Day 1 - Historic District South

Savannah Visitor's Center

Visit theVisitors Center -  30 Min.

• Take Trolley Tour - 90 Min.

• From the Visitor's Center parking lot proceed to MLK Jr Blvd (South) and turn right.

• Walk 1/2 block and turn left on West Liberty Street.

• Walk 2 blocks and turn left on Barnard Street.

• Walk 1 block to Orleans Square (0.3 Miles, 6 Minutes)

• Map (Visitor's Center to Orleans Square)

Orleans Square

German Societies Fountain

 Points of Interest

Savannah Civic Center

Harper Fowlkes House

• German Societies Fountain - Center of Orleans Square

Orleans Square was laid out in 1815 and commemorates General Andrew Jackson's victory in the Battle of New Orleans. Orleans Square is located on Barnard, between Hull and Perry Streets, and is adjacent to the Savannah Civic Center.

The German Memorial Fountain stands in the center of the square. It honors the German immigrants who came to Savannah. There are several buildings designed and built by prominent architects and builders between 1800 and 1875 that are located around Orleans Square.

Leave Orleans Square and turn right on West Hull and walk 1 block to Whitaker Street and turn left, walk 2 blocks and turn right on West Oglethorpe, walk 1 block and turn right on Bull Street, walk to blocks to Chippewa Square (0.3 Miles, 6 Minutes)

Map (Orleans Square to Chippewa Square)

Chippewa Square (One of the 5 Crown Jewel Squares)

Monument to James Oglethorpe

Points of Interest:

Philbrick-Eastman House

Savannah Theater

  First Baptist Church

Independent Presbyterian Church
       Open: Fridays: 9:00a - 1:00p 

• Statue of James Oglethorpe - Center of Chippewa Square

Chippewa Square was laid out in 1815, after the Revolution, and was named in honor of American soldiers killed in the Battle of Chippewa during the War of 1812.

Chippewa Square is one of Savannah’s most popular Squares. In the middle of the Square is the monument to the founder of Savannah, James Edward Oglethorpe which was placed in the square in 1910.

Chippewa Square is intersected by Hull, McDonough and Perry Streets, with Liberty Street running the southern boundary of the ward.

Buildings of interest surrounding the square are the First Baptist Church, built between 1831 and 1833 and the Philbrick-Eastman House built in 1844. The First Baptist Church is the oldest house of worship in Savannah. The Independent Presbyterian Church, built in 1891, is located on the northwest corner of the square. Also, located on Chippewa Square is the Savannah Theatre. This theatre, built in 1818, is the oldest continually running theatre in the United States.

Walk 4 blocks South on Bull Street to Madison Square (0.2 Miles, 4 Minutes)

Map (Chippewa Square to Madison Square)

Madison Square (One of the 5 Crown Jewel Squares)

Monument to Sgt. William Jasper

 Points of Interest

Eliza Thompson House (Bed & Breakfast)

Gryphon Tea Room - 337 Bull Street

Masonic Temple

St. John Episcopal Church

Green Meldrin House
       Tours
       Thursday, Friday - 10:00a - 4:00p
       Saturday 10:00a - 1:00p
       Tours are 30 minutes

  Sorrel Weed House - Open to the public for tours

•  Monument to Sgt William Jasper - Center of Madison Square

Madison Square was named after the fourth President of the United States, James Madison. The square was laid out in 1837 and commemorates Sgt. William Jasper who fought in the Revolutionary War. In the center of the square is an 1888 statue of Sgt. William Jasper, a soldier in the Siege of Savannah who, though mortally wounded, heroically recovered his company's banner.

Madison Square also features vintage cannons from the Savannah Armory. These cannons mark the starting points of the first highways in Georgia, the Ogeechee Road leading to Darien and the Augusta Road to Augusta.

On the west side of Madison Square is St John's Episcopal Church which was built in 1853. Next door to the church is the Green-Meldrim House which was also completed in 1853. The Green-Meldrim House has beautiful iron work and unique features. On the south side is the Sorrel - Weed house built in 1841. On the southwest corner of Madison Square stands the Masonic Temple.

Leave Madison Square and walk 4 blocks South on Bull Street to Monterey Square. (0.2 Miles, 4 Minutes)

 Map (Madison Square to Monterey Square)

Monterey Square (One of the 5 Crown Jewel Squares)

Monument to Brigadier General Kazimierz Pulaski

Points of Interest:

Mercer Williams House
        Hours:
        Monday - Saturday 10:30a - 3:40p
        Sunday 12:30p - 4:00p

Temple Mickve Israel      
        Hours:
        Monday - Friday 10:00a -12:00p and 2:00p - 4:00p
        Closed on Jewish and federal holidays.
        Tour lasts 30 to 45 minutes.

Armstrong Mansion

• Monument to Brigadier General Kazimierz Pulaski - Center of Monterey Square

Monterey Square was laid out in 1847 and was named to commemorate the capture of the city of Monterey, Mexico in 1846. In the center of the square is a monument built to honor General Casimir Pulaski, a Polish nobleman who came to Savannah seeking a better life and sacrificed his life in the Siege of Savannah in 1779.

Directly facing the Monterey Square is the Mercer-Williams house which was featured in the book " Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil”. The Mercer-Williams House had begun being built around 1860 but was not completed until after the Civil War. The house was finally completed in 1871. It is located at 429 Bull Street.

This square also is home to Congregation Mickve Israel, which is one of the few Gothic-style synagogues in America, dating from 1878.

Monterey Square is located on Bull, between Taylor and Gordon Streets, and is widely considered to be the most picturesque of Savannah's squares. All of the surrounding buildings but one (the United Way Building) are original to the square.

Leave Monterey Square and continue walking 2 blocks South on Bull Street to Forsyth Park (0.1 Miles, 2 Minutes) 

Map (Monterey Square to Forsyth Park)

Forsyth Park (One of the Crown Jewels)

Points of Interest:

  Confederate Monument - South of the Fountain

  Fragrant Garden - Located west of the Confederate Monument and adjacent to Whitaker Street behind a wrought-iron fence.
       Open 9:00a - 2:00p Mondays through Fridays

  Forsyth Park Fountain

  The Candler 300 year Oak Tree

Although Forsyth Park is not one of the squares, it is a must see on any tour of the Squares. It is at the very Southern end of the Historical District.

Forsyth Park is the largest park in the historic district of Savannah Georgia. It was originally created in the 1840s on 10 acres of land. In 1851, the park was expanded and named for Georgia Governor John Forsyth. Mr. Forsyth also donated 20 acres of his land to increase the park to occupy 30 acres in the historic district of Savannah. The park is bordered by Gaston Street on the North, Drayton Street on the East, Park Avenue on the South and Whitaker Street on the West. Forsyth Park is located at the southern edge of the Historic District.

Forsyth Fountain in Forsyth Park. The most popular feature of Forsyth Park is the large fountain that sits at the north end of Forsyth Park. The fountain was built and added to Forsyth Park in 1858. It resembles fountains in Paris and Peru. Every year on St. Patrick’s Day the city of Savannah dyes the water in the fountain green in celebration of Savannah's deep Irish heritage.

All around the Forsyth Park Fountain are benches. On any given day you can find many people, especially locals, lounging on the benches, relaxing, reading or taking in the scenery.

Forsyth Park is a hub of social interaction. There are people playing recreation sports, sun bathing, reading or just relaxing. On Saturdays there is a great farmer’s Market that takes place in Forsyth Park.

Today Forsyth Park features walking paths, open areas, beautiful tree cover, a fragrance garden and Savannah's magnificent Confederate Monument.

Confederate-Monument

The Confederate Monument is one of the largest Confederate monuments and is located at the far end of Forsyth Park pass the fountain. This impressive monument honored local Civil War veterans as well as those who had lost their lives in the bloody conflict. The Confederate Monument was erected in Forsyth Park in 1879.

Fragance Garden

Interior of the Fragrance Garden

Just southwest of the fountain is the Fragrant Garden for the Blind. It was created by the Trustees Garden Club of Savannah and has been around since 1963, but has only recently been opened to the public A treat for the senses, the plant name plaques also feature Braille writing. The garden is open 9am to 2pm Monday through Friday. It is located in Forsyth Park west of the Confederate Monument and adjacent to Whitaker Street behind a wrought- iron fence.

Forsyth Park Pavilion

Forsyth Cafe in Forsyth Park

Neighboring the Fragrant Garden is one of the park’s newest additions – the Forsyth Park Visitor’s Center, which was opened in 2009.The center consists of a stage, fountain and café. The stage, complete with a band shell, is the venue for many of Savannah’s public concerts and events. The café is great for a fresh sandwich or salad, coffee, tea or bottle of water.
300 Year Old Oak Tree

When leaving Forsyth Park, continue walking on Drayton Street (North towards the river).
When you get to East Gaston and Drayton Street you will see The Candler 300 year Oak Tree on the right.

After seeing the Candler 300 year Oak Tree continue walking 2 blocks  (North towards the river) on Drayton Street.
Turn right on East Gordon Street and walk 1 block to Calhoun Square which will be on the left. (0.1 Miles, 3 Minutes) 

Map (Forsyth Park to Calhoun Square)

Calhoun Square

Calhoun Square

Points of Interest:

Massie Heritage Center
Hours: 
Monday - Saturday 10:00a - 4:00p
Sunday 12:00p - 4:00p

Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church
Tours: Every Friday at 10:00a last 1 hour.

Calhoun Square was named for John C. Calhoun, known as “the Great Orator of the South. This square was laid out in 1851 along Abercorn Street. It is the only square with all of its original buildings intact. It is located on Abercorn, between Taylor and Gordon Streets.

Located on Gordon Street near Calhoun Square is the historic Massie Heritage Interpretation Museum. The school was built in 1856 with funds bequeathed by Peter Massie, to the city, which was used to educate underprivileged children.

Many beautiful homes in the Greek revival style were built around Calhoun square during the early 1800s. The elegant home at 426 Abercorn features a beautiful doorway, high stoop, marble steps and exterior details. Also, notice the wrought iron camellia on the south side of the house.

There are other beautiful homes, townhouses, row houses and the Wesley Monumental United Methodist Church, built in 1868, surrounding this square.

Leave Calhoun Square and continue walking 4 blocks North on Abercorn to Lafayette Square (0.2 Miles, 4 Minutes)

Map (Calhoun Square to Lafayette Square)

Lafayette Square

Semiquincentenary Fountain

Points of Interest:

Flannery O'Connor Childhood Home  
Hours:  Friday - Wednesday 1:00p - 4:00p.

Hamilton-Turner House- (currently a Bed & Breakfast)

Andrew Low House 
Tours
       Monday - Saturday 10:00a - 4:00p
       Sunday 12:00p - 4:00p.

Cathedral of St. John the Baptist
Hours:  Open to the public
       Monday - Saturday 9:00a to 5:00p

• Semiquincentenary Fountain  - Center of Lafayette Square

Lafayette Square is located on Abercorn, between Harris and Charlton Streets, was laid out in 1837. The square contains a fountain commemorating the 250th anniversary of the founding of the Georgia colony.

On the Northwest corner of Abercorn and Charlton Streets is the elegant Andrew Low House built in 1849. On the south side of Charlton Street is an unusual West Indies-style home built in 1852. It was designed to have the main house entered from the piazza.

The three-bay side hall townhouse in the Greek revival style at 207 East Charlton was the childhood home of prize-winning author Flannery O’Connor.

The Cathedral of St. John Baptist located at Abercorn and Harris is the oldest Roman Catholic Church in Georgia. Rebuilt from the original design following a tragic fire in 1898, the church’s Gothic revival spires can be seen throughout the city.

Leave Lafayette Square and continue walking 3 blocks North on Abercorn to Colonial Cemetery. (0.3 Miles, 5 Minutes)

Map (Lafayette Square to Colonial Park Cemetery)

Colonial Park Cemetery

Colonial Park Cemetery

201 Abercorn Street

Open:
November - March 8:00a - 5:00p
March - November 8:00a - 8:00p

Colonial Park Cemetery is located in the heart of Savannah's Historic District and served as Savannah’s primary public cemetery from 1750 to 1853. It was established in 1750 and by 1789 had expanded by 300 percent to the current size of six acres. Among those buried here are Button Gwinnett, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. This cemetery is a popular stop for local ghost tours, including one walking tour that goes right through the cemetery at night.

More than 700 victims of the 1820 Yellow Fever epidemic are buried in Colonial Park Cemetery. There are also many victims of Savannah's tragic dueling era.

The cemetery was already closed to burials before the start of the Civil War and no Confederate soldiers are buried there. But the war did leave its mark on the cemetery. Federal troops took over the cemetery grounds during their occupation of Savannah and many of the graves were looted and desecrated. It has been said that Union soldiers changed the dates on many of the headstones.

The Colonial Park Cemetery is also home to one of Savannah's most famous ghosts, that of "Rene Asche Rondolier (or Renee Rondolia Asch), a disfigured orphan who was said to have called Colonial Park his home in the early 1800s. Accused of murdering two girls whose bodies were found in the cemetery, Rene was dragged to the nearby swamps and lynched and left for dead. More dead bodies turned up in the cemetery in the days that followed. The townspeople were convinced it was Rene's ghost and some still call the cemetery, Rene's playground.

The park-like cemetery is the oldest intact municipal cemetery in Savannah. It has been closed to interments since 1853. The cemetery became a city park in 1896.

After visiting Colonial Cemetery head South on Abercorn Street 6 blocks and turn right on West Liberty Street and walk 7 blocks to MLK Blvd.
Turn right on MLk Blvd to Visitors Center on left. (0.6 Miles, 13 Minutes)

Map (Colonial Park Cemetery to Visitor's Center)