Savannah
Named by Conde' Nast Traveler as one of the top 10 U.S. cities to visit,
Savannah, Georgia takes you back to a time of opulent mansions, moss-draped
oaks and impressive churches. For the locals, Savannah is a state of mind,
a place to feel a part of the community, a place where joie de vivre is
a part of everyday life. Even without reading "Midnight in the Garden
of Good and Evil" visitors perceive that Savannahians are devoted
to their heritage and their town.
History
General James Oglethorpe founded Georgia in1733. He developed Savannah's
unique city plan, which
is laid out in squares, or miniature parks, which serve as the organizing
system for the historic district. Each of Savannah's 23 distinct squares
has its own allure, style and character. Soon the population grew as Jewish
refugees from Spain arrived followed by Moravians and Salzburgers from
Germany. Other early settlers were French Huguenots, Scottish Highlanders,
Swiss, Greek, Welsh and Irish. When Oglethorpe grudgingly lifted the colony's
ban on slavery, Africans and West Indian natives were brought to the city.
Cotton contributed to the city's magnificent wealth, and splendid homes
were built throughout downtown Savannah. River Street bustled with ships
loading up cotton for export. Two devastating fires in 1796 and 1820 each
left about half of the city in ashes, including homes, businesses and
the city market. 1820 was also the year of the yellow fever epidemic in
which over a tenth of Savannah's population perished. From her early days
Savannah had suffered yellow fever epidemics, and 1820 was not the last
year of this disease, which recurred in stages until the end of the century.
Savannah survived through these and other disasters, including hurricanes,
always bouncing back to glorious life afterwards.
In 1864, General William T. Sherman captured Savannah and presented the
city as a Christmas gift to President Lincoln. During the Civil War, Savannah
was spared the fate of so many other Southern cities that were burned
to the ground during Sherman's legendary March to the Sea.
African-American Heritage
Savannah enjoys more than 250 years of African-American heritage and
features a
number of historic sites, museums and tours that focus on the African-American
experience. Discover the indelible contributions that African-Americans
have made upon Savannah by visiting the following historic sites.
¨ First African Baptist Church, 23 Montgomery Street; (912) 233-6597.
The oldest active Black church in North America
¨ King-Tisdell Cottage, 514 E. Huntington Street; (912) 234-8000.
This restored 1896 Victorian cottage serves as a cultural museum, emphasizing
the contribution of African-Americans to Savannah's and US history.
¨ Laurel Grove South, 37th Street and I-16; (912) 651-6772. A final
resting-place for many of Savannah's African-American residents since
1852.
¨ Negro Heritage Tour, 502 E. Harris Street; (912) 234-8000. This
bus tour features highlights of Savannah's rich African-American history.
¨ Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum, Alice Street and Martin
Luther King, Jr. Blvd; (912) 231-8900. This museum celebrates the contributions
of African-Americans through permanent and traveling exhibits that showcase
Black history and cultural achievements.
Girl Scouts
The first troop meeting of Girl Scouts in the United States was held in
Savannah on March 12, 1912. The Girl Scout brought girls, from a variety
of backgrounds, to the great outdoors, providing an opportunity to learn
about nature and develop self-reliance and ingenuity. As
founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Low encouraged girls to prepare themselves
not only for the traditional roles of wife and mother, but also for possible
future roles as professional women and leaders of the community. Juliette
Low, who was hearing impaired, welcomed disabled girls into Girl Scouting
at a time when they were excluded from many other activities. Savannah
is a prime destination for Girl Scout troops from across the country,
and the following sites will be of particular interest to Girl Scouts.
¨ Carriage Tours of Savannah - (912) 236-6756. Offers tours of Savannah's
historic district. Daily departures - 9:00 am - 3:00 p.m. Evening departures
- 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Call for special Girl Scout rates. Reservations
required for groups. Location: Departing from City Market daily. Features
horse-drawn carriage tours of Savannah.
¨ The Playground - (912) 925-7529. Savannah's largest playground for
children. Location: 1127 Fulton Road (behind Wal-Mart, across from Savannah
Mall).
¨ The Juliette Gordon Low House; 142 Bull Street; (912) 233-4501.
The original home of the Gordon family and the birthplace of Juliette
Gordon Low, this historic home has been restored to its former glory and
features original artwork by and memorabilia relating to Juliette Gordon
Low.
¨ Laurel Grove Cemetery - Located on Anderson Street just off of Martin
Luther King, Jr. Blvd. (912) 231-8166
Laurel Grove is the final resting place of Juliette Gordon Low. This historic
cemetery was established in 1852 and features spectacular landscapes,
wrought iron and a Civil War burial site.
City Market
Spend the day exploring this unique and historic area. City Market is
thriving with restaurants, shops, galleries, and historic tours. The St.
Julian Street Courtyard is the only place in town where outdoor entertainment
abounds. As twilight falls, visitors sit in the courtyard and listen to
live music. People stroll in and out of galleries and shops, searching
for that perfect gift. Throughout the year, the city hosts a wide variety
of events, and a local bar called Malone's is host to many. May, brings
the "Beach, Boogie and Blues" weekend; in June it's "Rockin'
Blues" weekend; and in August it's "Back to School Blues"
weekend. Even if you do not want to go into the bar, the music can be
heard in the courtyard many weekends out of the year. Halloween, Christmas
and New Year's each bring with it a special and unique celebration. The
City Market is located at Jefferson at West Saint Julian St; (912) 232-4903.
Shopping
Organized tours cater to visiting shoppers who are interested in browsing
the smaller shops in the Historic District, particularly the numerous
antique shops operated by people on intimate terms with the many facets
of antique-collecting. Choose from flea markets and old warehouses, galleries
or giant malls. River Street's promenade along the waterfront offers unique
shops tucked away in restored cotton warehouses. Monthly "First Saturday"
festivals feature a diverse selection of arts and crafts spread out along
Rousakis Plaza. Savannah's Southside offers more than 20 shopping centers,
including the huge Oglethorpe mall and Savannah Mall. Farther out on Abercorn
Street Extension is Savannah Festival Factory Outlet Center, which features
brand names in a fine assortment of spacious stores.
Food
Savannah offers restaurants that tempt every palate and
pocketbook.
The seafood is outstanding and includes culinary treasures likeshrimp, crab,
and oysters. Regional specialties such as hush puppies, gumbos, grits, red
rice, Southern fried chicken and barbecue are not to be missed. The following
are just a few of Savannah's favorites.
The Crab Shack - A favorite among tourists, Savannahians and local Tybee
Islanders, the Crab Shack is, quite simply, a crab, shrimp, and oyster-eating
adventure not to be missed. Located at Estill Hammock Rd., Tybee Island,
GA; (912) 786-9857
Mary's Seafood and Steak House - one of Savannah's most sought-after
tables is one right here, where many folks swear by the inventive but
solid menu. Mary's is located at 12308 Largo Dr.; (912) 927-1300.
Lady & Sons - A world-class restaurant right in the heart of downtown.
Their simple but luscious Southern gourmet buffet has gained national
fame. Located at 311 W. Congress St.; (912) 233-2600.
Nita's - Not an adventure for the strict calorie counter, this nationally
known Southern legend cooks up down-home classics for a raving throng
of admirers. Located at 140 Abercorn St.; (912) 238-8233
|
 |
|
georgia
