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| Savannah Attractions
Andrew Low House Bonaventure Cemetery Cathedral of St.
John the Baptist City Market First African
Baptist Church Forsyth Park Fort McAllister
State Historic Park Fort Pulaski National
Monument Ghost Talk Ghost
Walk Savannah Walking Tour Green-Meldrim
House Historic Downtown
Savannah Isaiah Davenport
House Museum Juliette Gordon
Low's Birthplace King-Tisdell Cottage Massie Heritage
Interpretation Center Mercer House Old Fort Jackson Owens-Thomas House
and Museum Ralph Mark Gilbert
Civil Rights Museum River Street Savannah Cotton
Exchange Savannah History
Museum Ships of the Sea
Maritime Museum Telfair Museum
of Art Tybee Island |
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Andrew
Low, one of the wealthiest men in Savannah in the mid-19th century, commissioned
the prominent New York architect John Norris to build a home for him.
The Italianate-style house, located at 329 Abercorn St., features brick
underneath stucco; the red in the brick eventually bled into the stucco,
giving the house a pinkish hue. Famous houseguests included Gen. Robert
E. Lee and writer William Makepeace Thackery. Andrew Low's son, William,
married Juliette "Daisy" Gordon, and the two lived in the house
after Andrew's death. Juliette Gordon Low founded The Girl Scouts of America
in the library of the Andrew Low House on March 12, 1912. Call the house
at (912) 233-6854 for information about its hours and admission fees.
Bonaventure
Cemetery contains the graves of plantation owners, Confederate soldiers
and generals, and many ofSavannah's elite. It received national recognition
as one of the settings in John Berendt's best-selling novel, "Midnight
in the Garden of Good and Evil." Since the publication of the book,
which features a photograph of the cemetery's "Bird Girl" statue
on its cover, the burial ground receives throngs of visitors, many of
whom are interested in its statuary; "Midnight in the Garden of Good
and Evil" fans should note that the "Bird Girl" statue
is currently housed in the Telfair Art museum. Some of the most visited
gravesites are those of composer John Mercer (who wrote over 1,100 songs,
including the Academy Award winning "Moon River") and writer
Conrad Aiken. Bonaventure Cemetery is located at 330 Bonaventure Road.
Call (912) 651-6843 for more information about the cemetery.
The
Cathedral of St. John the Baptist is Georgia's oldest Catholic Gothic
Revival church. The church was dedicated in1876, destroyed by fire in
1898, and then rebuilt according to architect Francis Baldwin's original
plans. The magnificent structure features stained glass windows, gold
leafing, murals, and an altar, railings, and floors made of marble. The
church is open for self-guided tours Mondays through Saturdays from 9
a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; guests may not tour
the building during church services. The Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
is located at 222 E. Harris St. Call the church at (912) 233-4709 for
additional information. 
City
Market began in 1755 as a place for fisherman and farmers to sell their
wares, and it soon became the social and commercial center of Savannah.
The market fell into decline with the advent of air-conditioned supermarkets,
and it succumbed to the wrecking ball in 1954. However, thanks in part
to the Historic Savannah Foundation, City Market revived. Today, City
Market contains art galleries, boutiques, coffee shops, and restaurants.
It frequently hosts live entertainment, and offers horse-drawn carriage
rides and trolley tours to visitors. City Market is located downtown,
at Jefferson and West Saint Julian streets. Call the City Market information
line at (912) 525-CITY (2489) for a listing of the market's upcoming events.
The
First African Baptist Church was built by slaves in 1788. They worked
by lantern light, after a full day of fieldwork. The house of worship
is the oldest standing brick building in Georgia, and claims that it is
the oldest black Baptist church in North America. The First African Baptist
Church served as a stop on the Underground Railroad before and after the
Civil War, and a hub for civil rights activities in the 1950s and 1960s.
The church is located at 23 Montgomery St. in Savannah's historic district.
Call the First African Baptist Church at (912) 233-2244 for information
about visiting the historical structure. 
Forsyth
Park, Savannah's largest park, is the site where author John Berendt encountered
many of the colorful characters that he later included in his novel "Midnight
in the Garden of Good and Evil." The park, laid out by the city in
1851, is named after former Gov. John Forsyth. The 20-acre park includes
open field, jogging trails, and an ornate, multitiered French fountain.
Azaleas and blooming trees add further adornment to the green space in
the spring. Forsyth Park is located on Bull Street, between Gaston Street
and Park Avenue. 
Fort
McAllister served as an earthen fortification for the Confederacy during
the Civil War. It was attacked seven times by the union, but did not fall
until Gen. William Sherman ordered a land attack in 1864; the fort, not
built to withstand land attack, quickly succumbed to Union soldiers. Today,
the 1,724-acre park is ideal for camping, hiking, fishing, and picnicking.
Historical sites within the park include the restored fort and a Civil
War Museum. Fort McAllister State Historic Park is located at 3894 Fort
McAllister Road in Richmond Hill. Call the Fort McAllister State Historic
Park at (912) 727-2339 or (912) 727-3614 for information about its hours,
admission fees, and special events.
During
the American Civil War, Union troops breached the southeast angle of Fort
Pulaski with rifled cannon fire. Slaves were immediately freed once the
fort was captured, and many were recruited into the Union Army. Today
the 5,623-acre park features scenic marshland, wildlife, and nature trails.
The park's Visitor's Center offers an educational 17-minute video, "The
Battle for Fort Pulaski," by request. Museum exhibits within the
center detail the fort's history and significance. Fort Pulaski is located
15 miles east of Savannah, off of U.S. Highway 80.
The
Ghost Talk Ghost Walk Savannah Walking tour informs guests about the city
of Savannah, while exploring stories and legends based on Margaret Debolt's
book, "Savannah Specters and Other Strange Tales." The tour
also discusses investigations and studies performed by Duke University,
and recounts interviews with local Savannahians. Tours start at John Wesley's
monument, located in Reynolds Square on Abercorn Street. 
Charles
Green, a prominent Savannah lawyer, commissioned architect John Norris
to design a house that displayedhis wealth to the city. The result was
an outstanding Gothic Revival home, completed in 1850. In December of
1864, Gen. William Sherman used the Green-Meldrim House as his headquarters.
While there, Sherman sent the famous telegram to Abraham Lincoln to inform
the former president that he was giving Savannah to him as a gift. Green-Meldrim
House received its name because it was owned by only two families, the
Greens and the Meldrims, before it was sold to St. John's Episcopal Church
in 1943. The Green-Meldrim House, which currently serves as a parish house,
is located at 14 W. Macon St.
The
Davenport House is Savannah's premier house museum, receiving over 70,000
visitors annually. The house, completed by master builder Isaiah Davenport
in 1820, is constructed in the Federal style. The interior, more reminiscent
of the Greek Revival style, features furnishings and artifacts relevant
to the time period in which the middle-class Davenport family lived. The
proposed demolition of the residence sparked a group of seven women to
form the Historic Savannah Foundation and instigate a massive restoration
of the city's old homes. The Isaiah Davenport House, located at 324 E.
State St., is open for public tours Call the house museum at (912) 236-8097
for information about its tour times and admission fees. 
Juliette
Gordon Low founded the Girls Scouts of America. Her home and birthplace
is visited by 75,000 people annually, including approximately 20,000 Girl
Scouts. The house, built in 1821 in the English Regency style, is restored
to reflect the 1880s. Many of the furnishings are original Gordon family
pieces, including artwork by Juliette Gordon Low. This national landmark,
located at 10 E. Oglethorpe Ave., also houses a Girl Scout National Center.
Call the center at (912) 233-4501 for information about guided tours and
fees, and to make reservations for groups of 10 people or more. 
The
King-Tisdell Cottage reflects African-American life circa 1910. The heritage
museum features memorabilia of the black experience in America and Africa,
with attention to African-American contributions to Savannah and Sea Island's
history. A bill of sale for slaves, written in Arabic by plantation laborers,
is included among the museum's artifacts. The King-Tisdell Cottage is
located at 514 E. Huntingdon St. Call the cottage at (912) 234-8000 for
information about its hours and admission fees. 
The
Massie Heritage Interpretation Center, geared towards school-age children,
explores Savannah's history in aninteractive and educational way. The
center, a unit of Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools, is housed in
three Greek Revival style, 19th-century buildings. Exhibits focus on the
city's layout, the Victorian era, and Savannah's architectural heritage.
The center's costume room allows children to dress up in period clothing,
and its 19th-century classroom allows kids to experience a historical
classroom environment. The Massie Heritage Interpretation Center is located
at 207 E. Gordon St. on Calhoun Square. Call the center at (912) 201-5070
for information about its hours and admission fees. 
Mercer
House attracts masses of tourists who wish to get a glimpse of the house
made famous by John Berendt'snovel and Clint Eastwood's movie, "Midnight
in the Garden of Good and Evil." The Italiante mansion had a reputation
before the publication and film, due to its meticulous restoration by
the late Jim Williams - an antiques dealer known for his fabulous parties.
He shot and killed his lover, Danny Hansford, in the study of the house.
Williams never denied killing the man, but claimed he was acting in self-defense.
The Mercer House, located at 429 Bull St., is privately owned and not
open to the public. Visitors are advised to respect the current owners,
and not trespass on or disturb the property in any way. 
Old
Fort Jackson, a National Historic Landmark, is the oldest standing brick
fort in Georgia. The fort's construction began in 1808, and it was manned
during the War of 1812. The fort was enlarged and fortified between 1845
and 1860, and became a Confederate headquarters during the Civil War.
Today, guests may take a guided tour of the fort, complete with costumed
interpreters and cannon firings. Old Fort Jackson is located at 1 Fort
Jackson Road, off of the Island Expressway (U.S. Highway 80). Call the
fort at (912) 232-3945 for information about its hours, admission fees,
and special events. 
The
Owens-Thomas house, designed in 1816 by English architect William Jay,
served as a cotton merchant's privateresidence until it became a boarding
house in the 1820s. The Revolutionary War hero, Marquis de Lafayette,
stayed as a guest in the boarding house in 1825. In 1830, the house was
purchased by George Welchman Owens, a congressman, lawyer, and former
mayor of Savannah; it remained in the Owens family until its 1951 bequest
to the Telfair Museum of Art. Guests may tour the home and carriage house,
located at 124 Abercorn St. The carriage house features one of the earliest
intact slave quarters in the South, an education center, museum shop,
and regional art gallery; the main house features American and European
decorative arts from 1750 to 1830. Call the Owens-Thomas House Museum
at (912) 233-9743 for information about its tour times and admission fees.
The
Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum details Savannah's civil rights
struggle from slavery times to the present. It features three floors of
photographic and interactive exhibits, including a fiber optic map of
87 significant Civil Rights sites/events, and a lunch counter where "sit-ins"
occurred. The museum's "We Shall Overcome: Photograph's from America's
Civil Rights Era" exhibit features photographs juxtaposed with words
from movement participants such as James Baldwin, Fannie Lou Hamer, Malcom
X, and Martin Luther King Jr. The museum is named for Dr. Ralph Mark Gilbert,
father of the Savannah Civil Rights movement and NAACP leader. The Ralph
Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum is located at 460 Martin Luther King
Jr. Blvd., within the historic 1914 Wage Earners Savings and Loan Bank
for Black Savannahians, the largest black bank in America of its time.
Call the museum at (912) 231-8900 for information about its hours and
admission rates. 
Thanks
to the River Street Urban Renewal Project of the 1970s, nine blocks of
cotton warehouses were renovated into restaurants, nightclubs, pubs, shops,
galleries, and boutiques. Today, River Street draws crowds of shoppers,
diners, and revelers. One memorial statue along the esplanade's waterfront
is the "Waving Girl," a tribute to Savannahian Florence Martus.
Martus waved a cloth to greet every passing ship from 1887 to 1931 (nearly
50,000 vessels), in the hopes that her lover was aboard one of them. River
Street is located north of Bay Street, along the Savannah River bluff.
Call the Savannah Waterfront Association at (912) 234-0295 for more information
about historic River Street.
The
Savannah Cotton Exchange, built in 1886 by Boston architect William Gibbons
Preston, bustled with commercialactivity when Savannah was the world's
leading cotton port. Cotton prices were set for the world market within
the exchange. Savannahian's nicknamed the exchange, King Cotton's Palace,
in reference to the wealth acquired by the city due to cotton. The red-brick
building is built in the Queen Anne style. The Savannah Cotton Exchange
is located at 100 E. Bay St.
The
Savannah History Museum chronicles the history of Savannah, through video
and a variety of exhibits, from itsfounding in 1733 to the present. It
is located in the passenger station of the Central Railroad, which was
constructed prior to the Civil War. The building is one of Georgia's 43
National Historic Landmarks. The museum is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Mondays through Fridays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Admission
costs $4 for adults, $3.50 for seniors and military personnel, and $3
for children ages 6 to 11. The Savannah History Museum is located at 303
Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
The
Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, located at 41 Martin Luther King Jr.
Blvd, is housed within the William Scarborough house. It features a collection
of ship models, paintings, and maritime antiques. The ship models, ranging
in size from mere inches to 8 feet in length, include famous vessels such
as the Mayflower and Titanic. English architect William Jay designed the
William Scarborough house, built in 1819 in the Greek Revival style. The
house boasts the largest garden within Savannah's historic district. Call
the museum at (912) 232-1511 for information about its hours and admission
fees. 
The
Telfair Museum of Art comprises the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences,
the Owens-Thomas House, and theJepson Center for the Arts. The Jepson
Center for the Arts is scheduled to open in the fall of 2004. The museum's
permanent collections include paintings, sculpture, works on paper, photography,
and decorative arts. Currently, Sylvia Shaw Judson's "Bird Girl,"
featured on the cover of "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil,"
is housed within the museum. Call the museum at (912) 232-1177 for information
about its hours, admission fees, and various property locations. 
Savannah
is notorious for its sultry summers, and a trip to Tybee Beach is a perfect
escape from the humidity. Theisland's North Beach is ideal for bird-watching,
shelling, and quiet strolls. South Beach - the island's most popular beach
- features live music, restaurants, shops, and attractions just steps
away from its white sand. A day spent sunbathing, swimming, and dining
on fresh seafood refreshes any sweltering vacationer. Tybee Island is
located just 18 miles east of Savannah, accessible via U.S. Highway 80.