Savannah Historic District

State: Georgia. Type: large urban historic district in downtown Savannah, Chatham County, roughly matching the pre-Civil War city limits. Designated a National Historic Landmark District on November 13, 1966, and among the largest urban, community-wide historic preservation districts in the United States. Covers approximately 1,300 acres, bounded by East Broad Street, Gwinnett Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and the Savannah River. Built on the Oglethorpe Plan begun in 1733, and includes 22 squares plus the 30-acre Forsyth Park.

The Savannah Historic District preserves the original heart of Georgia's first city, laid out by General James Oglethorpe when he founded Savannah in 1733. Its defining feature is the Oglethorpe Plan, a rare surviving example of a planned colonial grid organized around wards: each ward centered on a public square, flanked by four trust lots reserved for civic buildings and four residential tything blocks. Twenty-two of these leafy squares still punctuate the district today, shaded by live oaks draped in Spanish moss and ringed by 18th- and 19th-century architecture in Federal, Greek Revival, Gothic and Victorian styles. Designated a National Historic Landmark District in 1966, the roughly 1,300-acre area is one of the largest community-wide preservation districts in the country and draws millions of visitors a year. Within its bounds sit the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace (childhood home of the Girl Scouts' founder), the Telfair Academy, the First African Baptist Church, Temple Mickve Israel, and the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, along with the cobblestoned River Street waterfront and the sweeping green expanse of Forsyth Park. Compact and eminently walkable, the district lets visitors move on foot from square to square, absorbing centuries of Southern history without needing a car.

The district lies in downtown Savannah, the county seat of Chatham County in southeastern Georgia, near the Georgia-South Carolina line where the Savannah River meets the Atlantic coastal plain. It is bounded by East Broad Street, Gwinnett Street, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, and the Savannah River, covering roughly 1,300 acres. Savannah is a coastal port city about 18 miles inland from Tybee Island and the Atlantic Ocean, and served as the colonial capital of Georgia and later the state's first capital.

Savannah has a humid subtropical climate with long, hot, nearly tropical summers and mild winters. July, the warmest month, averages highs around 92 degrees Fahrenheit, while January highs average about 61 degrees. Annual precipitation is roughly 48 inches, and about half of it falls between June and September in the form of afternoon thunderstorms and tropical moisture. The area lies within the Atlantic hurricane season (June through November); recent notable storms affecting the region include Hurricane Matthew in 2016 and Hurricane Helene in 2024, so travelers visiting in late summer and early fall should monitor forecasts.

Spring and fall are generally the most pleasant times to explore Savannah on foot, offering warm but comfortable temperatures, blooming gardens in spring, and lower humidity than the peak of summer. Fall in particular is favored for outdoor sightseeing and access to the city's parks and squares. Summer is hot and humid with frequent thunderstorms and falls within hurricane season, while winters are mild and quieter, making them a reasonable low-season option for walking the historic streets.

Savannah was established on February 12, 1733, when General James Oglethorpe and colonists arriving on the ship Anne landed on a bluff above the Savannah River and founded the first city of the new Province of Georgia. Oglethorpe laid out the settlement using his innovative ward-and-square plan, a grid system that has guided the city's growth for much of its history and remains the district's most significant legacy. Savannah served as the colonial capital and later as Georgia's first state capital. Through the 18th and 19th centuries the city prospered as a cotton-shipping port, and the warehouses lining the river bluff, now River Street, date from that era. The district encompasses many landmarks of that long history, including the First African Baptist Church, home to one of the oldest African American Baptist congregations in the country, Temple Mickve Israel, and the Central of Georgia Railway roundhouse complex, described as the oldest standing antebellum rail facility in America. By the mid-20th century many historic buildings were threatened with demolition, and a local preservation movement, catalyzed in the 1950s, helped save the area. The federal government recognized the district as a National Historic Landmark District on November 13, 1966.

Most visitors experience the district on foot, strolling from square to square beneath the live oaks and touring house museums such as the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and the Telfair Academy. River Street, a cobblestoned waterfront lined with former cotton warehouses now housing shops, galleries, restaurants and pubs, is a popular stretch for walking, browsing and watching cargo ships pass on the Savannah River. Forsyth Park, at the district's southern end, is a 30-acre green space anchored by its landmark white fountain and home to memorials, gardens and the centuries-old Candler Oak. Guided walking tours, trolley tours, horse-drawn carriage rides and ghost tours all depart from within the district and cover its history and architecture. Visitors also tour historic houses of worship, including the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and often extend a visit to the atmospheric Bonaventure Cemetery just outside the district.

Key sites within the district include the 22 historic squares (among them Johnson, Chippewa, Madison and Monterey squares), Forsyth Park and its fountain, and the River Street waterfront. Notable buildings include the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace, the Telfair Academy of Arts and Sciences (one of the South's first public art museums), the First African Baptist Church, Temple Mickve Israel (one of the oldest synagogues in the United States), the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist, and the Central of Georgia Railway roundhouse complex. The Bonaventure Cemetery, known for its funerary sculpture and moss-draped oaks, sits nearby and is a frequent add-on for visitors.

The nearest airport is Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV), located a short drive northwest of downtown, with rental cars, taxis and rideshare available for the trip into the historic district. Savannah is also reachable by car via Interstate 95, which runs north-south along the coast, and Interstate 16, which connects the city westward toward Macon and Atlanta. Amtrak's Silver Service trains stop at the Savannah station a few miles from downtown. Once in the district itself, the compact grid of squares makes walking the easiest way to get around.

As a public urban district, Savannah's streets, squares, River Street and Forsyth Park are accessible at all hours, though individual attractions within it, such as house museums, churches offering tours, and the Telfair Academy, keep their own posted hours that vary by site and season. Confirm hours directly with each museum or landmark you plan to enter before visiting.

Walking the district's squares, River Street and Forsyth Park is free. Individual attractions, house museums such as the Juliette Gordon Low Birthplace and Telfair Academy, church tours, and guided walking, trolley or carriage tours each set their own separate admission or tour fees. Check each attraction or tour operator directly for current pricing, as these vary by site.

A full day allows visitors to walk the core squares, River Street and Forsyth Park and tour one or two house museums, while two to three days is comfortable for a fuller exploration including guided tours, additional museums and side trips such as Bonaventure Cemetery.

Lodging within and around the historic district ranges from restored inns and boutique hotels set inside 18th- and 19th-century mansions to national hotel chains, many clustered along the riverfront and near the City Market and Bay Street areas. Bed-and-breakfasts occupy many of the district's period townhouses, offering stays within walking distance of the squares. Because Savannah is a major tourism destination, rates rise around festivals such as St. Patrick's Day and during peak spring and fall weekends, so booking ahead is advisable.

The district has a dense and varied dining scene, with Southern and Lowcountry cuisine, fresh coastal seafood, and shrimp and grits featured widely. River Street and the nearby City Market concentrate many casual restaurants, pubs and cafes inside former warehouse buildings, while the squares and Broughton Street corridor offer everything from long-running Savannah institutions to newer upscale kitchens. Because the area is walkable, visitors can easily combine sightseeing with meals throughout the day without needing to drive.

Bonaventure Cemetery, east of downtown, is a popular nearby destination for its sculpture and oak-lined avenues. Tybee Island, about 18 miles east, offers beaches and a historic lighthouse on the Atlantic coast. The Savannah waterfront and the ships passing on the river, the Ships of the Sea Maritime Museum, and the Wormsloe Historic Site south of the city round out common excursions from the district.

Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport (SAV) is the nearest airport, a short drive from downtown. Amtrak serves the city at the Savannah station a few miles from the historic core. A free downtown transit shuttle historically operated in and around the district, and rideshare, taxis and pedicabs supplement walking; confirm current shuttle routes locally, as service can change.

Savannah is a busy tourist city, so standard urban precautions apply: stay aware of your surroundings, especially after dark, and keep valuables out of sight in parked cars. Streets and squares are paved with historic brick and cobblestone that can be uneven, so wear sturdy, comfortable footwear. In summer, heat, humidity and afternoon thunderstorms are common, so carry water and watch the sky. During hurricane season (June through November), monitor forecasts and heed any local advisories. For any emergency, dial 911.

Comfortable walking shoes are essential for the district's brick and cobblestone streets. Bring water, sunscreen and a hat for hot, humid days, and a light rain jacket or umbrella for the frequent summer thunderstorms. A camera or phone is popular for the squares, architecture and Forsyth Park fountain, and a refillable water bottle helps on long walking days.

Because the district is compact and walkable, plan to explore on foot and pace yourself around the squares rather than trying to drive between sites; parking can be limited downtown. Booking house-museum and guided tours in advance is wise during peak spring and fall weekends and around St. Patrick's Day, when the city is especially crowded. Start early in summer to avoid the worst midday heat, and consider pairing the historic core with a trip to Bonaventure Cemetery or Tybee Island for a fuller itinerary.

For any emergency, dial 911, the nationwide emergency number in the United States. For non-emergency visitor questions, consult the Savannah visitor center and the official tourism site rather than an emergency line.

Visit Savannah - https://visitsavannah.com ; Historic Savannah Foundation - https://www.myhsf.org

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.

This section is being updated and will be available shortly.