Savannah General Attractions

River Street riverfront in Savannah; Savannah CVB

Savannah General Attractions

River Street
DESCRIPTION: Located in the nation’s largest Registered Urban Historic Landmark District, River Street next to the waterfront is the oldest destination and quite charming in its own right. Today it is home to restaurants, bars, gift shops, galleries and boutiques. A charming vintage street carruns its length next to the waterfront and it is accented with shade cover trees, benches and as you would expect, the best views of Savannah River. Its packed during the annual St. Patrick’s Day Festival.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: River Street from MLK to Randolph Street, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on street and nearby paid lots
PHONE: varies by merchant
WEBSITE: http://www.riverstreetsavannah.com

Squares of Savannah
DESCRIPTION: Designed at the founding of Savannah, the city was blessed with two dozen square-block photogenic parks, each over 260 years of age. All the National Landmark squares measure 200 feet from north to south, but they vary east to west from approximately 100 to 300 feet. Each square is intersected north-south and east-west by wide, two-way streets. They are bounded to the west and east by the south- and north-bound lanes of the intersecting north-south street, and to the north and south by smaller one-way streets running east-to-west and west-to-east, respectively. As a result, traffic flows counterclockwise around the squares like traffic circles. Most squares are named in honor or in memory of a person, persons or historical event, and many contain monuments, markers, memorials, statues, plaques, and other tributes. Favorite squares are along Bryan Street and State Street where you they are surrounded by historically restored mansions. Unfortunately 2 of the original squares have been lost to development.
ADDRESS: Bull Street, Bryan Street, Abercorn Street & State Street, Savannah, GA MAP

Forsyth Park
DESCRIPTION: Forsyth was the first large park created in Savannah and was influenced by the urban renewal of Paris in the nineteenth century, when broad boulevards and parks were created. The success of Forsyth Park greatly influenced city planning throughout the United States, as more cities sought to develop large parks by the 1850s. Today as the main park of Savannah, it frequently hosts concerts and festivals. Even without big events, the park is full of joggers, srtrollers, dramatic sculptures, a picturesque fountain and so many unique characters you could fill a book — actually, sometone already has. No wonder bed & breakfasts and boutique hotels love to circle around it.
ADDRESS: Drayton Street, Park Ave, Whitaker Street & Gaston Street, Savannah, GA MAP

Factors Walk
DESCRIPTION: Today it consists of shops, attractions, a museum, restaurants, a few bars and a hotel A network of buildings to the bluff connected by iron and concrete walkways. In 1817, it was the original site for the Cotton Exchange; the first two floors were for the cotton coming into port, the third floor was used for storage, and the fourth and fifth floors were offices. The alleys and walkways connecting these buildings were later called Factors Walk because the men who worked with the cotton exchange were called “factors” because they factored how much cotton was brought in to be sold in this center of commercial activity.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: reopening soon to the public
ADDRESS: On the shore side of River Street, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on street and paid lots
PHONE: varies by merchant

Cotton Exchange
DESCRIPTION: When Savannah competed with Charleston as the world’s leading cotton ports, many locals called it the “King Cotton’s Palace”. Established in 1872, the Cotton Exchange’s permanent home wasn’t erected until 1876 because directors insisted that only a site on Bay Street would do. The notable red brick Queen Anne-style building, by architect William Gibbons Preston features intricate freemasonry detailing, low relief decorative terra cotta work and steep gables; its complete restoration is nearly complete and tours will begin soon. The building features the iconic lion fountain and Contton Exchange Bell out front. Enslaved ancestors were also sold on this hallowed ground.
DAYS & HOURS:
ADDRESS: 100 East Bay Street, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on street

City Market
DESCRIPTION: One of the most colorful and historic fresh seafood and produce markets in the country. It is a mixed use rehabilitation of the four block historic area began in 1985. The result is an attraction that economically could not be replicated today, yet be a vibrant destination for entertainment, dining, and retailing place that attracts both tourists and residents. It includes the Art Center at City Market, which is 19,000 square feet of working studios for artists. As you would expect, its a frequent setting for events day or night.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: dawn-night
ADDRESS: 219 West Bryan Street, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 912-232-4903
WEBSITE: http://www.savannahcitymarket.com

Savannah History Museum
DESCRIPTION: Housed in the old Central of Georgia Railway terminal, a National Historic Landmark built in the 1850s and 1860s; the railway used the building until 1972. Today, it serves as Savannah Visitors Center; inside the center, Coastal Georgia’s largest history museum is home to more than 10,000 artifacts; a Black Soldiers exhibit highlights the First South Carolina Volunteer Infantry and 178,895 African-American soldiers who served in the Civil War.
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 8:30a-5p, Sat Sun 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 303 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on premises
PHONE: 912-238-1779
WEBSITE: http://www.chsgeorgia.org/shm

Roundhouse Railroad Museum
DESCRIPTION: A delight for train lovers, the property for this museum was first constructed by the Central of Georgia Railway beginning in 1845; thirteen original structures still stand; included in these structures are the massive Roundhouse, the train turntable, and the 125-foot tall smokestack — a National Historic Landmark. By the 1960s, the building was nearly demolished, by the early 1960s; twelve heroic Savannahians saved the complex from demolition later that decade, enabling a series of restoration projects to follow.
ADMISSION: $5 adults
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-5p
ADDRESS: 601 West Harris Street&, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on premises
PHONE: 912-651-6823
WEBSITE: http://www.chsgeorgia.org/roundhouse

Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum
DESCRIPTION: The museum was founded in 1966 to exhibit ship models, paintings and maritime antiques of Atlantic trade and travel between England and America during the 18th and 19th centuries; the collection is housed in the elegant home built for William Scarbrough, president of the Savannah Steamship Company and for nearly 90 years, it was the West Broad Street School, one of the first public schools for African American children in the city; the Museum Garden has become a delightful oasis to sit and meditate. The gift shop is sure to pique the interest of model lovers.
ADMISSION: $8 Adults, $6 Students and Age 65+, Age 5 and under enter Free
DAYS & HOURS: Tue-Sun 10a-5p
ADDRESS: 41 Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on premises and street
PHONE: 912-232-1511
WEBSITE: http://www.shipsofthesea.org

Mercer Williams House
DESCRIPTION: The Mercer House was designed by New York architect John S. Norris for General Hugh W. Mercer, great grandfather of Johnny Mercer; construction completed in 1868, by the new owner after the Civil War, John Wilder. In 1969, Jim Williams, one of Savannah’s earliest private restorationists, bought the then vacant house and began a two-year restoration; today it is filled with lots of handcrafted mahogany antique furniture, white Carrar marble, 17th, 18th and 19th century English and American portraits and drawings for is both historic and remarkable — no wonder there’s a waiting list to visit; the affliated Carriage Shop is also a visitor favorite for gifts.
ADMISSION: Adult $12.50, Student $8
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Fri 10a-4:30p, Sat 10a-5p, Sun 10:30a-4p
ADDRESS: 429 Bull Street, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 912-236-6352
WEBSITE: http://www.mercerhouse.com

Andrew Low House
DESCRIPTION: People visit here just to the best in early 19th century urban mansion designs at their finest; this house is a gem designed in 1847 by John Norris for a wealthy cotton factor Andrew Low; tours are docent-led.
ADMISSION: $8 Adults, $4.50 for Girl Scouts and Ages 12
DAYS & HOURS: Mon-Wed & Fri-Sat 10a-4:30p, Sun Noon-4:30p
ADDRESS: 329 Abercorn Street, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on street
PHONE: 912-233-6854
WEBSITE: http://www.andrewlowhouse.com

Mighty 8th Air Force Museum
DESCRIPTION: Founded in 1996, this 90,000 square foot complex honors the men and women who helped defeat the Nazis by supporting the greatest air armada the world had ever seen—the 8th Air Force, consisting of more than 350,000 members; of that number, 26,000 were killed in action and 28,000 became prisoners of war during World War II; Museum planners from throughout the United States and Europe contributed the best hisotrical elements tothe complex; there’s even a Tuskegee Airman exhibit.
ADMISSION: $10 Adults, $9 Seniors, $6 Military & Ages 6-12, Free Ages 5 and under
DAYS & HOURS: daily 9a-Noon & 1p-4p
ADDRESS: 175 Bourne Avenue, Pooler, GA MAP
PARKING: on premises
PHONE: 912-748-8888
WEBSITE: http://www.mightyeighth.org

Bull Street
DESCRIPTION: One of Savannah’s prime historic districts and a perfect piece of eye-candy filled with landmarks. City Hall (1901), which replaced a 1799 City Exchange building housing City government. U.S. Customs House (1852) on the site of the Georgia colony’s first public building. Christ Episcopal Church (1838) on the site of the colony’s first church built in 1733. The immaculate landscape architecture of the street ensures that you pass Johnson Square, the first square laid out in the new planned town, as well as Wright Square, Chippewa Square, Madison Square, Monterey Square, Savannah College of Art & Design, dozens of galleries and antique shops along the oak filled-moss covered way. This street appeared in the popular movies Forrest Gump and Midnight in the Garden of Good & Evil
ADMISSION: Free
DAYS & HOURS: daily
ADDRESS: Bull Street from Bay Street to Forsyth Park, Savannah, GA MAP
PARKING: on street

Fort Pulaski National Monument
DESCRIPTION: A Civil Way fort and site of many battles is now home to a National Monument that offers daily interpretive programs including guided tours and musket firings. Expanded living history programs, including hourly cannon demonstrations, are held each Saturday. 25 million bricks were used to construct Fort Pulaski. Many of the bricks, known as Savannah Gray, were handmade at the Hermitage Plantation on the Savannah River.
ADDRESS: Fort Pulaski, Savannah, GA MAP
WEBSITE: http://www.nps.gov/fopu

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