Established by General James Edward Oglethorpe in 1733, Savannah is Georgia’s oldest city. Oglethorpe laid out Savannah’s streets in a grid pattern, which earned it the title of “America’s First Planned City.” Known as the “Hostess City of the South” for its top-notch hospitality, Savannah is also considered a sister city to five other locations, including Georgia’s Batumi and China’s Jiujiang. Originally, Savannah was planned as an urban center with 24 public squares. Today, 22 of these originally planned communal spots still exist, and Spanish Moss – a type of bromeliad that grows on southern U.S. trees – artfully drapes the buildings and plants surrounding the historical and contemporary city spaces. Savannah’s National Historic Landmark District is one of the largest in the U.S. and consists of colonial cobblestone streets, famous landmarks, and architecture that provides the perfect backdrop to group photos. From ghost tours to cultural festivals, Savannah is a location with something for every type of traveler. Work with Gray Line Worldwide and ensure your trip to Savannah is a resounding success today!
Tour Expert, Gray Line Savannah
Spanning 30 acres in Savannah’s historic district, Forsyth Park was established in the 1840s with land donated by William Brown Hodgson. Approximately 10 years later, another 20 acres was added to the park’s existing precincts by Governor John Forsyth, who became the namesake of the new urban space. Designed to reflect the grandeur of European public gardens, Forsyth Park is home to a famous fountain modeled after a design from the Château de Versailles in France. During the Civil War, the park was used as a parade ground for Confederate troops. Nowadays, century-old live oak trees draped with Spanish moss are interspersed between monuments, historic buildings, and structures for various festivals and performances. If you’re in town over the weekend, don’t miss the Forsyth Farmers Market held there every Saturday.
Originally built in 1771, the Olde Pink House was initially a Georgian-style mansion known as Habersham House that appears as a vivid pink color. Attributed to the red bricks bleeding through the home’s white plaster, the Olde Pink House gained its memorable name after the owners tried unsuccessfully to cover the tinted exterior with white paint. After the destructive Savannah fire of 1796 that destroyed over 200 buildings in the city, the building survived and began operating as a restaurant in 1971. With 13 different dining rooms, the Olde Pink House features unique antique decor and a haunted reputation (reports of ghostly encounters on its premises are not infrequent) that makes it a delicious good time for visitors and residents alike.
Initially known as Wormsloe Plantation and founded in 1736 by Colonel Noble Jones, Wormsloe encompasses 822 acres on the Isle of Hope southeast of Savannah. It is recognized as the only remaining architectural remnant from the founding days of Georgia. Noble Jones built a fortified tabby (a type of concrete made from lime, sand, water, and oyster shells) house on his property, which also acted as a defense point against possible Spanish invaders. The plantation also grew various crops, including rice and corn, while attempting to become a site for silk production. Today, the site is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and allows guests to walk along a beautiful 1.5-mile avenue lined with live oak trees and Spanish moss. This stunning “tunnel effect” introduces visitors to the historic site, which also serves as an example of living history and a real-time portrayal of colonial daily life.
Located in eastern Georgia and western South Carolina, the Savannah River flows into the Atlantic Ocean at the Port of Savannah. The river is home to a thriving bottlenose dolphin population that belongs to the Northern Georgia/Southern South Carolina Estuarine System Stock. Frequently sighted on boat tours down the river, dolphins can also be seen around active fishing spots and are known for their interactions with human vessels. Dolphin watching tours are a popular activity for tourists since it allows visitors to observe these animals in their natural habitat. Critical habitat for dolphins and other marine species, the Savannah River experiences ongoing environmental monitoring and studies that look at the human-influenced behaviors of these highly intelligent local animals.
Running along the southern edge of the Savannah River for about two miles, River Street stretches from North and East Lathrop Avenues to East Bay Street in Savannah. Part of the city’s historic waterfront, this section of Savannah was founded when the Colony of Georgia and the original Port of Savannah was established in the early 1700s. In the mid-1800s, Savannah became the world’s leading exporter of cotton, which paved the way for warehouses to be constructed along River Street. Today, River Street features an open-air market home to numerous vendors selling art, jewelry, and local goods. Don’t overlook the cobblestones under your feet as they were originally used as ballast for ships arriving in port.
Spanning approximately 160 acres on a scenic bluff overlooking the Wilmington River, Bonaventure Cemetery was originally a plantation owned by Colonel John Mullryne. The site became a cemetery in 1846 before being officially renamed Bonaventure Cemetery in 1907 when the City of Savannah purchased it. The cemetery is the final resting place for numerous notable figures, including singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer, poet Conrad Aiken, and the beloved “Little Gracie” Watson, a six-year-old girl whose death has made her grave one of the most visited on the site. Bonaventure gained widespread recognition due to the book and film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which prominently featured the “Bird Girl” statue as part of its story.
Established in 1734, the Pirates’ House is one of the oldest structures in Savannah and possibly the oldest building in Georgia. A portion of the building – known as the Herb House – was constructed to house the gardener working in Savannah’s first botanical garden, the Trustee Garden. By 1753, the building had transitioned from a gardener's house to an inn for seafarers. For decades, the inn was a popular gathering place for pirates and sailors due to its proximity to the Savannah River. After being purchased in 1948 by the Savannah Gas Company, the building was renovated into a restaurant with 15 dining rooms that can accommodate around 120 guests. The Pirates’ House is often linked to Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic novel “Treasure Island,” where it’s said that the character Captain Flint met his end. Don’t leave until you try the Chatham Artillery Punch, a powerful concoction with roots in Savannah’s history from the Civil War era.
Established in 1773, the First African Baptist Church is one of the oldest Black congregations in the United States. The church’s founder was George Liele, a former slave, who became the first recognized Baptist in Georgia. The First African Baptist Church’s membership grew rapidly; by 1800, it had over 800 members. Initially, the congregation met in a barn or plantation, but eventually found a home at its current site of Franklin Square in the 1830s. The present brick structure of First African Baptist Church was completed in 1859 and is notable for being the first brick building owned by African Americans in Georgia. Today, visitors can marvel at the church’s ceiling that features a design resembling a “Nine Patch Quilt.” This symbol of safety and familial connection ties back to the quilting practices of enslaved women in the American South.
Now located in the Savannah History Museum, the bench where Forrest Gump – played by Tom Hanks in the Oscar-winning film – sat was originally found in Chippewa Square, Savannah. The bench is not the actual one used in the filming, but it is an exact replica. After the movie finished production in 1994, Paramount Pictures gifted the bench to the City of Savannah. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the bench is one of the most sought-after attractions in the city, and tourists frequently ask for its whereabouts. The movie “Forrest Gump” significantly contributed to introducing Hollywood filmmakers to the city of Savannah, which resulted in more productions taking place in the city.
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Sister Pat’s “truth telling” tour was exactly that. All the plaques and statues of white men in the Savannah squares lose their lustre when their stories are told through the eyes of the humans they enslaved. Well, well done, and highly recommended.
Denise is a pretty good guide with good sense of humor and also great knowledge of the city. We had enough time to get out and come back at different stops. Would recommend this for anyone looking for a day trip to Tybee island from savannah
excellent time! a must!
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