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    Cockspur Island Lighthouse - Fort Pulaski

    4.7 (9 reviews)

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    Ariel W.

    Welcome to the smallest lighthouse of five of the historic surviving lighthouses in Georgia. I am in love with the history and romantic look of lighthouses and especially this tiny gem which is part of Fort Pulaski National Monument. The lighthouse is located on a tiny island made up of an oyster and mussel bed in the south channel of the Savannah River. If you want to visit, it is important to note that this lighthouse is not open to the public. although you can tour the nearby Tybee Lighthouse. You can get close to it however by kayak or through a .8 mile trail made by the National Park Service that runs from Fort Pulaski National Monument to 200 yards of the lighthouse during low tide. This lighthouse was first built without lights between 1837 as a marker for the entrance to the South Channel of the Savannah River. In 1848 lights were added but it was damaged by a hurricane in 1854. A larger replacement lighthouse designed by famed New York architect John S. Norris was built on the same base in 1855. Norris designed some of my favorite buildings in Savannah including the U.S. Customs House, Green-Meldrim House, and the Mercer-Wilder House. During the Civil War, a battle was fought at Fort Pulaski. Although the light was extinguished, the structure was not damaged which was amazing since it was in the direct line of fire. The lighthouse was relit in 1866. One of my favorite stories about this lighthouse is that of Florence Martus, the Waving Girl. Florence's brother George Washington Martus served as the lighthouse keeper from 1881 until 1884. Florence lived at the lighthouse with her brother until he was transferred to Elba Island. For 47 years Florence waved to all of the ships entering and leaving the Port of Savannah. There is a statue of Florence and her collie at the waterfront in downtown Savannah. On June 1, 1909, the decision was made to put out the light permanently due to the infrequent use of the South channel compared to the high traffic of the North Channel. On August 14, 1958 the National Park Service took possession of the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard. It is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places. From 1995 to 2000, restoration work was down on the Cockspur Lighthouse. On March 18, 2007 in the evening the lighthouse was relit in a special ceremony hosted by the National Park Service and the U.S. Coast Guard. Also in 2007 it was discovered that shipworms had bored into the lighthouse support timbers and that combined with tidal erosion has eroded the structural integrity of the lighthouse. Eventually 1.4 million dollars was secured in federal funds and it allowed the Army Corps of Engineers to secure the structure. How wonderful that such a historic structure still stands. If you head out to Tybee Island, you can't miss it still keeping watch over the Savannah River.

    Trail Map (and what to expect)
    Glenn G.

    Just a short hike away from Fort Pulaski... worth the trouble? For me... YES For others... MAYBE NOT Personally I like hikes, outdoors, feeling the sun on my face... I also like history and places that hold significant, historical value. The short hike from Fort Pulaski is just that, "short"... perhaps even too short but lovely nonetheless. The path starts out somewhat vague... more or less you find yourself walking in a "general" direction aimed at a trail entrance across a grassy field that you can see in the near distance. Once you cross a small wooden bridge (so small that you'll barely notice you even crossed a bridge), then the trail becomes clear and soon after it becomes more of a lightly, forested trail. Now that you've entered the "trail" you'll notice the grass is thinned out and you find yourself walking in sand and/or mud (depending on the weather conditions). Once the trail finally reaches the southwest corner of the island, the trail opens to a lovely view of the Lighthouse... that "view" is the "reward" Now turn around and go back...

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    13 years ago

    Such an amazing fort. My son loved it and so did I, lol.

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    Historic River Street

    Historic River Street

    4.8(8 reviews)
    11.2 km

    This is one of those places that instantly pulls you in and makes you feel like you are part of the…read morehistory. Walking along the cobblestone street with the river right beside you is such a cool experience. You get amazing views of the water, big ships passing by, and that classic Savannah charm everywhere you look. There is always something going on here. Street performers, little shops, and great places to grab food or a drink all along the way. It is easy to spend a few hours just wandering in and out of spots and taking it all in. The mix of old brick buildings and lively atmosphere makes it feel unique compared to a lot of other places. The vibe really stands out. It is busy but in a fun way, not overwhelming. You see families, couples, and groups all enjoying the area, and it just has that welcoming energy. Whether you are there during the day or at night, it feels like there is always something to see. Overall this is a must visit if you are in Savannah. Great views, great atmosphere, and a lot to explore packed into one area. Definitely one of the highlights of the trip.

    This is such a beautiful walk. The buildings are amazing and the view of the river is excellent. My…read morelittle cousin was so excited to watch a barge come through! And the bridge looks terrifying from the ground. There are so many shops and restaurants that you could walk down this street every day for a week and always find something new. Is it catered towards tourists? Yes, but I really think that you'll enjoy it.

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    Historic River Street
    Historic River Street
    Historic River Street

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    Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - Perfect way to end the evening

    Historic Savannah Carriage Tours

    4.0(106 reviews)
    11.3 km

    Had a great private carriage tour with Renee and George. Perfect way to see Savannah…read more (Bring peppermints for George).

    Savannah Carriage Tours was incredibly frustrating and left me feeling taken advantage of. While…read morevisiting the area, I parked near their operation in what appeared to be a normal, public spot. There was zero clear signage indicating that parking was prohibited or that vehicles would be towed. No warning signs, no visible notices--nothing that would reasonably alert a driver. Within a very short time, my car was gone. I later learned it had been towed, conveniently and quickly, by a towing company that seems to patrol this area aggressively. The whole situation felt like a setup designed to trap unsuspecting visitors. It's hard not to believe there is some level of coordination when towing happens so fast in an area with no posted restrictions. The towing fees were outrageous, and the process to retrieve my car added insult to injury. What should have been a pleasant Savannah experience turned into a costly and stressful ordeal. Tourists beware: if you're anywhere near Savannah Carriage Tours, be extremely cautious about where you park--even if it looks legitimate. This experience seriously soured my visit, and I would not recommend supporting a business operating in an area where situations like this are allowed to happen.

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    Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - Giving George some pets

    Giving George some pets

    Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - Mother letting Levi

    Mother letting Levi

    Historic Savannah Carriage Tours - One of the Squares

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    One of the Squares

    Franklin Square

    Franklin Square

    4.8(10 reviews)
    11.6 km

    A nice square with a monument honoring Haitians who joined in the defense of Savannah. Adjacent to…read morean historic church with daily tours.

    We came upon Franklin Square after checking out Savannah's adjacent historic City Market:…read morehttps://www.yelp.com/biz/city-market-savannah This is one of Savannah's 22 squares. It's named after Benjamin Franklin, who - I learned after visiting this square - was appointed by the Georgia, New Jersey, and Massachusetts colonies to be their agent to the Crown circa 1765. What makes this square special is the Haitian Monument featured in the center. It honors more than 500 Haitian soldiers who fought alongside American colonial troops in the Second Battle of Savannah. That was in 1779, during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783). At that time, that part of Haiti, where the soldiers came from, was known as the French colony of Saint-Domingue. The monument in this square depicts six soldiers. The drummer is Henri Christophe (1767-1820). Christophe was a leader in the Haitian Revolution, where Haiti gained independence from France (1804). He was later proclaimed Henry I, King of Haiti. Of Savannah's squares, Franklin Square is the northernmost square. It's four blocks south of River Street and is part of the row that's closest to the Savannah River. Unlike several of the squares farther south, Franklin Square is located in a more touristy, commercial part of town. Along with the aforementioned City Market, there are restaurants, bars, hotels, stores, and attractions (e.g., museums) nearby. Also unlike a lot of the other squares, this one is mostly brick with barely any grass, relatively speaking. Like the other squares, it has plenty of park-bench seating, picturesque trees, and classic-looking lampposts. During our late-afternoon Friday visit, the square was active with people coming, going, and resting. It was clean and felt safe. It was loud compared to the other squares because of music and noise from surrounding businesses, horses, trolleys, and cars. Franklin Square was the eighth square to be built overall, in 1790. For reference, the original four squares were laid out in 1733. The square was destroyed in 1935 due to routing for the federal Coastal Highway (US 17). It was restored in 1985.

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    Franklin Square
    Franklin Square - Monument

    Monument

    Franklin Square

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    Armstrong Kessler Mansion - Armstrong Kessler Mansion

    Armstrong Kessler Mansion

    5.0(2 reviews)
    10.9 km

    The Armstrong-Kessler House, built in 1919 by George Armstrong, a shipping magnate is today a…read moreprivate home that a few times a year opens up as an event space, mainly for High Society weddings and very exclusive social events...It is not open to the public but many tours stop in front of it and talk about its history and beauty. George Armstrong built this home for his wife. But she preferred living off the lake in North Carolina, so after George's death she donated the home to the city and it became Armstrong College. It remained as Armstrong college for many years until the school outgrew the location. Jim Williams used it during the 1960's as his antique shop, but it didn't work out too well, because he kept locking people in at night, not realizing they were still shopping. Later it became a law firm until 2017, when it was purchased by local hotelier, Richard Kessler. This 25,000 square foot house serves as Kessler's private home today, which can be rented for special occasions. The mansion has become the only Savannah home to be listed in the Italian Renaissance Style in the "Field Guide to American Architecture," as a national best-in-class example of its style.

    I was visiting Savannah for the weekend and this landmark was on my list of buildings to visit…read more It's not open for public, it's just open for private and exclusive events. But you can just walk around the building to check it out. It's a registered national landmark. Built in 1919 by George Ferguson Armstrong and designed by world renown architect Henrik Wallin, the original mansion is the only Italian renaissance revival home in Savannah listed in the "A Field Guide to American Houses". It is now a residence to Richard C.Kessler, it was restored by him in 2019. The mansion from the outside looks absolutely stunning and has gorgeous architecture. It's across the famous Forsyth park. Highly recommend taking a stroll around this mansion when you are in Savannah.

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    Armstrong Kessler Mansion - Armstrong Kessler Mansion

    Armstrong Kessler Mansion

    Armstrong Kessler Mansion
    Armstrong Kessler Mansion - Armstrong Kessler Mansion

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    Armstrong Kessler Mansion

    Cockspur Island Lighthouse - Fort Pulaski - landmarks - Updated July 2026

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