The City if Savannah has been on my list of places to travel to for quite a long time. And the City did not disappoint me in the least. I would have liked to have stayed longer and toured some of the estates, but I did get a good sense of the place and will return one day.......hopefully!
There are many ways to see the City but being limited time wise, we could chose from 3 different trolleys, 2 types of horse drawn carriages and a most unusual tour in a Hearse......( but that tour takes place at night and covers all of the haunted houses and ghostly tales). The BEST way to see Savannah is a walking tour, but time and old age did not allow for that choice, unfortunately.
This tour looked rather uncomfortable and slow.
This tour looked very comfortable, private and more personalized but it was too costly.
This was the one we decided on because of the price, comfort and wide open window spaces for taking photos.
The "Savannah Tours" was an option also but did not provide the on and off feature of the "Old Town Trolley".
And finally, the "Oglethorpe Trolley".....would have been good as well but the green and orange trolley arrived first so we took it.
The formidable "Hearse Ghost Tour"......interesting,.....but unfortunately a night tour was no go because Alistair goes to bed at 7pm every night. (just joking honey:o))
Each of the Tours provided the visitor with the history of Savannah as well as some added interesting stories and legends. The first settlers, were sent to this new spot along the Savannah River, by King George III, from England. Headed by a man named James Edward Oglethorpe, this group of British settlers first formed a plan of their new Royal Colony. They built Savannah in 1754 and by 1773 this colony became the State Capital.
The plan for Savannah, was to layout the city in a grid of streets running at right angles to one another with Squares or Parks at so many intervals that each small 2 block area would have a green space for gathering together, visiting and enjoying quiet times. There were (are) 24 Squares in total with 3 much larger Parks as well. Large old trees, various colourful flowers and shrubs still adorn these squares today, with benches and monuments, plaques and fountains for people to enjoy and find solace in. A truly beautiful and unique way to plan out a city and it has been maintained this way for centuries.
Every Square is named after a prominent towns person such as Oglethorpe himself along with many others.....Ellis, Franklin, Johnson, Warren, Madison, Chatham, Whitefield, etc. These men owned the majestic mansions that faced each square named for them.
One of the most interesting notes about this settlement was that Oglethorpe and his fellow settlers made 3 demands known to the residents of Savannah. These "rules" or demands were as follows:
1) NO HARD SPIRITS....(LIQUOR)
2) NO CATHOLICS
3) NO LAWYERS
Alistair says "well, that's it......what a stupid place to want to live", ( but only about the first rule:o)
These "Rules" were to be followed and were...........for awhile..........but by the 1800's only 2 of the 3 applied any longer. :o) And of course abandoned altogether in present day. Give the founding fathers there due.....they tried. But realistically, rules like these...........not likely!!
Savannah is today one of the largest heritage districts in the United States with a noticeable Pride in it's History and gorgeous Colonial Mansions and Public Buildings. Grand homes still grace the streets and have been up kept through both the American Revolution and the American Civil War. A special preservation of the area, that gives visitors to Savannah a sense that they have just stepped back in time.
Beautiful large Live Oaks line almost all of the Savannah streets and are found in parks and squares all around the city. They are called "Living Oaks" because they remain the same all year round. Their leaves do not change colour and fall to the ground. They remain green all year long. And of course, the Oaks are draped in Spanish Moss (of which it is neither), adding a mystic, enchanted look to the city. And also a bonus for film makers to use to their advantage. Many movies have been partially or entirely shot here in Savannah. "Midnight In The Garden of Good and Evil" being one, and also the park bench scene from "Forest Gump".
The "Independent Presbyterian" Church spirals up above the large oaks as well as many other lovely churches in the down town area. Even some Catholic Churches!!!! :o)))
Now onto a quick look at some of the more famous and stately manors and beautifully landscaped squares with fountains, monuments and plaques.
Just a quiet, pleasant place to relax and reflect..........
The Telfair Family Mansion, built in 1818was later donated by the family to SCAD, the Savannah College of Art and Design.
Another view of Telfair Mansion.
Johnson Square.
There are so many monuments I could not recall what each one was memorializing. Usually a famous person, ( probably deceased)...... or to honour war veterans from many American conflicts or various movements. The founder of the Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, was born in Savannah and lived in one of the large Mansions that faced Oglethorpe Square. Unfortunately ......I missed that photo shot.
This one I remember because it was one of the oldest monuments. It marks the contribution of a very famous Scottish Poet.....Robert Burns, dated 1745 and it reads......."Tyrants Fall in Every Foe, Liberties in Every Blow".
Must be some famous American but he will remain nameless for now.
Not Paul Revere waiting to see if the British were coming by land or Sea.....but some other dude who did something important.
The Andrew Low House facing Lafayette Square.
The "Old City Bell Exchange". All that remains of the Exchange House that was used along with the Cotton Exchange Buildings that line the Savannah River docks. Used when cotton was the main staple in trading for the southern plantations and growers.
The Davenport House, facing Columbia Square. This Mansion was used as the house where the murder and suicide took place in the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil".
Another view of Columbia Square and surrounding homes.
As you can tell by the volume of photos that I have included in this blog, I took a ton of pictures of the down town area because of its historical beauty. I had so many good pics to choose from that it was extremely hard to do so. Every turn in the road was another good photo op.
But we finally had to hop off the trolley for awhile.......lunch time......... and when we saw "Pirates' House", (restaurant) how could I resist!!
The Pirates' House first opened in 1753 as an inn for seafarers and fast became a meeting point for blood-thirsty (more likely..RUM THIRSTY) pirates and sailors from the Seven Seas. We were served by male and female pirates and the place was packed. Aye it was grrrrreat!!!!!
Quite a large place and the first smallest area of the structure is actually the oldest house in Savannah still standing today. See the photo below.
"AARRGH"
( and the food was tasty too!)
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