotton merchant) were used for the cotton coming into port.
Later three more floors were added, and the third floor was used for storage. The fourth and fifth floors were offices. The "Factors" would factor how much cotton was brought in to be sold, and the Walk was the center for most of the commercial activities in Savannah.
The Cotton Exchange is approachable by one of the many catwalks that cross over the cobblestone lane below. Today, antique stores, offices, , a museum, and the River Street Inn Hotel occupy these restored 19th- century buildings.
Ironically, this beautiful place is right beside the "BourbonStreet-like tourist center" full of saloons, nightclubs, restaurants, T-shirt shops, other tourist shops, sidewalk margarita stands, and, at night, fireworks!
It's quite interesting to see the contrast of how this wonderful Riverfront is used. Leave a Comment Address: 100 East Bay Street
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Colonial Park Cemetery is right in historic Savannah, and it dominates a large section between Oglethorpe Avenue on the north and East Perry Street on the south.
It contains the people of Savannah who were buried between 1750-1853. Besides very old headstones, there are many historical plaques.
The Cemetery is open from dawn to dusk, and entry is FREE.
The site contains the graves of five governors and many Revolutionary War soldiers. In addition, there are over 700 victims of the 1820 yellow fever epidemic buried here. Also, several people who were victims of fatal duels (which were conducted right here) are buried in the very cemetery where they were killed!
Perhaps the saddest fact of all concerning Colonial Park Cemetery is that it became a campground for Sherman's soldiers during the Civil War.
Allan and I really enjoyed visiting this old, small cemetery. We spent a few hours just perusing the grave markers and commenting to each other about the people, the situations, the war, etc.
Among the early Georgians who were buried here is Button Gwinnett who was one of Georgia's three signers of the Declaration of Independence.
At the entrance to Colonial Park Cemetery is an impressive entrance monument that the Daughters of the American Revolutionary War had erected in 1913 in memory of patriots. Under a large Eagle sculpture is engraved in huge letters DAR. I think that it would have been more appropriate to have engraved the name of the Cemetery. It is a beautiful entranceway, however. Leave a Comment Directions: Between Oglethorpe Avenue on the north and East Perry Street on the South.
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Wright Square is named for Sir James Wright, last royal governor of Georgia. Most people remember it as an homage to Chief Tomochichi who helped Oglethorpe select the site for Savannah, & it was he who signed the formal treaty allowing Oglethorpe's colonists to peacefully settle among the Indian.
Chippewa Square is where the statue of colony founder James Edward Oglethorpe was erected. Nearby is Colonial Park Cemetery.
Madison Squareis where the famed Green-Meldrim House is located. This house served as Union (General Sherman's headquarters during the Civil War once the North captured Savannah). It serves today as the parish house for St. John's Episcopal Church.
Open for tours. (One Macon Street, 912-233-3845). Also, the Savannah College of Art & Design is here, & it owns the most land in the historic district.
Lafayette Square is where the Andrew Low House is; it is where Juliette Gordon Low called to order a meeting of the Girl Scouts in 1912.
For natural beauty and architectural wonder, you need to see both Monterey and Calhoun Squares. They are a few blocks north of Forsyth Park
Monterey Square is named for the capture of Monterey Mexico by U.S. forces. A statue of Polish-born Revolutionary War hero, Casimir Pulaski stands here.
Also, the most famous of houses, the Mercer House (once home to composer Johnny Mercer) is the former home also of antique dealer Jim Williamsfrom John Berendt'sMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.
Calhoun Square is named for South Carolina statesman John Calhoun, and it is where the Wesley Monumental Methodist Church was built. Built in honor of John & Charles Wesley who came here as missionaries..they returned to England & established the Methodist Church
Poke around as you meander the squares. Stay alert for the OBSCURE! Leave a Comment
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on March 14, 2004
on April 18, 2007
on June 23, 2004
