A Charming Southern Escape - Savannah, GA

City Walks

Apr 12

Savannah is known for its beautiful coastal landscapes, its well-preserved architecture and its rich vibrant history. It is the oldest city in the state of Georgia, established in 1733. The downtown Historic District, considered one of the largest in the U.S., largely retains the original twenty-two of the original twenty-four parklike square plans laid out by James Oglethorpe.

You will see picturesque cobblestone streets, antebellum architecture, manicured gardens, trees draped in Spanish Moss and of course the 30-acre Forsyth Park with the great fountain. Nicknamed the “Hostess City of the South” Savannah is alive with art, culture, gourmet restaurants and hospitality.

For 40 years, the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has been buying and restoring historical buildings in downtown Savannah. Currently, the college owns 70 beautifully restored buildings throughout the city as well as assisting with restoration work in other homes.

This is what caught my eye, I hope you enjoy!

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The Telfair Academy of Arts

The gates that provide privacy for the many of Savannah’s private gardens

Small garden and big shutters

The Georgia Queen takes guests on river cruises from River Street

Savannah - Circling the Squares: Indispensable guide to the Historic Squares and Forsyth Park

By Sails, Chas

Cat Stealing Money Bank, Piggy Bank for Kids, Coin Bank for Money Saving, Automatic Stealing Money with English Speaking, Creative Gift

HmiL-U

Self-Guided Tour of Savannah

By Jurkofsky, Maryann

Always time to stop in Six Pence Pub

An amusing sign in Joe’s Crab Shack on River Street

The Mercer-Williams House, completed in 1860. was the scene of the events played out in the movie “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. The home was previously owned by singer, songwriter and record label executive Johnny Mercer. Today, it is run as a house museum by Williams’ sister. Jim was the main character in the movie ‘Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil’

700 Drayton at the Mansion on Forsyth Park was originally the Lewis Dayton Mansion built in 1888.

Inside the Mansion on Forsyth Park

Originally the Green Meldrim House constructed in 1850, was once used as General Sherman’s headquarters during the Civil War. It is now the parish house for the adjacent St. John’s Episcopal Church and is designated a National Historic Landmark.

The historic First African Baptist Church was used as a stop on the Underground Railroad. It is the oldest Black Church in North America and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

City Market

The Johnny Mercer statue at Ellis Square at City Market

The River Street area

The building the Gryphon Tea Room is in was originally a Scottish Rite Temple, eventually turning into an apothecary. The tea room restoration is the work of SCAD.

There needs to be time made for a visit to the Old Pink House

The Savannah Police compare the costs of a ride…

Big Duke Alarm Bell, constructed in 1872, close to the Savannah Fire Department served as the city’s fire alarm bell.

The Hamilton-Turner Inn was built in 1873 for Samuel Pugh Hamilton and his famil.y

Homes lining Jones Street, which is considered the prettiest street in Savannah.

The Oscar Meyer Weiner Mobile in the parking lot of the vintage Thunderbird Inn.

The Lucas Theater was completed in 1926, and was the first public building in Savannah to offer air-conditioning.

Lady Chablis was one of Savannah’s colorful characters and played herself in the movie version of “Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. She was a female impersonator at Club One in Savannah.

Houses with a square view

Poetter Hall dates back to 1872 when it opened as the Savannah Volunteer Guard Armory. This was the first building acquired by the Savannah College of Art and Design in 1979.

The William Jasper Monument located in Madison Square.

The Independant Presbyterian Church of Savannah was founded in 1755. This church was featured in the opening shot of the movie Forrest Gump.

A few more shots of the River Street area.

Old Harbor Light was built in 1858 to aid shipping in the Savannah River.

The Pirate House

Rainbow Row, a collection of charming Carpenter Italian-style row homes just off Washington Square.

The Davenport House Museum Store

Around St Patrick’s Day, some of the city’s fountains are greened for the nation’s second biggest parade.

The Congregation Mickve Israel first opened in 1878 on Monterey Square.

The City’s squares burst with colorful azaleas in the spring.

The Armstrong Kessler House, across the street from Forsyth Park, was built between 1917 and 1919 for George Ferguson Armstrong. Today it serves as a luxury hotel.

The Gingerbread House, also known as the Asendorf House was built in 1899 by Cord Asendorf, and is considered one of the finest examples of Steamboat Gothic architecture in the country.

This monument was dedicated to William Washington Gordon, railroad baron and father of Juliette Gordon Low in Wright Square. The square also contains the grave of Tomochichi, the Yamacraw chief who aided the first settlers of Savannah.

Savannah City Hall was built between 1904 and 1905.

The beautiful Forsyth Park fountain is one of the most photographed places in Savannah.

Brightly painted doors and gates

The city has many beautiful private gardens

Paula Deen’s The Lady & Sons restaurant

Eclectic architecture all around

The Andrew Low house built in 1848

The neon sign of Sorry Charlie’s on Ellis Square

Brick walls and garden gates

The Olde Pink House on Abercorn Street was built in the 1700’s for James Habersham, Jr. one of Savannah’s early cotton factors who lived there until his death in 1799.

A freighter makes its way down the Savannah River

Ferries waiting on the river

The city’s rooftops at sunset

The birthplace of Juliette Gordon Low, founder of the Girl Scouts of the USA

The Colonial Park Cemetery was established in 1750 and contains over nine thousand graves. An interesting feature of the Colonial Park Cemetery is the rear wall where headstones hang. These stones were the work of vandals from as early as the Union soldiers who occupied the cemetery during the Civil War, to others vandals while the cemetery was abandoned for decades before the City took control in 1896.

The Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist on Harris Street, dedicated in 1876

A few interior shots of the Cathedral Basilica of St. John the Baptist

Elegant ironwork gates lead to some private gardens

Savannah City Hall building was completed in 1905

Savannah Cotton Exchange building opened in 1887

A bicycle in the Old Savannah Cotton Exchange area

The Century-old converted former cotton warehouses along River Street

A part of the upper Factors walk in the Cotton Exchange district

The Waving Girl Statue is a tribute to Florence Martus. From 1887 to 1931, she greeting the ships by waving a cloth in search of her long lost lover. The ships would return her greeting with a horn blast. Some will still do it today.

Porches enhance the beautiful southern home entrances and Savannah residents do enjoy theirs. Big or small, plain or elaborate, some with hanging plants others with rocking chairs. Here is a small sample.

The majority of the homes on Jones Street were built in the mid-1800’s

George Baldwin house was built in 1887 and has been converted to apartments

Treylor Park neon window sign

An old building repurposed by SCAD (Savannah College of Art and Design) for their museum

Vintage police car in front of the Metropolitan Police Department

The colorful historic homes of Rainbow Row

Telfair Hospital for Females was built in 1884 and was dedicated exclusively to care for women. Mary Telfair provided for its establishment in her will.

A short car ride from the cemetery is Tybee Island beach and lighthouse

What you should know:

There is a hop-on hop-off Old Town Trolly in Savannah that makes 15 stops around the city. This is a great way to get the lay of the land.
This is a walkable town; walking is a great way to see the city.
There is some on the street parking as well as parking garage options.
There are many restaurant and entertainment options.
Wear comfortable shoes.
Public restrooms are available in the historic districts.
Savannah is know to have more than its share of robberies. Make sure to lock your car and not have any valuables exposed.
You can take your cocktail to-go within the historic district boundaries.
There are several house museums.
People are friendly and helpful.