Area Guide: Savannah, Georgia

A city full of History, Museums, and Art.

One of the oldest cities in America and the oldest in Georgia. Founded in 1733 by General James Edward Oglethorpe, a British philanthropist and Member of Parliament, Savannah was organized into grids and has been dubbed “America’s First Planned City.” separated from South Carolina by the Savannah River. Savannah is known for its manicured parks, horse-drawn carriages and antebellum architecture. Its historic district is filled with cobblestoned squares and parks such as Forsyth Park shaded by oak trees covered with Spanish moss. At the center of this picturesque district is the landmark, Gothic-Revival Cathedral of Saint John the Baptist. Over the years, many notable residents have called Savannah home including composer Johnny Mercer, inventor Eli Whitney and Juliet Gordon Low who founded Girl Scouts of the USA. Come and visit the Georgia State Railroad Museum featuring historic railcars, guided tours and train rides, or The “pirates house” a restaurant situated a block from the Savannah River on East Broad Street, first opened all the way back in 1753. Since the early 1700s, City Market has been the commercial and social center of historic Savannah. Today, the market boasts art galleries, street musicians, a wide array of eateries and coffee shops and dozens of boutiques. Some of the architecture you’ll see in Savannah’s Historic District includes Federal, Victorian Regency, Greek and Gothic Revival and Italianate. And if you find all this history boring, come join us at The Club at Savannah Harbor for a round of Golf at one of the most pristine golf courses on the entire east coast, located on a strip of land in between Savannah Georgia and South Carolina, you can find the best view of savannah from here.

Be sure to visit:

• The Telfair Museum of art – the first public art museum in the southern United States. It was founded in 1883 through the bequest of prominent local philanthropist Mary Telfair.
• The Mercer Williams house – former home of Jim Williams, is the main location of the 1997 film Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which was directed by Clint Eastwood and starred Kevin Spacey and John Cusack
• Founded in 1839, the Georgia Historical Society, located on Whitaker Street, is the oldest continuously operated historical society in the South
• City Market/ Historic District
• River/Bay Street (Shops and Restaurants on the River)
• The Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum was founded in 1966 and located within the William Scarborough House, features ship models, paintings and maritime antiques from the 18th and 19th centuries.
• The first and only Prohibition themed museum in the country opened in Savannah in May 2017: the American Prohibition Museum. It’s no dry establishment either; with a password you also get access to the speakeasy where you will be served authentic prohibition style cocktails.
• SCAD museum of Art

Be sure to try:

• Leopold’s Ice Cream, East Broughton Street, Savannah, GA
• The Distillery, West Liberty Street, Savannah, GA
• World of Beer, West Broughton Street, Savannah, GA
• Savannah Rae’s Gourmet Popcorn, West Broughton Street, Savannah, GA
• The Vault Kitchen & Market, Bull Street, Savannah, GA