Savannah, Georgia

Savannah is a beautiful southern city located along the northern Georgia coast just south of the South Carolina border. One of the most popular tourist parts of the city is the Savannah Historic District on the southern side of the Savannah River and the northern side of the city. The city’s historic district is home to many historic buildings, monuments and museums that all have a story to tell. Some of the most notable among them are River Street, the American Prohibition Museum, The Pirates’ House, the Ships of the Sea Maritime History Museum and the beautiful squares. 

River Street runs along the southern side of the Savannah River. The street was the original port of Savannah and was mostly used for exporting cotton. Most of the buildings along River Street used to be old cotton warehouses. In the 1970s it was developed into the beautiful shopping street that it is now. The street is now made of brick, but branching off from the street are many of the old roads still paved in the ballast stones that were left in Savannah by incoming ships. 

The American Prohibition Museum tells the story of an era when it was illegal to make, transport and sell liquor in America. The museum has many photos and wax figures on display as well as informational plaques so that visitors can both see and read the history of prohibition. The museum has multiple era-appropriate cars on display as well as wax figures of famous mobsters from the era who made their fortune on illegal liquor. At the very end of the museum is an operational speakeasy where anyone 21 or older can enjoy a drink. 

The Pirates’ House is a pirate themed restaurant and gift shop. The food is good but nothing outstanding, and most of the appeal is the atmosphere. The building is located on the spot where there was an experimental community garden for the original colony of Savannah. After the town was more established and the need for an experimental community garden was gone, the area became a residential area and the building that is now the Pirates’ House was an inn for visiting sailors. The inn soon became a rendezvous spot for visiting pirates. 

The Ships of the Sea Maritime History Museum is inside of the Scarbrough House, a home built for the principal owner of the first steam ship to cross the Atlantic, the Savannah. The museum has many scale models on display of important ships from throughout maritime history, specifically ships relevant to Savannah. They also have various artifacts and paintings all telling the story of various seafaring vessels. 

There are 22 squares scattered throughout the Savannah Historic District. Each square has interconnecting pathways and benches in the shade of oak trees and hanging spanish moss. When General Oglethorpe set sail for the new world and would eventually found the city of Savannah, he already had it in mind to design the city like a garden so that every few blocks there would be a square for people to stop and rest at. Some of the squares are home to famous monuments and others are simply nice quiet places to rest in the busy city. 

These are just a few of the many places to visit in the Savannah Historic District. The district is also full of restaurants, cafes, and stores as well as hidden curiosities around every corner. Savannah has become a wonderful tourist destination for anyone curious about the city’s history and the city’s present party atmosphere.