Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Explore the Colonial Past in Savannah's Historic District
Step back in time to the 18th century by exploring Savannah's historic district, one of the largest National Historic Landmark districts in the United States. Cobblestone streets lined with moss-draped oak trees will transport you to the city's colonial past, when Savannah was founded in 1733 as the colony of Georgia's first city.
At the heart of the historic district lies Factors Walk and River Street, where cotton brokers, bankers, and merchants known as "factors" once conducted business. Today, you can stroll along the same cobblestones as these influential colonial figures while browsing restored 19th-century warehouses housing restaurants, shops, and museums. Don't miss the American Prohibition Museum to learn how Savannah played a pivotal role in both sides of the temperance movement.
As you wander Savannah's lively squares, you'll understand why General James Oglethorpe designed the city using this unique layout. The central squares served as gathering places and provided much-needed firebreaks, while also allowing room for growth. Chippewa Square offers a dose of modern pop culture as the site of the iconic bench scene from Forrest Gump.
For a vivid glimpse into the daily lives of Savannah's early colonists, tour the Isaiah Davenport House Museum. This historic home remained occupied until the 1950s, leaving many of its original details intact. Guides in period clothing bring the property's history to life, from its construction in 1820 to the enslaved people who worked on the property.
No visit to the historic district would be complete without stopping at The Olde Pink House Restaurant. Dating to 1771, Savannah's oldest restaurant exudes Southern charm with its white columns and pink stucco facade. Sip mint juleps or enjoy she-crab soup in the tavern before your meal. Portraits of George Washington and Benjamin Franklin will make you feel as though you've joined the colonial gentry for the evening.
What else is in this post?
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Explore the Colonial Past in Savannah's Historic District
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Discover the Roots of African American Culture
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Tour Savannah's Stately Southern Mansions
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Marvel at the Gothic Architecture in Bonaventure Cemetery
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - See Where Forrest Gump Sat on a Bench
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Learn About the Savannah College of Art and Design
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Experience Ghostly Tales on a Haunted Tour
- Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Indulge in Southern Food and Hospitality
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Discover the Roots of African American Culture
The impact of African American culture pulses through Savannah’s veins, from the rhythms of spirituals and blues music to the roots of some of America’s most influential civil rights leaders. Walking in the footsteps of icons like W.W. Law and Ralph Mark Gilbert, you’ll understand how the city’s defiant, creative spirit stirred social change.
Though Jim Crow laws and segregation stamped out freedoms, Savannah’s African American community rallyed for equality, led by W.W. Law. This visionary businessman galvanized voting rights marches and economic protests in the early 1900s. Law also founded the Savannah Tribune newspaper in 1914, using its pages to spotlight injustice. The publication remains one of the oldest continuously running African American newspapers in the U.S.
The Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum delves into this era when brave activists put their lives on the line for human rights. Historic photographs and compelling exhibits tell stories of struggle and triumph over adversity. You’ll learn how Gilbert fought segregation as an NAACP Youth Council leader and later made history as the first African American elected in Georgia since Reconstruction.
Music seeps from every corner in this city that raised songsters like Johnny Mercer and Little Richard. The soulful songs born here paint a picture of both anguish and hope. At the First African Baptist Church, spirituals passed down from slavery ring out during services. Their layered harmonies and defiant lyrics exemplify how expression fueled perseverance.
Upbeats speakeasies also had jazz pouring from their doors, along with bootlegged liquor. Underneath Victorian houses, these underground haunts swung with sounds and stories from African American performers. Though segregation laws dictated the city above, interracial crowds gathered below to relish the heady freedom of these clubs.
From the early 1900s onward, Savannah's African American cooks refined Soul Food, transforming scraps and cheap ingredients into iconic dishes. Following the scents of smoky barbecue, fried chicken, and buttery shrimp leads you to homestyle restaurants carrying on these culinary traditions. Do as the locals do and top it off with sweet potato pie or peach cobbler.
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Tour Savannah's Stately Southern Mansions
Step into Savannah’s Gilded Age heyday by touring the grand manor homes that once housed the city’s wealthiest citizens. While strolling streets lined with genteel Greek Revival residences, you’ll spot these stately mansions rising above humbler neighbors. Lavish and elegant, Savannah’s historic houses offer a window into the sumptuous lives of 19th-century high society.
At the top of Savannah’s social ladder sat the Cotton Factors, traders whose fortunes flowed from the booming cotton industry. Many erected ostentatious homes near Factors Walk along the Savannah River. Tour the Owens-Thomas House to experience one cotton merchant’s vision of luxury living. With ornate plasterwork crowning nearly every surface, this 1819 mansion dazzles. Its plush interiors incorporated modern conveniences like indoor plumbing unusual for the time. Out back, enslaved workers toiled in the hierarchical environment of urban slavery.
The notoriously extravagant William Jay may have proclaimed his home “too magnificent” for Savannah’s frontier cityscape when he built it in 1818. Yet one step inside the Isaiah Davenport House and you'll understand why. A striking elliptical staircase sweeps up three stories from the light-filled atrium entryway. Davenport and his family lived graciously here alongside 15 enslaved house servants.
Even more stunning is the Andrew Low House, topped with an Italianate bell tower. Shipping magnate Andrew Low engaged famous New York architect John Norris to design his opulent home, completed in 1848. A circular hallway embracing a grand staircase sets an elegant tone. The parlor captivates with ornately carved teak panels acquired from the Indonesian Pavilion at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial International Exhibition.
Built in 1818, the dimly-lit Harper Fowlkes House may not dazzle you with sumptuous trimmings. But this historic home’s rarity makes it captivating. One of few surviving examples of Federal-style architecture in Savannah, its symmetrical facade includes a Palladian window. Inside, most original woodwork and fixtures remain intact. The house gains added intrigue from resident Sarah Fowlkes’ unusual prominence as a woman transacting business in the 19th-century.
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Marvel at the Gothic Architecture in Bonaventure Cemetery
Shadows dance between weathered tombstones as Spanish moss sways from massive oaks in Bonaventure Cemetery, one of Savannah’s most atmospheric attractions. This sprawling burial site captivates with its haunting Southern gothic vibe — picture a setting straight from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil. The ornate marble angels, striking crypt architecture, and crumbling gravesites feel both melancholic and beautiful. It’s no wonder so many tours and movies spotlight Bonaventure's almost mystical scenery.
Beyond the photogenic ambiance, this historic cemetery provides a somber history lesson. Established on a former plantation in 1846, Bonaventure became Savannah’s rural cemetery as the city expanded. Within its leafy lanes rest generations of Savannahians, from soldiers slain in distant battles to small children lost too soon to yellow fever epidemics. The moss-strewn Live Oak trees standing guard were saplings when the cemetery began.
Wander past the iconic Bird Girl statue recreated from Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil to find the gravesite of songwriter Johnny Mercer of Moon River fame. His love for Savannah lives on through lyrics capturing the city’s charm. Nearby lies Conrad Aiken, the Pulitzer Prize-winning poet who drew inspiration from Bonaventure’s beauty.
For a prime example of Victorian-era funerary art, head to the towering 1895 monument for Corinne Elliott Lawton. This grieving angel with impressive carved wings stands over the plot, pain etched on her beautiful face. The vivid emotion displayed reflects the flamboyant memorial trends of the era.
No matter when you visit, don’t miss Bonaventure’s most stunning sight — the enormous 1870 Gothic Revival-style Trosdal tomb. Featuring hand-carved figures and intricate stonework, this sculptural masterpiece remains remarkably intact. You can almost imagine a medieval king and queen resting within. The adjacent smaller plot contains Trosdal's beloved pet dog, a devoted companion in both life and death.
Venture along the sandy lane called Grave’s Path past crumbling row after row of 19th-century headstones. Moss-draped oaks shade these older plots, creating an even more haunting atmosphere. Look closely to spot broken fragments of decorative urns and crosses scattered among the graves, echoes of the elaborate memorials that once stood here.
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - See Where Forrest Gump Sat on a Bench
No trip to Savannah is complete without a pilgrimage to Chippewa Square to see the famous Forrest Gump bench. This ordinary green bench gained worldwide fame as the spot where Tom Hanks’ Academy Award-winning character sat and recounted his life story while waiting for a bus. Though the actual bench used in filming now resides in the Savannah History Museum, a new one was erected in the same location in 2010 to commemorate the movie’s legacy.
Visiting the site of this iconic movie moment allows you to walk in the footsteps of Forrest and reminisce about his adventures. Pose for photos on the bench with your own box of chocolates as a fun way to recreate the memorable scene. It’s sure to make a smile-inducing snapshot and “Life is like a box of chocolates” caption for social media. Beyond selfies, observing the everyday hustle and bustle around the square from Forrest’s perspective sparks contemplation. His simple outlook on life despite its complexity rings truer than ever in our chaotic modern world.
Surrounding Chippewa Square, Savannah’s Historic District looks much as it did during filming in the 1990s. Mosey past the grand houses and moss-draped oaks to envision Forrest on his epic cross-country travels. Fans say it’s easy to imagine him running straight through the square on his way to meet Jenny. And the Bench’s placement overlooking Chippewa Square’s central monument to Georgia statesman James Oglethorpe connects it to Savannah’s storied past.
After admiring the iconic Bench, duck into the Savannah History Museum right around the corner. Here, you can view set pieces and props from the movie, including the original Bench and the shrimp boat used in the Vietnam scenes. Exhibits detail how the production transformed Savannah into Forrest’s various destinations, from Vietnam to Washington D.C. The museum also screens Forrest Gump daily, so you can relive all the tear-jerking and laugh-out-loud moments.
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Learn About the Savannah College of Art and Design
For a city steeped in history, Savannah also claims a distinctly creative spirit that finds expression at the renowned Savannah College of Art and Design. As the largest art and design university in the United States, SCAD leaves a colorful mark on the city - both literally and figuratively. Exploring SCAD’s impact reveals how artistic innovation thrives alongside Savannah’s old-world charm.
Wandering through the college’s striking buildings illuminates how creativity flourishes around every corner. Historic mansions and warehouses scattered throughout downtown house SCAD’s studios, galleries and performance spaces. Students darting between classes enliven the streets with their expressive fashion statements and hair colors in rainbow hues. Public art installations add modern twists to city squares, like the wrought iron bench swirling with cutout silhouettes on Johnson Square.
For many visitors, a SCAD highlight is the university’s duo of free museums showcasing 20th and 21st century art. Housed in a converted railroad depot, the SCAD Museum of Art impresses with a collection encompassing major artists from Salvador Dali to Alfred Stieglitz. Meanwhile, the SCAD FASH Museum spotlights innovative fashion design in eye-catching exhibits staged amid the striking architecture of a 19th century restoring building.
Beyond campuses and museums, SCAD’s presence animates Savannah through events from the lively Sidewalk Arts Festival to special tours and workshops open to the public. A constant flow of provocative theater performances, concerts, lectures and readings expands cultural offerings. The university’s diverse creative community provides opportunities to chat with young artists pursuing fashion, filmmaking, writing and more while soaking up Savannah's atmosphere.
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Experience Ghostly Tales on a Haunted Tour
As darkness falls over Savannah’s shadowy lanes and historic squares each night, an eerie unseen world awakens. The city brims with paranormal activity according to locals and ghost hunters, with haunted hotels, taverns, homes and graveyards. Joining a spine-tingling ghost tour offers the chance to encounter Savannah’s supernatural side first-hand with stops at the city’s most unearthly sites. You’ll hear chilling tales of tragedies, murders and restless spirits still roaming these streets after death.
On foot or by trolley, guides regale you with Savannah’s spookiest stories as you travel between ominously-lit destinations. At the abandoned Sorrel-Weed House, tragedy and torment left troubled ghosts behind, like the distraught spirit of a woman who died after leaping from an upper window. The 17Hundred90 Inn still echoes with the eerie strains of a phantom child’s piano playing. At ritzy hotel Marshall House, Civil War soldiers are said to haunt the lobby where they once suffered and passed away. Tales of sightings and poltergeist pranks will have you watching the shadows and jumping at every creak.
After hearing accounts of supernatural encounters, you may spot or sense presences yourself during the complimentary paranormal investigation portion when guides hand out ghost-hunting equipment like EMF meters and dowsing rods. One visitor described his eerily erratic EMF readings that seemed to follow his group during an exploration of the Perkins & Sons Ship Chandlery, now a chillingly empty warehouse. Others have captured wispy figures hovering in photos taken at stops like the Colonial Park Cemetery after hearing accounts of glowing graveyard apparitions.
Uncovering the Hidden History in Savannah, Georgia - Indulge in Southern Food and Hospitality
From comforting Soul Food to elevated Lowcountry cuisine, Savannah’s culinary identity celebrates time-honored Southern cooking traditions with a generous side of hospitality. After just one decadent, stick-to-your-ribs meal at a local eatery, you’ll understand why food means so much more here than sustenance. Sharing meals provides a chance to connect with Savannah’s storied culture one satisfying bite at a time.
At downhome restaurants like Sweet Potatoes Kitchen, the menu stars heritage recipes perfected by generations of African American cooks. From smoky pulled pork barbecue to crispy fried chicken, every dish brims with flavors tracing back to the ingenuity required to transform humble ingredients into satisfying meals. Of course, no soul food feast feels complete without creamy mac and cheese, collard greens simmered with ham hocks, or sweet potato pie’s silky custard filling. Portion sizes live up to this cuisine’s comforting ethos — you’ll waddle out full and happy.
Upscale eateries put a refined spin on regional favorites focused on coastal ingredients. But the welcoming vibe remains unchanged. At Local11Ten, creatively plated she-crab soup and shrimp and grits honor the Lowcountry tradition of gathering to break bread. Their dedication to sourcing reaps rewards, from briny oysters harvested just miles away to produce picked that morning. Shared plates and family-style service enhance the convivial atmosphere.
Part of indulging in Savannah’s food scene means embracing the leisurely pacing of a proper Southern meal. Lingering over baskets of piping hot cornbread, refilling sweet tea, and trading family recipes with your server makes every visit feel like catching up with an old friend. That signature brand of hospitality elevates even a quick coffee break — it's easy to lose track of time chatting with the barista at Gallery Espresso. Their passion reminds you that food here nourishes the soul as much as the body.