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Squares of Savannah
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rest of the Savannah Walking Guides by
visiting:
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© CityWalkingGuide.com
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WELCOME
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Welcome to Savannah, one of the crown
jewels of the south. This historic city is simply
dripping with atmosphere. Anyone who was
captivated by it in the movie “Midnight in the
Garden of Good and Evil” won’t be
disappointed with the real thing. Movie fans
won’t want to miss the Mercer Williams
House Museum, one of the stars of the show.
Savannah has numerous other claims to fame.
It was founded in 1733 as the capital of
Georgia. It began with four open squares, and
today it boasts 22 beautiful squares perfect for
those slow, southern strolls. Savannah has the
largest National Historic Landmark District
in the country. The Juliette Low Birthplace
was the first in Savannah to make it onto the
National Historic Landmark registry. As the
birthplace of the founder of the Girl Scouts, it
remains one of Savannah’s most popular
attractions. Visit the Savannah History
Museum to learn about the city’s two and a
half centuries of historic richness. Don’t miss
picture-perfect Forsyth Park, which is graced
by the presence of its namesake, Forsyth Park
Fountain.
Don’t confuse historic with stuffy; part of this
city’s allure is its hip and funky charm. Water
lovers will appreciate River Street, stretching
and winding along the coast of the Savannah
River. Spend a day meandering through its
boutiques, antique shops, pubs and
restaurants.
Food is a slam dunk in Savannah. Enjoy any
type of food that might be calling the taste
buds, including, of course, southern cuisine
as it was meant to be. Don’t let dinner be the
end of the fun. Round the day off by being
part of the lively nightlife. Take in an outdoor
concert, enjoy an evening tour, sit back and
listen to jazz, blues, bluegrass, or get moving
with salsa or swing dancing at a late night
hot spot.
Enjoy Savannah! We are glad you are here!
- CityWalkingGuide
Nullam arcu leo, facilisis ut
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The area was originally named Decker
Square when it was laid out in 1733
The impressive growth that occurred
by James Oglethorpe. It was created
in Savannah in the late 18th century
to honor Sir Matthew Decker, a
led to the creation of several new
member of British Parliament and one
wards such as Franklin Ward. Franklin of the 21 Trustees. The area became
Square serves as the centerpiece of
commonly known as Marketplace
this ward.
Square shortly after the square's
creation. It was known as the center of
Located on Montgomery Street
commerce in Savannah as it was home
between Bryan and Congress Streets, to several market houses.
Franklin Square honors founding
father Benjamin Franklin. Franklin
At some point, the area was renamed
served as the region's representative in Square to honor Sir Henry Ellis. Ellis
England prior to the signing of the
served as the second royal governor of
Declaration of Independence.
the colony of Georgia. Born into a
wealthy English family, Ellis found
Franklin Square contained the city's
roots in Savannah and became one of
water tower for several years, leading the city's most colorful personalities.
locals to sometimes refer to the square Ellis was known for walking around
as Water Tower Square.
the square that now bears his name,
commenting on the hot summers in
Destroyed in 1935 to make way for
Georgia. He often referred to
development, the area was thought
Savannah as the hottest place on Earth
lost until preservation efforts restored outside of the Seychelles.
Franklin Square to its original glory in
the 1980s. These restoration efforts
Ellis Square has a significant place in
were part of the city's 250th
the preservation movement in
anniversary celebration. The city
Savannah. After the first City Market
created a memorial in the square to
was constructed in the area in 1763,
honor volunteers who fought in the
Augustus Schwaab built a large brick
Siege of Savannah.
building in the 1850s to house the
next city market. That building stood
The oldest Christian church in the
for more than century until the city
country predominantly attended by
choose to build a parking deck at this
blacks stands on Montgomery Street. spot in 1954. This galvanized those in
The First African Baptist Church first the community that wanted to see the
opened in 1788.
structure saved. The outrage over the
decision to demolish a historic
building in favor of a parking deck
2. Ellis Square
soon led to the creation of the
Located on Barnard between Bryan
Savannah preservation movement and
and Congress Streets, Ellis Square is
one of the oldest squares in Savannah. the Historic Savannah Foundation.
1. Franklin Square
However, for many years, this square
was replaced by a large parking deck
that set in motion the preservationist
movement in the city.
After waiting patiently for 50 years
for the lease on the parking deck to
expire, preservationists worked with
the city to restore Ellis Square in
2004. The parking garage was
demolished two years later, with a
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new parking garage moved
underground. Since a dedication
ceremony in 2010, Ellis Square has
been turned into a beautiful open
public space that is often home to
many public concerts. To coincide
with Ellis Square's restoration, several
of the residential and commercial
properties have also undertaken
restoration efforts, including the
creation of a new city market that
houses restaurants, shops and artist
studios. Area hotels have also joined
the effort to create a seamless historic
experience for those visiting the area.
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thought lost. When
found around 1902,
they were moved to
Johnson Square.
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city's banks and financial service
companies located here.
Popular songwriter Johnny Mercer is
honored with a bench at Johnson
Two fountains also
Square. This Savannah composer was
highlight this large
known for producing hundreds of
square, along with a award-winning songs over a 47-year
sundial to honor Colonel William
career. Mercer was also the coBull. Also from South Carolina, Bull founder of Capital Records. His most
helped Oglethorpe build Savannah
famous compositions is “Moon
into an attractive Southern destination. River,” which won him an Academy
Using his surveying skills, he created Award in 1961.
a street grid that served as the
Being one of Savannah's original
blueprint for the city. One of the
panels at the base of the sundial detail squares, notable events of importance
occurred here throughout the city's
A bronze statue of Johnny Mercer, a
one of Bull's original maps for the
songwriter and lyricist from
city. The area has been proclaimed as history. One of them was a visit from
Savannah, now stands in the center of a National Historic Civil Engineering President James Monroe in 1819 to
the square. It was dedicated during the Landmark by the American Society of launch the SS Savannah. Johnson
Square was also the site of South
square's restoration in 2009.
Civil Engineers.
Carolina's announcement that it was
Johnson Square served as the
seceding from the Union. The site of
3. Johnson Square
centerpiece of the Derby Ward upon
the first church built in Savannah is
The first and largest of all of
its creation. Named for Honorable
located on the east side of Johnson
Savannah's 24 squares, Johnson
James, Tenth Earl of Derby, this ward Square. It is now known as Christ
Square was named after Robert
was the site of the first houses ever
Episcopal Church.
Johnson, a governor of the area that is built in Savannah. Because of its size
now known as South Carolina. When and location, Derby Ward became the
4. Reynolds Square
James Oglethorpe established the
center of public life in the city. The
In 1734, Reynolds Ward and Reynolds
original four squares in Savannah in
sundial that now honors Bull once
1733, Governor Johnson served as a
served as a way for residents to know Square were both laid out along
Abercorn Street. Both were named for
close friend to Oglethorpe and as an
the correct time. Settlers could also
the first colonial
aide to the early settlers of Savannah. get water here and read public notices.
governor of
In appreciation of his efforts, the first Since there were not enough bricks for
Georgia, John
square was named in his honor.
all settlers to have a brick oven, the
Reynolds. This is
city constructed bread ovens in this
A monument to Revolutionary War
interesting to note,
area so they could bake their own
hero General Nathanael Greene is in
as Reynolds was
bread. The fountains mark the location
the center of Johnson Square. A tall
actually the least
where these ovens once stood.
white obelisk marks the spot where
popular among all
Greene is interred. French General
of the colonial
Another landmark of the area is the
Marquis de Lafayette laid the
Johnson Square Business Center. This governors. Reynolds had landed in the
cornerstone in 1825. Greene died in
city in 1754 after the colony had been
was the city's first skyscraper when
1786 and was buried in Savannah's
turned over to the Crown by the
constructed as the Savannah Bank
Colonial Park Cemetery. After
Building in 1911. In keeping with that Trustees. Following the establishment
vandalism to the cemetery during the building's intended purpose, Johnson of the square, it became the heart of
Civil War, Greene's remains were
all colonial government activities.
Square also serves as Savannah's
Originally, the square was home to the
financial district, with most of the
House of Assembly and was the site
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Nullam arcu leo, facilisis ut
V
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T
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G
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Squares of Savannah
Please purchase, download and print the rest of the Savannah
Walking Guides by visiting:
www.citywalkingguide.com/svlp
© CityWalkingGuide.com